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University. For over a century, theological education has been an integral
part of the mission of the university. The original charter of the university,
which was founded in 1878, contained no provision for ministerial training.
However, when the university was rechartered in 1888, a new constitution
was drawn up which specified that the training of suitable persons “for the
ministry of the Gospel, shall always be sacredly regarded as one of the main
objects of this institution. . . . In order to accomplish the objects of this
institution, such instruction shall be given as is usually embraced in the
courses of colleges or universities and theological seminaries in this and other
countries.”
To fulfill this mission, J. Allen Miller resigned his position as president of the
university in 1906 in order to become the dean of the college’s theological
department. The Seminary, so designated in 1913, remained a Bible
department of the university until 1930, offering a B.A. in Divinity. Continued
upgrading of the theological program eventually led in 1930 to the decision to
offer a graduate level degree. Since that year the regular course of study at
the Seminary has comprised two or three years of work in biblical, historical,
theological, and pastoral subjects leading to professional and academic
theological degrees.
Besides its Brethren heritage, ATS locates itself in the evangelical tradition,
which is rooted in the Protestant Reformation and has found expression in
movements such as the Methodist revival in England, the First Great
Awakening in America, nineteenth-century efforts in missions and social
reform, and the twentieth-century neo-evangelical movement.
Today Ashland Theological Seminary is a leading evangelical seminary with 23
full-time faculty and a student body of about 800 students representing more
than 70 different denominations and parachurch organizations and many
different countries. It offers theological training in Ashland, Cleveland, and
Columbus, Ohio; in Detroit, Michigan; and online.
RELIGIOUS IDENTITY
Ashland Theological Seminary understands itself as evangelical and
ecumenical. We are evangelical in our commitment to the good news of what
God has done in and through Jesus Christ, made available to all by the Holy
Spirit. We affirm the authority of Scripture as the foundation for faith, life,
and ministry; the necessity of the new birth and personal commitment to
Christ; and the mandate to communicate the gospel to all nations in both
word and deed. We attempt to live a Christ-centered life, both individually
and corporately, cultivating a relationship of love and obedience with Christ.
We believe that a faithful Christian witness requires both evangelism and
social action.
We are ecumenical in that we welcome faculty and students from a wide
variety of Christian traditions, believing that this diversity greatly enriches
our common life. We engage in conversation with voices and perspectives
from across the spectrum of the Church, believing that truth is best discerned
through dialog with one another.
Our understanding of the gospel leads us to affirm that critical thinking will
strengthen rather than weaken our faith; that ministry should be based on
gifts of the Spirit rather than on gender; and that engagement with society
should be guided by kingdom principles rather than by partisan politics.
INSTITUTIONAL IDENTITY
Ashland Theological Seminary is at the same time an institution and a
community. As an institution, the Seminary possesses a clearly defined
authority structure and recognizes the legitimate powers and responsibilities
held by its constituent parts: Seminary Committee and Board of Trustees,
Ashland University President and cabinet, Seminary President and cabinet,
and Academic Dean and faculty. Formal procedures govern all of these
relationships.
At the same time, the Seminary is also a community of faith, bound together
by common commitments to Christ and his Word. As a community of faith,
the Seminary seeks to exemplify a spiritual life that is shaped by obedience to
Scripture and by sensitivity to the leading of the Spirit. We believe that our
engagement with students must be pastoral as well as instructional. The
core values of the Seminary and the four “Cs” of the Seminary curriculum
(Core Identity, Character, Calling, and Competency) serve as constant
reminders of the communal commitments that we should have as members
of the body of Christ.
We confess that the tension between these two identities is not always easy
to resolve. This tension can create challenges for community life. We
believe that these challenges can best be addressed if we demonstrate the
fruit of the Spirit in all of our interactions. Concern for the relational welfare
and spiritual life of the Seminary community leads us to affirm servant
leadership at all levels of institutional life and consensus as the preferred
method for making major decisions.
We recognize that our institutional identity is shaped by our service to both
the scholarly community and the church. As educators committed to
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