Asbury Theological Seminary

American Methodist seminary

Not to be confused with Asbury University.

Asbury Theological SeminaryMotto| The whole Bible for the whole world.

|

Type| Seminary
Established| 1923; 102 years ago (1923)
Endowment| $149.9 million (2020)[1]
President| David F. Watson
Students| 1,710
Location|

Wilmore

Kentucky

United States

Campus| Exurban (Kentucky), Suburban (Florida), Online
Website| www.asburyseminary.edu

Asbury Theological Seminary is a Christian Wesleyan seminary in the historical Methodist tradition located in Wilmore, Kentucky. It is the largest seminary of the Wesleyan-Holiness movement.[2] It is known for its advocacy of egalitarianism, giving equal status for men and women in ministerial roles and for ordination. It is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools[3] and the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS).[4]

## History

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Statue of John Wesley at ATS - Wilmore Campus

Asbury Theological Seminary was founded in Wilmore, Kentucky, in 1923 by its first president, Henry Clay Morrison, who was at the time the president of Asbury College. In 1940, Asbury Seminary separated from the college in order to satisfy accreditation requirements. Because of the proximity of the two schools (across the street), similar names, and common theological heritage, many people confuse the relationship between the college and the seminary. While they are separate institutions, the schools maintain a collegial relationship that benefits both communities.

Asbury Seminary has had eight presidents since its founding.[5] In December 2023, the seminary announced that Timothy C. Tennent, the eighth president, would transition out of the presidency to be a Professor of World Christianity.[6] In February 2024, the seminary launched a search process for the next president.[7] In May 2024, The Board of Trustees named David J. Gyertson interim president starting July 1, 2024.[8] In March 2025, the Board of Trustees elected David F. Watson as the next president effective July 1, 2025.[9]

### Presidents

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1. Henry Clay Morrison (1923–1942)
2. J.C. McPheeters (1942–1962)
3. Frank Stanger (1962–1982)
4. David McKenna (1982–1994)
5. Maxie Dunnam (1994–2004)
6. Jeff Greenway (2004–2006)
7. Ellsworth Kalas (2006–2009)
8. Timothy Tennent (2009–2024)
9. [Interim] David Gyertson (2024–June 30, 2025)
10. David F. Watson (July 1, 2025–Present)

## Extended education

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In addition to the main campus at Wilmore, the seminary offers courses through online learning and extension sites in Memphis, Tenn., Tulsa, Okla., Colorado Springs, Colo., Tampa, Fla. and Orlando, Fla.

## Accreditation

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Asbury Theological Seminary is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award master's and doctoral degrees. It is an accredited member of The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada. Asbury Theological Seminary does not, within the context of its religious principles, heritage, mission, and goals, discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, physical impairment, or gender in the administration of its admission policies, educational policies, scholarship, and loan programs, athletic or other school-administered programs. The seminary is authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant alien students.[10]

## Academic Schools

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Asbury Theological Seminary has four academic schools.

* School of Biblical Interpretation
* E. Stanley Jones School of World Mission and Evangelism
* School of Theology & Formation
* School of Counseling

## Notable faculty

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* Bill T. Arnold — Paul S. Amos Professor of Old Testament Interpretation, editor of biblical commentary series, including the New International Commentary on the Old Testament (NICOT)
* Kenneth J. Collins — professor of Historical Theology and Wesley Studies
* Craig S. Keener — professor of New Testament, known for his expertise in Greco-Roman and Jewish sources
* John N. Oswalt — visiting distinguished professor of the Old Testament, involved with the NIV and NLT Bible translations, author of a major commentary on Isaiah
* Ben Witherington III — Jean R. Amos Professor of New Testament for Doctoral Studies, and prolific author

## Notable alumni

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* Jacob DeShazer, a member of the Doolittle Raid, a prisoner of war in Japan, and then a missionary to Japan in the Free Methodist Church
* Darryl Fitzwater, bishop of the Missionary Diocese of All Saints in the Anglican Church in North America
* Jim Garlow, pastor of Skyline Church in San Diego
* Alfred W. Gwinn, former United Methodist Bishop of the North Carolina Annual Conference
* Stephen Hance, Church of England priest and Dean of Derby Cathedral
* Joe Hilley, (class of 1984), New York Times bestselling author
* James W. Holsinger, M.Div., former chair of Board of Trustees, former member of the Board of Trustees, and nominated United States Surgeon General
* Marshall MacClellan, D.Min., suffragan bishop of the Jurisdiction of the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy in the Anglican Church in North America
* David Seamands, United Methodist pastor and writer
* Ted Strickland (class of 1967), 68th Governor of Ohio and former member of the United States House of Representatives.

## References

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1. ^ As of June 30, 2020. U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2020 Endowment Market Value and Change in Endowment Market Value from FY19 to FY20 (Report). National Association of College and University Business Officers and TIAA. February 19, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
2. ^ Winn, Christian T. Collins (2007). From the Margins: A Celebration of the Theological Work of Donald W. Dayton. Wipf and Stock Publishers. p. 115\. ISBN 9781630878320. "In addition to these separate denominational groupings, one needs to give attention to the large pockets of the Holiness movement that have remained within the United Methodist Church. The most influential of these would be the circles dominated by Asbury College and Asbury Theological Seminary (both in Wilmore, KY), but one could speak of other colleges, innumerable local campmeetings, the vestiges of various local Holiness associations, independent Holiness oriented missionary societies and the like that have had great impact within United Methodism. A similar pattern would exist in England with the role of Cliff College within Methodism in that context."
3. ^ "SACS Institution Details - Asbury Theological Seminary". Archived from the original on September 27, 2011.
4. ^ "Not Found". www.ats.edu. Archived from the original on March 24, 2009.
5. ^ "About Asbury Theological Seminary". asburyseminary.edu. Asbury Theological Seminary.
6. ^ "Asbury Theological Seminary's President Transitions to Professor of World Christianity". asburyseminary.edu. Asbury Theological Seminary.
7. ^ "Asbury Seminary Announces Presidential Search". asburyseminary.edu. Asbury Theological Seminary.
8. ^ "Asbury Theological Seminary Names Dr. David J. Gyertson Interim President". asburyseminary.edu. Asbury Theological Seminary.
9. ^ "Asbury Seminary Welcomes Next President". asburyseminary.edu. Asbury Theological Seminary.
10. ^ "Accreditation - Asbury Theological Seminary". Asburyseminary.edu. July 11, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2012.

