Pittsburgh Theological Seminary facts for kids
 |
|
| Motto |
Soli Deo Gloria
|
|---|---|
|
Motto in English
|
Glory to God Alone |
| Type | Seminary |
| Established | 1794 |
| Accreditation | Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
|
Religious affiliation
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Presbyterian Church (USA) |
| President | Asa J. Lee |
| Students | 240 |
| Location |
,
,
United States
40°28′00″N 79°55′18″W / 40.46667°N 79.92167°W |
| Campus | Urban |
| Colors | Purple and Old Gold |
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (often called PTS) is a special school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It's a seminary, which means it's a place where people go to study religion and prepare to become ministers or leaders in the Presbyterian Church. It was started way back in 1794. Today, it has one of the biggest religious libraries in the Pittsburgh area.
Contents
A Look at the History of PTS
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary was created in 1959. This happened when two older schools joined together. These schools were the Western Theological Seminary and the Pittsburgh-Xenia Theological Seminary. They merged because their parent churches, the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. and the United Presbyterian Church of North America, also joined forces.
How the Schools Began
The Pittsburgh-Xenia Theological Seminary had a long history. It started in 1792 as Service Seminary in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Back then, the church depended on ministers from Scotland. So, they decided to train their own. John Anderson was the first teacher, and six students began their studies.
Over the years, Service Seminary moved several times. It went to Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, then to Xenia, Ohio. In Ohio, it became Xenia Theological Seminary. This move happened in the 1850s to be closer to more people in the Midwest. Later, in 1920, the school tried to move to St. Louis, Missouri, but it faced challenges.
In 1930, Xenia merged with another school from Pittsburgh. This new combined school was called Pittsburgh-Xenia Theological Seminary. Another school, Newburgh Seminary from New York City, also added its resources to this new institution.
Western Theological Seminary's Story
The other main school that formed PTS was Western Theological Seminary. It began from early academies (like small colleges) in Washington, Pennsylvania, in the late 1700s. The Presbyterian Church USA created Western Seminary in 1825. It was important for training ministers for the growing areas along the Ohio River.
Since the big merger in 1959, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary has been located in the Highland Park/East Liberty part of Pittsburgh. It continues to be an important school for the Presbyterian Church (USA).
What Students Study at PTS
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary is a fully accredited school. This means its programs meet high standards. The school offers different types of degrees for students who want to learn more about religion and become church leaders.
Degrees You Can Earn
Here are some of the degrees offered:
- Master of Divinity (M.Div.): This is a common degree for people becoming ministers.
- Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies (M.A.P.S.): This degree focuses on practical skills for church work.
- Master of Theological Studies (MTS): This degree is for deeper academic study of religious topics.
- Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.): This is an advanced degree for experienced ministers. It has special focus areas like Science and Theology or Missional Leadership.
Working with Other Schools
PTS also works with other universities in Pittsburgh. This allows students to earn two degrees at once! For example, you could get a Master of Divinity and a law degree (Juris Doctor) from Duquesne University. Or, you could combine a Master of Divinity with a social work degree from the University of Pittsburgh.
The Clifford E. Barbour Library
The Clifford E. Barbour Library at PTS is a very large religious library. It has about 300,000 books and many online resources. This makes it one of the biggest standalone religious libraries in the United States.
The library building was opened in 1964. It holds many special collections. One is the John M. Mason Memorial Collection, which has rare religious books from the time of the Reformation. You can also see the desk and chair of a famous theologian named Karl Barth in the Hansen Reading Room. These items were given to the seminary by Barth's son. A large gift from a banker named Thomas Clinton helped the library get many of its books.
Kelso Museum of Near Eastern Archaeology
PTS is also home to the Kelso Museum of Near Eastern Archaeology. This museum has a collection of ancient pottery and artifacts from the Near East and Palestine. These items were collected by travelers and archaeologists over many years. Many exhibits come from the eight archaeological digs the seminary has been part of.
Digging Up History at Tel Zayit
The seminary is very involved in Biblical archaeology. It helps sponsor the Zeitah Excavations in Israel at a place called Tel Zayit. This dig started in 1999 with a team of experts and volunteers.
In 2005, excavators made an amazing discovery: the Zayit Stone. This was a 33-pound limestone rock with writing on it. The writing dated back to the 10th century BCE, around the time of King Solomon! It was the earliest complete Hebrew alphabet ever found. The discovery was so important that it was even reported in the New York Times.
World Mission Initiative
The World Mission Initiative (WMI) at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary is a group that helps prepare students for global church work.
WMI trains future pastors and organizes trips to other countries. It focuses on helping students become "world Christian pastors." WMI also invites missionaries and church leaders from around the world to visit the campus.
Notable People from PTS
Many important people have been part of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
Famous Faculty Members
Here are some well-known teachers who have taught at the seminary:
- Dale Allison
- M. Craig Barnes
- Robert A. J. Gagnon
- John Gerstner
- Archibald Alexander Hodge
- William Swan Plumer
- Andrew Purves
- Marjorie Hewitt Suchocki
- Benjamin Breckinridge Warfield
- Robert Dick Wilson
Well-Known Alumni
Many famous people have also graduated from PTS, including:
- Thomas K. Chadwick
- John A. Dalles
- Festo Kivengere
- Charles William Kerr, the first permanent Protestant minister in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
- Isaac C. Ketler, who started Grove City College.
- Calvin Wilson Mateer, who helped translate the Bible into Chinese.
- Robert H. Meneilly
- Fred Rogers, the beloved host of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.
- R. C. Sproul
- Neil M. Stevenson
- Ralph Watkins
