Wesley Theological Seminary
Encyclopedia
Wesley Theological Seminary is a United Methodist–affiliated seminary
located in Washington, D.C.
, United States
. The school was founded in 1882. As a seminary affiliated with the United Methodist Church, the theology at Wesley is considered Mainline Protestant.
(hence its name).
In 1939, Westminster became one of the ten theological schools under the newly-formed Methodist Church. Upon its association with this new, larger, Westminster quickly experienced a period of growth. Because of this continued growth, it was determined in 1955 that Westminster should move to a more central location, namely, Washington, D.C.
In 1958, Westminster moved to its current location and was renamed Wesley Theological Seminary.
Upon the formation of the United Methodist Church
, Wesley became one of the 13 theological schools under the jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church and still is to this day.
and is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada
.
Wesley offers Master of Divinity
, Master of Arts
, Master of Theological Studies
, and Doctor of Ministry
degrees. In addition, Wesley offers a dual degree program in concert with neighboring American University
. Graduates of the dual degree program receive a Master of Theological Studies
from Wesley and a Master of Arts
degree in International Peace and Conflict Resolution or International Development.
Wesley also offers the National Capital Semester for Seminarians program which gives seminarians the opportunity to come to Washington, DC to see how theology interacts with public policy. This program is conducted by the Churches' Center for Theology and Public Policy which is an ecumenical organization that serves to research and explore the relationship between theology and issues of social and public policy.
The current president, the Rev. Dr. David McAllister-Wilson, was installed in 2002. Since its formation in 1882, Westminster/Wesley has had ten presidents: Thomas Hamilton Lewis (1882–1886), James Thomas Ward (1886–1897), Hugh Latimer Elderdice (1897–1933), Fred Garrigus Holloway
(1933–1935),
Charles Edward Forlines (1935–1943), Lester Allen Welliver (1943–1955), Norman L. Trott (1955–1967), John Lowden Knight
(1967–1982), and G. Douglass Lewis (1982–2002).
, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
, Episcopal
, United Church of Christ
, and Unitarian Universalist.
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 Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The school was founded in 1882. As a seminary affiliated with the United Methodist Church, the theology at Wesley is considered Mainline Protestant.
History
Wesley Theological Seminary can trace its roots back to the 1881 meeting of the Methodist Protestant Church's Maryland Annual Conference. Legislation was passed during the meeting that would lead to the founding of Westminster Theological Seminary in 1882. The seminary was located on the campus of Western Maryland College in Westminster, MarylandWestminster, Maryland
Westminster is a city in northern Maryland, United States. It is the seat of Carroll County. The city's population was 18,590 at the 2010 census. Westminster is an outlying community within the Baltimore-Towson, MD MSA, which is part of a greater Washington-Baltimore-Northern Virginia, DC-MD-VA-WV...
(hence its name).
In 1939, Westminster became one of the ten theological schools under the newly-formed Methodist Church. Upon its association with this new, larger, Westminster quickly experienced a period of growth. Because of this continued growth, it was determined in 1955 that Westminster should move to a more central location, namely, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
In 1958, Westminster moved to its current location and was renamed Wesley Theological Seminary.
Upon the formation of the United Methodist Church
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
, Wesley became one of the 13 theological schools under the jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church and still is to this day.
Mission
The mission of Wesley Theological Seminary is, "to prepare persons for Christian ministry, to foster theological scholarship, and to provide leadership on issues facing the church and the world. Our aim is to nourish a critical understanding of Christian faith, cultivate disciplined spiritual lives, and promote a just and compassionate engagement in the mission of the church to the world."Academics
Wesley is a member of the Washington Theological ConsortiumWashington Theological Consortium
The Washington Theological Consortium is an ecumenical organization with its regular membership composed of Christian theological schools located in or near the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area that cooperate and share resources....
and is accredited by 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...
.
Wesley offers Master of Divinity
Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
, Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
, Master of Theological Studies
Master of Theological Studies
A Master of Theological Studies is a general academic degree that gives students an introduction to advanced theological studies. The M.T.S usually requires two years of program study to complete. The Latin equivalent for M.T.S...