## External links

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* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Asbury Theological Seminary

Founder
1st President|

* Henry Clay Morrison

Presidents|

* J.C. McPheeters
* Frank Stanger
* David McKenna
* Maxie Dunnam
* Jeff Greenway
* Ellsworth Kalas
* Timothy Tennent

Faculty|

| Present|

* Craig Keener
* Ellsworth Kalas
* John N. Oswalt
* Ben Witherington III

|

* v
* t
* e

Kentucky higher education

Early entrance to college|

* Craft Academy for Excellence in Science and Mathematics
* Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science

Public universities|

* Eastern Kentucky University
* Kentucky State University
* Morehead State University
* Murray State University
* Northern Kentucky University
* University of Kentucky
* University of Louisville
* Western Kentucky University

Private colleges and universities|

* Alice Lloyd College
* Asbury Theological Seminary
* Asbury University
* Baptist Seminary of Kentucky
* Bellarmine University
* Berea College
* Brescia University
* Campbellsville University
* Centre College
* Clear Creek Baptist Bible College
* Frontier Nursing University
* Georgetown College
* Kentucky Christian University
* Kentucky Mountain Bible College
* Kentucky Wesleyan College
* Lexington Theological Seminary
* Lindsey Wilson College
* Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
* Midway University
* Simmons College
* Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
* Spalding University
* Sullivan University
* Thomas More University
* Transylvania University
* Union Commonwealth University
* University of the Cumberlands
* University of Pikeville

Community and/or technical colleges|

* Ashland
* Big Sandy
* Bluegrass
* Elizabethtown
* Gateway
* Hazard
* Henderson
* Hopkinsville
* Jefferson
* Madisonville
* Maysville
* Owensboro
* Somerset
* Southcentral Kentucky
* Southeast Kentucky
* West Kentucky

Postsecondary education programs|

* Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education

* v
* t
* e

Members of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities

Governing Members|

* Abilene Christian
* Ambrose
* Anderson (Indiana)
* Anderson (South Carolina)
* Asbury
* Azusa Pacific
* Belhaven
* Bethel (Indiana)
* Bethel (Minnesota)
* Bethany
* Biola
* Bluefield
* Bushnell
* California Baptist
* Calvin
* Campbellsville
* Central Baptist
* Central Christian
* Charleston Southern
* Colorado Christian
* Concordia-Ann Arbor
* Concordia–Chicago
* Concordia–Irvine
* Concordia–Nebraska
* Concordia-Wisconsin
* Corban
* Cornerstone
* Covenant
* Crown
* Dallas Baptist
* Dordt
* East Texas Baptist
* Eastern Nazarene
* Emmanuel
* Erskine
* Evangel
* Faulkner
* Fresno Pacific
* Geneva
* George Fox
* Gordon
* Grace
* Greenville
* Hannibal–LaGrange
* Hardin–Simmons
* Harding
* Hope International
* Houghton
* Houston Christian
* Howard Payne
* Huntington
* Indiana Wesleyan
* Jessup
* John Brown
* Judson (Illinois)
* Kentucky Christian
* King
* Lee
* LeTourneau
* Lipscomb
* Malone
* Messiah
* Mid-America Christian
* MidAmerica Nazarene
* Milligan
* Mississippi
* Missouri Baptist
* Montreat
* Mount Vernon Nazarene
* Multnomah
* North Central
* North Park
* Northwest Nazarene
* Northwest
* Northwestern (Iowa)
* Oklahoma Baptist
* Oklahoma Christian
* Olivet Nazarene
* Oral Roberts
* Ouachita
* Palm Beach Atlantic
* Point
* Point Loma Nazarene
* Redeemer
* Regent
* Roberts Wesleyan
* San Diego Christian
* Simpson
* Southeastern
* Southern Adventist
* Southern Nazarene
* Southern Wesleyan
* Southwest Baptist
* Spring Arbor
* Sterling
* Tabor
* Taylor
* Toccoa Falls
* Trevecca Nazarene
* Trinity Christian
* Trinity International
* Trinity Western
* Mary Hardin–Baylor
* Northwestern – St. Paul (UNWSP)
* Southwest
* Vanguard
* Walla Walla
* Warner
* Wayland Baptist
* Westmont
* Wheaton
* Wisconsin Lutheran
* York (Nebraska)

Associate Members|

* Arizona Christian
* Asbury Theological Seminary
* Briercrest
* Cairn
* Columbia International
* Crandall
* Dallas Theological Seminary
* Denver Seminary
* Fuller Theological Seminary
* Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
* Johnson
* Kuyper
* Life Pacific
* Lincoln Christian
* Martin Luther
* McMaster Divinity
* Mid-Atlantic Christian
* Moody
* Ohio Christian
* Ozark Christian
* Prairie
* Providence
* Southwestern Christian
* King's (New York)
* King's (Texas)
* Tyndale
* Valley Forge

37°51′44.34″N 84°39′39.56″W﻿ / ﻿37.8623167°N 84.6609889°W﻿ / 37.8623167; -84.6609889

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* United States
* Israel

Other|

* Yale LUX

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