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 is a seminary, which means it's a place where people study religion, especially to become pastors or leaders in churches. Fuller is known for being an Evangelical Christian school. This means it follows a certain type of Christian faith.
The seminary also has other smaller campuses in the western United States. It is considered "egalitarian," meaning it believes in equal opportunities for everyone. About 2,300 students from 90 different countries attend Fuller. They come from over 110 different Christian groups. More than 41,000 people have graduated from Fuller over the years.
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Fuller Seminary: A Look at Its Past
Fuller Theological Seminary started in 1947. It was founded by Charles E. Fuller, who was a famous radio preacher. He had a show called Old Fashioned Revival Hour. He started the school with Harold Ockenga, a pastor from Boston. They wanted to make Christian studies more academic and encourage Christians to help their communities. Charles Fuller hoped the seminary would be like a "Caltech" (a famous science school) for the Christian world.
Early Years and New Ideas
When Fuller first opened, many teachers had traditional Christian views. But in the 1960s and 1970s, new teachers with different ideas joined. This led to some discussions about how to understand the Bible. Fuller became important in developing new ways of thinking about Christian faith.
In 1965, a new school for world missions was created at Fuller. This school focused on teaching people how to share their faith around the world. Donald McGavran, a very important expert in missions, became its first leader. He brought in other great mission teachers like Alan Tippett and Ralph D. Winter. Fuller's School of World Mission grew to be the largest of its kind. It trained more mission students than any other seminary. In 2022, about 2,370 students were enrolled at Fuller.
Leaders of Fuller Seminary
Fuller has had six presidents since it began. The first president was Harold Ockenga, who helped start the school. He worked from Boston until 1954.
Then, Edward John Carnell became president in 1954, but he resigned in 1959. Harold Ockenga stepped in again for a short time. In 1963, David Allan Hubbard became the third president. He led the seminary for 30 years, during a time of big growth and some debates.
After Hubbard, Richard Mouw became president in 1993 and served until 2013. He was known as a leading evangelical voice. In July 2013, Mark Labberton took over as president. He had been a pastor and a professor at Fuller before.
In October 2021, Labberton announced he would retire. David Emmanuel Goatley became the sixth president in January 2023. He is the first African American to hold this important role.
What Students Study at Fuller
Fuller Theological Seminary has two main parts for learning. One is the School of Mission and Theology. The other is the School of Psychology & Marriage and Family Therapy. Students often take classes from both schools.
The seminary offers many different degrees. These include eight master's degrees and seven doctoral degrees. They also have two certificate programs. Some of these programs can be completed online. Some are even offered in Korean or Spanish.
Fuller is officially recognized by important groups that check schools. This means its degrees are respected. Students at Fuller come from many different countries and Christian backgrounds.
Fuller's Campuses
Fuller has changed its campus locations over the years. It closed some smaller campuses in places like Seattle, Menlo Park, and Irvine. It also reduced programs in Colorado Springs and Phoenix before the 2019-2020 school year.
In 2009, Fuller opened a large new library in Pasadena. It combined an old library building with a new one. The whole library is about 90,000 square feet.
In 2018, Fuller thought about selling its main campus in Pasadena and moving. But in 2019, they decided to stay in Pasadena. This was because building costs were too high, and there were issues with selling the old campus.
Today, Fuller has campuses in Pasadena, California, Phoenix, Arizona (called Fuller Arizona), and Houston, Texas (called Fuller Texas).
Fuller and Social Issues
Fuller Seminary encourages open discussions about different ideas among its students and teachers. For example, the former president, Mark Labberton, supported changes to immigration laws in 2013. Some people at Fuller have also supported the Black Lives Matter movement, which raises awareness about civil rights. In 2015, some teachers at the seminary asked Christians to talk respectfully about important topics like race, gender, and helping refugees.
Awards and Special Recognition
Each year, Fuller gives out the David Allan Hubbard Achievement Award. This award goes to a graduating student from each of the seminary's three schools. It recognizes students who have done excellent work while studying at Fuller. The award is named after David Allan Hubbard, who was a scholar and the third president of Fuller Theological Seminary. Teachers from each school choose the award winners.
See also
In Spanish: Seminario Teológico Fuller para niños
- List of Fuller Theological Seminary people
