Ligonier Ministries

Last updated
Ligonier Ministries
Formation1971
Founder R. C. Sproul
Founded at Ligonier, Pennsylvania
Type Non-profit
Headquarters Sanford, Florida
Chairman
 W. Robert Godfrey
President and CEO
Chris Larson
Website www.ligonier.org

Ligonier Ministries (also known as simply Ligonier) is an international Christian discipleship organization headquartered in the greater Orlando, Florida area. Ligonier was founded in 1971 by R. C. Sproul in the Ligonier Valley, Pennsylvania, outside of Pittsburgh. [1] Ligonier is distinguished by its teaching of Reformed theology. [2]

Contents

Ligonier Ministries' headquarters near Sanford, Florida Ligonier Ministries Headquarters.jpg
Ligonier Ministries' headquarters near Sanford, Florida

Ligonier operates Reformation Bible College, [3] [2] which offers an unaccredited [a] Bachelor of Arts in Theology as its flagship program, which is recognized by Westminster Theological Seminary, an accredited organization. [5] [6] Ligonier also runs annual national conferences on various topics.

Teaching fellows

As of 2026, the teaching fellows at Ligonier Ministries are the following: [7]

Fellowship history

In early 2010, working to prepare for leadership succession, Ligonier founder and chairman R. C. Sproul [8] appointed Sinclair Ferguson, W. Robert Godfrey, Steven Lawson, and R. C. Sproul Jr. as the first members of a new teaching fellowship. [9] In 2013, Stephen Nichols was appointed as a fellow. [10] In 2015, an email address belonging to Sproul Jr. was leaked as part of the July 2015 Ashley Madison data breach. Sproul Jr. claims that he visited the website in August 2014, two and a half years after the death of his wife. After informing the board of Ligonier, Sproul Jr. was suspended from ministry for a year. [11] [12] [13] In late 2015, Albert Mohler and Derek Thomas were appointed as fellows. [14] In December 2016, Sproul Jr. contacted Sproul and the Ligonier board to resign from his positions at Ligonier and Reformation Bible College, citing "personal reasons." [15] [16] [17] In 2017, Burk Parsons was appointed as a fellow. [18] After Sproul's death in December 2017, [1] Mohler concluded his fellowship tenure in early 2019. [14] In late 2024, Lawson resigned from his position after confessing to a five-year relational affair. [19] [20] In January 2026, Joel Kim and Michael Reeves were appointed as fellows. [21]

Notes

  1. ↑ With regard to accreditation, Reformation Bible College president Stephen Nichols states the following: "One of the accrediting associations to which many Bible colleges belong, the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE), formerly required member institutions to have thirty credit hours of biblical and theological instruction. Recent standards have relaxed that threshold. Historically, Bible colleges have not had robust programs in the humanities and great works, and they have tended not to be Reformed. Bible colleges trace their roots to the Bible institute movement of the early twentieth century, a movement rooted in fundamentalism and dispensationalism." [4]

References

  1. 1 2 Shellnutt, Kate (December 14, 2017). "Died: R. C. Sproul, Reformed Theologian Who Founded Ligonier Ministries". Christianity Today . Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  2. 1 2 Stetina, Karin Spiecker (April 2022). "R. C. Sproul, A Life". Themelios . 47 (1). Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  3. ↑ Taylor, Justin (March 18, 2014). "Stephen Nichols Named New President of Reformation Bible College and Chief Academic Officer for Ligonier". The Gospel Coalition . Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  4. ↑ Nichols, Stephen (September 8, 2020). "Why Reformation Bible College Exists". Reformation Bible College. Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Academics". Reformation Bible College. Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Westminster's Accreditation Status". Westminster Theological Seminary. July 18, 2025. Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Who We Are". Ligonier Ministries. Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  8. ↑ Gryboski, Michael (October 31, 2017). "Biggest Threat to Christianity in 21st Century Comes From Within, Theologians Say". The Christian Post . Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  9. ↑ Larson, Chris (May 12, 2010). "The New Teaching Fellows of Ligonier Ministries". Ligonier Ministries. Archived from the original on March 2, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  10. ↑ Larson, Chris (June 27, 2013). "Welcoming Dr. Stephen J. Nichols as Our Newest Teaching Fellow". Ligonier Ministries. Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  11. ↑ Morgan, Timothy C. (August 31, 2015). "Ligonier Suspends R. C. Sproul Jr. over Ashley Madison Visit". Christianity Today . Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  12. ↑ "R.C. Sproul Jr. Suspended from Ministry after Admitting to 'Visiting' Ashley Madison". Relevant . September 1, 2015. Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  13. ↑ Blair, Leonardo (August 31, 2015). "Christian Minister R.C. Sproul Jr. Is Suspended After Confessing Visit to Ashley Madison in 'Moment of Weakness'". The Christian Post . Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  14. 1 2 Larson, Chris (November 9, 2015). "Welcoming Dr. R. Albert Mohler Jr. and Dr. Derek W.H. Thomas as Our Newest Teaching Fellows". Ligonier Ministries. Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  15. ↑ "A Statement Concerning Dr. R.C. Sproul Jr". Ligonier Ministries. December 12, 2016. Archived from the original on May 7, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  16. ↑ Blair, Leonardo (December 16, 2016). "R.C. Sproul Jr. Resigned From Ligonier Ministries After Felonious DUI Arrest With Minor in Vehicle". The Christian Post . Archived from the original on April 16, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  17. ↑ Einselen, Sarah (June 28, 2021). "After Moral Failures, R.C. Sproul Jr. Launches College to Train 'Men of Godly Character'". The Roys Report . Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  18. ↑ Larson, Chris (March 9, 2017). "Welcoming Rev. Burk Parsons as Our Newest Teaching Fellow". Ligonier Ministries. Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  19. ↑ Eturralde, Jessica (March 13, 2025). "Steve Lawson Breaks Silence". MinistryWatch . Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  20. ↑ Roys, Julie (September 25, 2024). "Steve Lawson Had '5-Year Relationship' with Woman in Her 20s, GCC Pastor Says". The Roys Report . Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  21. ↑ Larson, Chris (January 28, 2026). "Announcing Two New Ligonier Teaching Fellows: Joel Kim and Michael Reeves". Ligonier Ministries. Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
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