Palmer Theological Seminary

Last updated
Palmer Theological Seminary
Palmer Theological Seminary logo.svg
Former name
Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary
Motto in English
"The whole gospel, for the whole world, through whole persons."
TypePrivate
Established1925 (1925)
Parent institution
Eastern University
Affiliation American Baptist Churches USA
Provost Kenton Sparks
Dean Kimberlee A. Johnson
Academic staff
18
Students252
Location, ,
Website palmerseminary.edu OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Palmer Theological Seminary is a Baptist seminary in St. Davids, Pennsylvania. It is affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA. It was founded in 1925 as Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Its parent institution is Eastern University.

Contents

History

The seminar was founded as Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1925 in Philadelphia by six Conservative Baptist ministers from the American Baptist Publication Society. [1] In 1932, a collegiate department was founded. [2] Originally located on Rittenhouse Square, it moved in 1940 to Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, just across the street from the city boundary.

The seminary originally established a collegiate division to prepare some students for the academic rigor of seminary-level courses. This evolved in 1952 into Eastern Baptist College, since 2002 Eastern University in St. Davids, Pennsylvania near Valley Forge and further west on the Philadelphia Main Line from Philadelphia. In 2004, Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary re-merged with Eastern University, now as a subsidiary. The following year, the seminary changed its name to Palmer Theological Seminary in honor of its longest serving president (1936–48), Gordon Palmer. [3] In 2010, the University also established the Smith School of Christian Ministries to oversee certain programs. [4]

In 2012, the seminary moved from the Wynnewood campus to an interim location at the American Baptist Missions Center in nearby King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. In June 2016, the seminary moved to the main campus of Eastern University in St. Davids, Pennsylvania. [5]

Over the years, the seminary has combined evangelical theology with the affirmation of women in ministry and commitment to social justice and ethnic diversity. From the beginning, the Seminary welcomed female students. The Seminary continues to affirm its founding motto, "The Whole Gospel for the Whole World." [6]

Musical discoveries at the seminary

In July 2005, an 80-page Beethoven manuscript of a piano four hands version of the Grosse Fugue was discovered in the library archives by one of the librarians. [7] [8] The manuscript was authenticated by Jeffrey Kallberg at the University of Pennsylvania and by Stephen Roe, head of Sotheby's Manuscript Department. Lost from view for well over 100 years, it is thought by some to be one of the most important musicological finds in recent years. The event paralleled the earlier find on July 31, 1990, of a Mozart manuscript, which had been donated to the seminary in 1951 by Marguerite Treat Doane (daughter of noted hymnist William Howard Doane). It was rediscovered along with some lesser manuscripts of the same period. The Beethoven manuscript was auctioned by Sotheby's in London on December 1, 2005 for US$1.72 million to an anonymous bidder later revealed to be Bruce Kovner.

Notable faculty and alumni

Related Research Articles

Christian fundamentalism, also known as fundamental Christianity or fundamentalist Christianity, is a religious movement emphasizing biblical literalism. In its modern form, it began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries among British and American Protestants as a reaction to theological liberalism and cultural modernism. Fundamentalists argued that 19th-century modernist theologians had misunderstood or rejected certain doctrines, especially biblical inerrancy, which they considered the fundamentals of the Christian faith.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gordon–Conwell Theological Seminary</span> Theological seminary in Massachusetts

Gordon–Conwell Theological Seminary (GCTS) is an evangelical seminary with its main campus in Hamilton, Massachusetts, and three other campuses in Boston, Massachusetts; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Jacksonville, Florida. According to the Association of Theological Schools, Gordon-Conwell ranks as one of the largest evangelical seminaries in North America in terms of total number of full-time students enrolled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Baptist Churches USA</span> Baptist denomination in the United States

The American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA) is a Baptist Christian denomination established in 1907 as the Northern Baptist Convention, and named the American Baptist Convention from 1950 to 1972. It traces its history to the First Baptist Church in America (1638) and the Baptist congregational associations which organized the Triennial Convention in 1814.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Independent Baptist</span> Christian protestant denomination

Independent Baptist churches are Christian congregations, generally holding to conservative Baptist beliefs. Although some Independent Baptist churches refuse affiliation with Baptist denominations, various Independent Baptist Church denominations have been founded.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fuller Theological Seminary</span> American Protestant theological seminary

Fuller Theological Seminary is a non-denominational / multi-denominational Christian seminary in Pasadena, California, with regional campuses in the western United States. It is egalitarian in nature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Princeton Theological Seminary</span> Private school of theology in New Jersey, US

Princeton Theological Seminary (PTSem), officially The Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church, is a private school of theology in Princeton, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Established in 1812, it is the second-oldest seminary in the United States, founded under the auspices of Archibald Alexander, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), and the College of New Jersey. It is also the largest of ten seminaries associated with the Presbyterian Church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dallas Theological Seminary</span> Theological seminary in Dallas, Texas

Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS) is an evangelical theological seminary in Dallas, Texas. It is known for popularizing the theological system of dispensationalism. DTS has campuses in Dallas, Houston, and Washington, D.C., as well as extension sites in Atlanta, Austin, San Antonio, Nashville, Northwest Arkansas, Europe, and Guatemala, and a multilingual online education program. DTS is the largest non-denominational seminary accredited by the Association of Theological Schools.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern University (United States)</span> Christian university in St. Davids, Pennsylvania, US

Eastern University (EU) is a private Christian university in the St. Davids, Pennsylvania area, with additional locations in Philadelphia and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The university offers undergraduate, graduate, and seminary programs. Eastern University is affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA and has an interdenominational student body, faculty and administration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wynnewood, Pennsylvania</span> Place in Pennsylvania, United States

Wynnewood is a suburban unincorporated community, located west of Philadelphia, straddling Lower Merion Township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania and Haverford Township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States.

Edward John Carnell was a prominent Christian theologian and apologist, was an ordained Baptist pastor, and served as President of Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. He was the author of nine major books, several of which attempted to develop a fresh outlook in Christian apologetics. He also wrote essays that were published in several other books, and was a contributor of articles to periodicals such as The Christian Century and Christianity Today.

Bernard L. Ramm was a Baptist theologian and apologist within the broad evangelical tradition. He wrote prolifically on topics concerned with biblical hermeneutics, religion and science, Christology, and apologetics. The hermeneutical principles presented in his 1956 book Protestant Biblical Interpretation influenced a wide spectrum of Baptist theologians. During the 1970s he was widely regarded as a leading evangelical theologian as well known as Carl F.H. Henry. His equally celebrated and criticized 1954 book The Christian View of Science and Scripture was the theme of a 1979 issue of the Journal of the American Scientific Affiliation, while a 1990 issue of Baylor University's Perspectives in Religious Studies was devoted to Ramm's views on theology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary</span> Southern Baptist seminary in Louisiana, USA

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) is a Baptist theological institute in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. Missions and evangelism are core focuses of the seminary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Talbot School of Theology</span> Evangelical theological seminary near Los Angeles, California

Talbot School of Theology is an evangelical Christian theological seminary located near Los Angeles. Talbot is one of the nine schools of Biola University, located in La Mirada, California. Talbot is nondenominational and known for its conservative theological positions, particularly its historical adherence to biblical inerrancy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Interdenominational Theological Center</span> Theological school in Atlanta, Georgia, US

The Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) is a consortium of five predominantly African-American denominational Christian seminaries in Atlanta, Georgia, operating together as a professional graduate school of theology. It is the largest free-standing African-American theological school in the United States.

A Bible college, sometimes referred to as a Bible institute or theological institute or theological seminary, is an evangelical Christian or Restoration Movement Christian institution of higher education which prepares students for Christian ministry with theological education, Biblical studies and practical ministry training.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denver Seminary</span> American Evangelical Christian seminary

Denver Seminary is a private, evangelical Christian seminary with its main campus in Littleton, Colorado.

Ernest Dinwoodie Pickering was an Independent Baptist fundamentalist Christian pastor, author, college administrator, and mission board representative.

The American Baptist Historical Society (ABHS) is the oldest Baptist historical society in the United States.

References

  1. William H. Brackney, Congregation and Campus: Baptists in Higher Education, Mercer University Press, USA, 2008, p. 295
  2. Randall Herbert Balmer, Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism: Revised and expanded edition, Baylor University Press, USA, 2004, p. 223
  3. Associated Baptist Press, Eastern Baptist Seminary to be renamed for Palmer, baptistnews.com, USA, May 24, 2005
  4. "Palmer Theological Seminary | History of Palmer Theological Seminary | Chrisitan Community". www.palmerseminary.edu. Archived from the original on 2013-12-23.
  5. Mark Hostutler, Eastern University Welcomes Theological School to Its Campus as Part of Nationwide Trend, delco.today, USA, March 17, 2017
  6. "Palmer Theological Seminary | Catalog | History and Relationships | Christian Seminary near Philadelphia". www.palmerseminary.edu. Archived from the original on 2015-04-01.
  7. "Beethoven manuscript, lost 115 years, is found", International Herald Tribune, October 13, 2005
  8. "Palmer Seminary discovers important Beethoven music manuscript", article at Eastern University web site Archived 2006-09-08 at the Wayback Machine
  9. Eurasian College: "Visiting Lecturers- Jay Smith" retrieved March 15, 2015
  10. Christianity Today: "Unapologetic Apologist - Jay Smith confronts Muslim fundamentalists with fundamentalist fervor" by Deann Alford June 13, 2008

40°03′12″N75°22′08″W / 40.0533°N 75.3689°W / 40.0533; -75.3689