Fuller Theological Seminary facts for kids
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| Type | Seminary |
|---|---|
| Established | 1947 |
| President | David Emmanuel Goatley |
| Location |
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California
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United States
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| Campus | Urban |
Fuller Theological Seminary is a special school in Pasadena, California. It teaches people about Christian faith and prepares them for religious work. It is a Christian seminary, which means it's a college for religious studies.
Fuller is unique because it welcomes students from many different Christian groups. This is called being interdenominational. It is also an Evangelical Christian school. This means it focuses on the Bible and sharing Christian faith. The school believes in egalitarianism, meaning everyone is equal, including in leadership roles.
About 2,300 students from 90 countries attend Fuller. They come from over 110 different Christian groups. More than 41,000 people have graduated from Fuller. Most people at Fuller, both teachers and students, are broadly evangelical. Some believe the Bible is completely true in every way. Others believe it is true for faith and salvation, but might have small errors in history or science.
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History of Fuller Seminary
Fuller Theological Seminary started in 1947. It was founded by Charles E. Fuller, a famous radio preacher. He had a show called Old Fashioned Revival Hour. He started the school with Harold Ockenga, a pastor from Boston.
The founders wanted to change fundamentalism. This was a very strict type of Christianity. They wanted the school to be more open to new ideas and learning. Charles Fuller hoped it would be like a "Caltech" (a famous science school) for the Christian world. In the early years, teachers at Fuller believed Christians should help with social issues.
Early Years and Growth
At first, the teachers had very traditional Christian views. But in the 1960s and 1970s, more teachers with different ideas joined. There were some discussions about how to understand the Bible. This led to new ways of thinking in the evangelical movement.
In 1965, Fuller started a new school for world missions. This school focused on sharing the Christian message around the world. Donald McGavran, a famous expert in missions, became its first leader. He brought in many other great mission experts. These teachers helped shape how Christian missions were done for many years. Fuller's School of World Mission became the biggest school for mission training in the world. It also had the most mission teachers and graduated the most mission students.
In 2022, about 2,370 students were studying at Fuller.
Leaders of Fuller Seminary
Fuller has had six presidents since it began. The first president, Harold Ockenga, stayed in Boston. He helped choose teachers and plan what would be taught.
Edward John Carnell became the second president in 1954. He was a Baptist theologian. He resigned in 1959 because of health issues.
Then, David Allan Hubbard became president in 1963. He was only 35 years old. Hubbard led the seminary for 30 years. During his time, the school grew a lot, but also faced some challenges.
After Hubbard, Richard Mouw became president in 1993. He was a philosopher and theologian. He served until 2013. A newspaper called him "one of the nation's leading evangelicals."
In 2013, Mark Labberton became the next president. He was a Presbyterian pastor. He had taught preaching at Fuller since 2009. Labberton announced his retirement in 2021.
David Goatley became the sixth president in January 2023. He is the first African American to lead the seminary. He was a missions leader and worked at Duke University.
What Fuller Teaches
Fuller Theological Seminary has two main parts:
- The School of Mission and Theology (SMT)
- The School of Psychology & Marriage and Family Therapy (SOPMFT)
The school encourages students to learn from both parts. Many students take classes in both theology and psychology. Fuller offers many different degrees. These include eight master's degrees, seven doctoral degrees, and two certificate programs. Some of these degrees can be earned completely online. Some are also available in Korean or Spanish.
Fuller is officially recognized by important groups. These include the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada. Its psychology programs are also recognized by the American Psychological Association. This means their degrees are respected and valuable.
Fuller Campuses
Fuller used to have more campuses in places like Seattle and Menlo Park. But they closed some of these locations. They also reduced the number of programs offered in Colorado Springs and Phoenix. These changes happened before the 2019–20 school year.
In 2009, Fuller opened a large new library in Pasadena. It is called the David Allan Hubbard Library. It is about 90,000 square feet in total.
In 2018, Fuller thought about selling its main campus in Pasadena. They planned to move to Pomona. But in 2019, they decided not to move. The cost of building in Southern California was too high. Also, there were disagreements with the City of Pasadena about selling the campus.
Today, Fuller has campuses in Pasadena, California, Phoenix, Arizona, and Houston, Texas. The Phoenix campus is called Fuller Arizona, and the Houston campus is called Fuller Texas.
Social Issues and Community
Fuller Seminary allows different opinions among its students and teachers. For example, the former president, Mark Labberton, supported changes to immigration laws in 2013. He wanted a way for undocumented immigrants to become citizens. Other people at Fuller have supported the Black Lives Matter movement. They see it as raising awareness for civil rights.
In 2015, some teachers at Fuller asked Christians to talk openly about important topics. These topics included race, gender, refugees, and immigrants. They encouraged respectful discussions.
One student group at Fuller is called OneTable. It is the first LGBTQ group to be officially recognized within an evangelical seminary.
Awards and Recognition
Fuller gives out the David Allan Hubbard Achievement Award every year. This award goes to a graduating student from each of the three schools. It recognizes their excellent work at Fuller. The award is named after David Allan Hubbard, who was the third president of the seminary. Teachers from each school choose the award winners.
See also
In Spanish: Seminario Teológico Fuller para niños
- List of Fuller Theological Seminary people
