Palmer Theological Seminary
History
The seminar was founded as Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1925 in Philadelphia by six Conservative Baptist ministers from the American Baptist Publication Society. In 1932, a collegiate department was founded. Originally located on Rittenhouse Square, it moved in 1940 to Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, just across the street from the city boundary.
The seminary originally established a collegiate division to prepare some students for the academic rigor of seminary-level courses. This evolved in 1952 into Eastern Baptist College, since 2002 Eastern University in St. Davids, Pennsylvania near Valley Forge and further west on the Philadelphia Main Line from Philadelphia. In 2004, Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary re-merged with Eastern University, now as a subsidiary. The following year, the seminary changed its name to Palmer Theological Seminary in honor of its longest serving president (1936–48), Gordon Palmer. In 2010, the University also established the Smith School of Christian Ministries to oversee certain programs.
In 2012, the seminary moved from the Wynnewood campus to an interim location at the American Baptist Missions Center in nearby King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. In June 2016, the seminary moved to the main campus of Eastern University in St. Davids, Pennsylvania.
Over the years, the seminary has combined evangelical theology with the affirmation of women in ministry and commitment to social justice and ethnic diversity. From the beginning, the Seminary welcomed female students. The Seminary continues to affirm its founding motto, "The Whole Gospel for the Whole World."
Musical discoveries at the seminary
In July 2005, an 80-page Beethoven manuscript of a piano four hands version of the Grosse Fugue was discovered in the library archives by one of the librarians. The manuscript was authenticated by Jeffrey Kallberg at the University of Pennsylvania and by Stephen Roe, head of Sotheby's Manuscript Department. Lost from view for well over 100 years, it is thought by some to be one of the most important musicological finds in recent years. The event paralleled the earlier find on July 31, 1990, of a Mozart manuscript, which had been donated to the seminary in 1951 by Marguerite Treat Doane (daughter of noted hymnist William Howard Doane). It was rediscovered along with some lesser manuscripts of the same period. The Beethoven manuscript was auctioned by Sotheby's in London on December 1, 2005 for US$1.72 million to an anonymous bidder later revealed to be Bruce Kovner.
Notable faculty and alumni
- Ron Sider, professor and founder of Evangelicals for Social Action
- Craig Keener, professor and author of the bestselling IVP Bible Background Commentary (New Testament)
- Samuel Escobar, retired professor and world-renowned missiologist
- Barry Black, alumnus and United States Senate Chaplain
- Charles E. Booth, Senior Pastor of the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church and fully affiliated Professor of Preaching at the Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio.
- Bernard Ramm, alumnus, author, theologian, professor
- Carl F. H. Henry, evangelical theologian, author, first editor-in-chief of Christianity Today
- Wayne E. Croft, Sr., Senior Pastor of the St. Paul's Baptist Church in West Chester, Pennsylvania and The Jeremiah A. Wright, Sr. Associate Professor of Homiletics and Liturgics in African American Studies at Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia
- Tony Campolo, alumnus, speaker, bestselling author, and social activist
- Michael A. O'Donnell, alumnus, speaker, and author
- Wayne "Coach" Gordon, President of the Christian Community Development Association and SeniorPastor at Lawndale Community Church
- Thaddeus Kirkland, Mayor of Chester, Pennsylvania and former Pennsylvania State Representative
- L. David Schlosser, longtime Baptist pastor, enshrined member of the Chapel of the Four Chaplains (deceased 1990)
- Jay Smith, Christian apologist
- Alyn E. Waller, Senior Pastor of Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church and President of Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Society
- William David Thompson, Pastor of First Baptist Church in Philadelphia and former Director of Homiletics at Eastern Baptist Seminary.
- Edward R. Dalglish, Old Testament Teacher,
- Gaddala Solomon, a student of Edward R. Dalglish and Baptist Pastor from India
- Brenda Salter McNeil, an intercultural engagement expert and faculty at Seattle Pacific University.
- Josiah Ramanjulu, church planter in Andhra Pradesh India.
References
- ^ William H. Brackney, Congregation and Campus: Baptists in Higher Education, Mercer University Press, USA, 2008, p. 295
- ^ Randall Herbert Balmer, Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism: Revised and expanded edition, Baylor University Press, USA, 2004, p. 223
- ^ Associated Baptist Press, Eastern Baptist Seminary to be renamed for Palmer, baptistnews.com, USA, May 24, 2005
- ^ "Palmer Theological Seminary | History of Palmer Theological Seminary | Chrisitan Community". www.palmerseminary.edu. Archived from the original on 2013-12-23.
- ^ Mark Hostutler, Eastern University Welcomes Theological School to Its Campus as Part of Nationwide Trend, delco.today, USA, March 17, 2017
- ^ "Palmer Theological Seminary | Catalog | History and Relationships | Christian Seminary near Philadelphia". www.palmerseminary.edu. Archived from the original on 2015-04-01.
- ^ "Beethoven manuscript, lost 115 years, is found", International Herald Tribune, October 13, 2005
- ^ "Palmer Seminary discovers important Beethoven music manuscript", article at Eastern University web site Archived 2006-09-08 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Eurasian College: "Visiting Lecturers- Jay Smith" retrieved March 15, 2015
- ^ Christianity Today: "Unapologetic Apologist - Jay Smith confronts Muslim fundamentalists with fundamentalist fervor" by Deann Alford June 13, 2008
