Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary
Encyclopedia
The Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary (PRTS) is a conservative
Calvinist seminary
located in Grand Rapids, Michigan
. The seminary's self-stated distinctive among Reformed seminaries in North America is a focus on experiential preaching and teaching. PRTS is the official seminary of the Heritage Reformed Congregations. The publishing house, Reformation Heritage Books, operates within PRTS and has a bookstore on-site.
attend for their official theological
training, and students outside of these denominations are accepted on the basis of adherence to the Three Forms of Unity
and/or the Westminster Standards
and meeting the basic admissions requirements.
PRTS is accredited through the Association of Reformed Theological Seminaries (ARTS), an organization of eight North America
n seminaries that adhere to either the Three Forms of Unity
or the Westminster Standards
. In July 2010, it became an associate member of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada
(ATS).
. Students work at their own pace in these classes under the tutelage of Christopher Engelsma, director of distance learning. The PRTS Online Language Center is a wiki
with over 700 pages. It is used to facilitate these courses. PRTS also hosts a Community site where recordings of many course lectures can be accessed freely.
. In 2010, a second annual conference was held, titled, "The Beauty and Glory of Christ." The 2011 annual conference was on "The Beauty and Glory of the Holy Spirit."
Conservative Christianity
Conservative Christianity is a term applied to a number of groups or movements seen as giving priority to traditional Christian beliefs and practices...
Calvinist seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
located in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
. The seminary's self-stated distinctive among Reformed seminaries in North America is a focus on experiential preaching and teaching. PRTS is the official seminary of the Heritage Reformed Congregations. The publishing house, Reformation Heritage Books, operates within PRTS and has a bookstore on-site.
History
Classes at PRTS commenced in August, 1995. Students of the Heritage Reformed Congregations and the Free Reformed Churches of North AmericaFree Reformed Churches of North America
The Free Reformed Churches of North America is a theologically conservative federation of churches in the Dutch Calvinist tradition with congregations in the United States and Canada. It officially adopted its current name in 1974...
attend for their official theological
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
training, and students outside of these denominations are accepted on the basis of adherence to the Three Forms of Unity
Three Forms of Unity
The Three Forms of Unity is a collective name for the Belgic Confession, the Canons of Dort, and the Heidelberg Catechism, which reflect the doctrinal concerns of Continental Calvinism and are accepted as official statements of doctrine by many of the Reformed churches.-History:From 1618 to 1619...
and/or the Westminster Standards
Westminster Standards
The Westminster Standards is a collective name for the documents drawn up by the Westminster Assembly. These include the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Westminster Shorter Catechism, the Westminster Larger Catechism, the Directory of Public Worship, and the Form of Church Government, and...
and meeting the basic admissions requirements.
PRTS is accredited through the Association of Reformed Theological Seminaries (ARTS), an organization of eight North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n seminaries that adhere to either the Three Forms of Unity
Three Forms of Unity
The Three Forms of Unity is a collective name for the Belgic Confession, the Canons of Dort, and the Heidelberg Catechism, which reflect the doctrinal concerns of Continental Calvinism and are accepted as official statements of doctrine by many of the Reformed churches.-History:From 1618 to 1619...
or the Westminster Standards
Westminster Standards
The Westminster Standards is a collective name for the documents drawn up by the Westminster Assembly. These include the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Westminster Shorter Catechism, the Westminster Larger Catechism, the Directory of Public Worship, and the Form of Church Government, and...
. In July 2010, it became an associate member of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada
Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada
The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada is an organization of seminaries and other graduate schools of theology. ATS has its headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and has more than 250 member institutions...
(ATS).
Teaching Staff
The seminary has a variety of part-time faculty members and four full-time faculty with offices on site: Dr. Joel R. Beeke, Dr. Gerald M. Bilkes, Dr. David P. Murray, and Dr. William VanDoodewaard.- Joel Beeke is the seminary's founder, President, and Professor of Systematic Theology and Homiletics. Beeke is also a popular Reformed Christian conference speaker throughout the world, as well as a frequent radio interviewee. He has also authored numerous Christian books and publications.
- Gerald Bilkes is Professor of Old and New Testament.
- David Murray is Professor of Old Testament and Practical Theology.
- William VanDoodewaard is Associate Professor of Church History.
Distance Learning
PRTS has an actively developed distance learning program. Especially popular are the online courses in the original languages. PRTS uses the inductive method in these courses, a method pioneered by William Sanford LaSor of Fuller Theological SeminaryFuller Theological Seminary
Fuller Theological Seminary is an accredited Christian educational institute with its main campus in Pasadena, California and several satellite campuses in the western United States...
. Students work at their own pace in these classes under the tutelage of Christopher Engelsma, director of distance learning. The PRTS Online Language Center is a wiki
Wiki
A wiki is a website that allows the creation and editing of any number of interlinked web pages via a web browser using a simplified markup language or a WYSIWYG text editor. Wikis are typically powered by wiki software and are often used collaboratively by multiple users. Examples include...
with over 700 pages. It is used to facilitate these courses. PRTS also hosts a Community site where recordings of many course lectures can be accessed freely.
Conferences
In August 2009, there was a conference at PRTS about John CalvinJohn Calvin
John Calvin was an influential French theologian and pastor during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system of Christian theology later called Calvinism. Originally trained as a humanist lawyer, he broke from the Roman Catholic Church around 1530...
. In 2010, a second annual conference was held, titled, "The Beauty and Glory of Christ." The 2011 annual conference was on "The Beauty and Glory of the Holy Spirit."
Programs
PRTS offers three programs:- Master of DivinityMaster of DivinityIn the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
(M.Div.) - Master of Arts in Religion (M.A.R.)
- Master of TheologyMaster of TheologyA Master of Theology is an advanced theological research degree offered by universities, divinity schools, and seminaries.-North America:In North America, the Master of Theology is considered by the Association of Theological Schools to be the minimum educational credential for teaching...
(Th.M.)