Calvin Theological Seminary is a

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seminary A seminary, school of theology, theological college, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called seminarians) in scripture and theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as cle ...

Grand Rapids, Michigan Grand Rapids is the largest city and county seat of Kent County, Michigan, United States. With a population of 198,917 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and estimated at 200,117 in 2024, Grand Rapids is the List of municipalities ...

. It is closely tied to

Calvin University Calvin University, formerly Calvin College, is a private Christian university in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1876, Calvin University is an educational institution of the Christian Reformed Church and stands in the Reforme ...

, though each institution has its own board.

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 moved 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 Calvin University, formerly Calvin College, is a private Christian university in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1876, Calvin University is an educational institution of the Christian Reformed Church and stands in the Reforme ...

Presidents

* Geert Egberts Boer * Louis Berkhof * Samuel Volbeda * Rienk B. Kuiper * John H. Kromminga * James A. De Jong * Cornelius Plantinga * Jul Medenblik

Academics

The seminary primarily prepares students for ordained ministry within the denomination through the

Master of Divinity For graduate-level theological institutions, the Master of Divinity (MDiv, ''magister divinitatis'' in Latin) is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America. It is the most common academic degree in seminaries and ...

degree, but also grants

master's degree A master's degree (from Latin ) is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional prac ...

s ( MA, MTS) 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 Continuing education is the education undertaken after initial education for either personal or professional reasons. The term is used mainly in the United States and Canada. Recognized forms of post-secondary learning activities within the d ...

, including courses that are open to visitors, lectures, book discussion groups, and conferences for clergy and those in the community.

Notable alumni and faculty

* Louis Berkhof * Clarence Bouma * Anthony Hoekema * Herman Hoeksema * James Kennedy, professor of the

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at the

University of Amsterdam The University of Amsterdam (abbreviated as UvA, ) is a public university, public research university located in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Established in 1632 by municipal authorities, it is the fourth-oldest academic institution in the Netherlan ...

* Barend Klaas Kuiper, professor of history, who was dismissed after watching a movie."Saw movie, loses job"
''Kingsport Times'' from Kingsport, Tennessee. July 6, 1928, p. 1. via Newspapers.com (subscription required) * Rienk Kuiper * Richard Muller * James Olthuis * Cornelius Plantinga * Lewis Smedes * John Stek *

Cornelius Van Til Cornelius Van Til (May 3, 1895 – April 17, 1987) was a Dutch-American Reformed theologian, who is credited as being the originator of modern presuppositional apologetics. A graduate of Calvin College, Van Til later received his PhD from Pr ...

* Geerhardus Vos * Jeffrey A. D. Weima

References

External links

Calvin Theological Seminary website''Kerux'', the online student publication of Calvin Theological Seminary
{{coord, 42, 55, 39.3, N, 85, 35, 11.94, W, type:edu_region:US-MI, display=title Seminaries and theological colleges in Michigan Education in Grand Rapids, Michigan Reformed church seminaries and theological colleges in the United States Universities and colleges established in 1876 Universities and colleges in Kent County, Michigan 1876 establishments in Michigan Christian Reformed Church in North America