Calvin Theological Seminary


Calvin Theological Seminary is a seminary affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church in North America, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States, and closely tied to Calvin College, though each institution has its own board. Rev. Julius Medenblik is currently president of the school.

Education

The seminary primarily prepares students for ordained ministry within the denomination through the Master of Divinity degree, but also grants master's degrees in other subjects including worship, education, missions, and theological studies.
The seminary also offers a Th.M. with concentrations in Old Ancient Near Eastern Languages and Literature, New
Historical Theology, Systematic Theology, Philosophical and Moral Theology, Pastoral Care, Church Polity and Administration, Preaching, Worship, Educational Ministry, and Missions, as well as the Ph.D. degree in historical, systematic, and philosophical theology, and in ethics.
In addition to formal degrees, the seminary offers continuing education, including courses that are open to visitors, lectures, book discussion groups, and conferences for clergy and those in the community.

History

The seminary was founded in 1876 with the purpose of preparing ministers for the Christian Reformed Church. Originally it met on Spring Street in Grand Rapids, but in 1892 it was moved to Madison Avenue and Franklin Street. In 1917 it made the move to the Franklin Street location. It began holding classes on the Knollcrest Campus, its current location, in 1960.
In 1894 the seminary began to offer eight literary courses for the preparation for seminary studies. In 1900 these courses were expanded and made open to non-seminary students. The school enrolled its first four female students in 1901. In 1908 the school expanded to include a full four years of high school education and two years of college, and in 1914 this was expanded to three years. In 1919 and 1920 respectively, a college president and a fourth year of college education were added, which led to the formation of Calvin College.

Previous Presidents