, and Doctor of Ministry
Doctor of Ministry
The Doctor of Ministry degree is, according to The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada , a doctoral level degree oriented toward ministerial leadership often in an area of applied theology, such as missions, evangelism, church leadership, pastoral psychology or the...
degrees. In addition, Wesley offers a dual degree program in concert with neighboring American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
. Graduates of the dual degree program receive a Master of Theological Studies
Master of Theological Studies
A Master of Theological Studies is a general academic degree that gives students an introduction to advanced theological studies. The M.T.S usually requires two years of program study to complete. The Latin equivalent for M.T.S...
from Wesley and a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree in International Peace and Conflict Resolution or International Development.
Wesley also offers the National Capital Semester for Seminarians program which gives seminarians the opportunity to come to Washington, DC to see how theology interacts with public policy. This program is conducted by the Churches' Center for Theology and Public Policy which is an ecumenical organization that serves to research and explore the relationship between theology and issues of social and public policy.
Administration
Wesley Theological Seminary is governed by a Board of Governors and is under the jurisdiction of the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church.The current president, the Rev. Dr. David McAllister-Wilson, was installed in 2002. Since its formation in 1882, Westminster/Wesley has had ten presidents: Thomas Hamilton Lewis (1882–1886), James Thomas Ward (1886–1897), Hugh Latimer Elderdice (1897–1933), Fred Garrigus Holloway
Fred Garrigus Holloway
Fred Garrigus Holloway was an American Bishop of The Methodist Church, elected in 1960.-Education:Holloway graduated in 1918 from Western Maryland College , then earned a B.A. from Drew University in 1921....
(1933–1935),
Charles Edward Forlines (1935–1943), Lester Allen Welliver (1943–1955), Norman L. Trott (1955–1967), John Lowden Knight
John Lowden Knight
John Lowden Knight was a professor, university administrator, and a Methodist theolgian. He was President of Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln, Nebraska; the fourth president of Baldwin-Wallace College, Berea, Ohio; and the eighth president of the Wesley Theological Seminary, in Washington,...
(1967–1982), and G. Douglass Lewis (1982–2002).
Student body
The student body of Wesley Theological Seminary is culturally, denominationally, and theologically diverse. Among the 500 students, 56% are women, 43% are an ethnic minority, and 38 denominations are represented. Denominationally, the student body is primarily made up of United Methodists. However, there are significant numbers of students from other Methodist and non-Methodist faith traditions such as African Methodist Episcopal, African Methodist Episcopal Zion, BaptistBaptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
The Presbyterian Church , or PC, is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. Part of the Reformed tradition, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S...
, Episcopal
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
, United Church of Christ
United Church of Christ
The United Church of Christ is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination primarily in the Reformed tradition but also historically influenced by Lutheranism. The Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches united in 1957 to form the UCC...
, and Unitarian Universalist.
Notable alumni
- Don Knight (actor)Don Knight (actor)Donald Knight was an English film, television, and stage actor.Born in Manchester, Knight moved to North America where he studied at Sir George Williams University in Montreal, Canada, and later Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. Knight was also an ordained minister, and during his...
- English Movie, Television, and Stage Actor - Michel Martin - Journalist
- C. Anthony MuseC. Anthony MuseC. Anthony Muse is an American politician and minister from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party. He is currently serving in his 2nd term in the Maryland State Senate, representing Maryland's District 26 in southern Prince George's County...
- Maryland State Senator - Harvey StowerHarvey StowerPharis Harvey Stower, Jr. was a Wisconsin politician and legislator.-Early Life, Education, and Career:Born in Frederic, Wisconsin, Stower and his family moved to Amery, Wisconsin, where he attended high school...
- Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly and mayor of Amery, Wisconsin - Ed WhitfieldEd WhitfieldWayne Edward "Ed" Whitfield is the U.S. Representative of , serving since 1995. He is a member of the Republican Party.The district covers much of the western part of the state, including Hopkinsville, Paducah, Henderson and Kentucky's share of Fort Campbell.-Early life, education and...
- United States Representative from Kentucky