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Nazarene Theological Seminary
Nazarene Theological Seminary (NTS) is a Nazarene seminary in Kansas City, Missouri. The seminary was established by the Eleventh General Assembly in June 1944 and started its first school year in 1945 with 61 students.[better source needed] It moved to its current location in 1950. The seminary offers master's degrees in Divinity, Transformational Leadership, Black Leadership in Ministry, and Theological Studies as well as a Doctor of Ministry degree (D.Min.) and non-degree programs.
For the 2025-2026 academic year, NTS reported a total enrollment of 150 students—64 MDiv students, 22 MA students, and 62 DMin students. NTS enrollment has declined in the last six years, particularly in the master's programs. In the 2019-2020 school year, NTS reported 118 MDiv students, 50 MA students, and 52 DMin students, for a total of 220 students.
The Church of the Nazarene, founded in 1908, has since its beginning stressed the importance of education. It started and developed a number of denominational colleges to meet the demand of its constituents for college training, and for some time it relied on the religion departments of its colleges as the principal means for training students preparing for ministry. However, during the quadrennium of 1940-44, sentiment favoring the establishment of a central theological school grew rapidly and finally crystallized in an action of the Annual Conference of the District Superintendents held in Kansas City, January 5–6, 1944. The conference recommended that the Board of General Superintendents appoint a Seminary Commission to study the need for such an institution. On January 10, 1944, the Board of General Superintendents appointed the commission: Russell V. DeLong, chairman, M. Lunn, secretary; E.O. Chalfant; M. Kimber Moulton, and Harlan Heinmiller.
The commission reported its findings to the Eleventh General Assembly of the Church of the Nazarene held in Minneapolis in June 1944. This assembly authorized the establishment of the seminary as a graduation institution of the Church of the Nazarene. The first Seminary Board of Trustees was then elected and the name Nazarene Theological Seminary was chosen. The Board of Trustees unanimously selected Kansas City as the Seminary's location.
At a special meeting in Kansas City, September 1944, the board of trustees unanimously elected Hugh C. Benner as the seminary's first president. The following year, the board of trustees elected the following full-time faculty: Russell V. DeLong, district superintendent of the Northwest Indiana District, as dean and Professor of Philosophy of Religion; Ralph Earle, Eastern Nazarene College professor, as Professor of Greek and Bible; L. A. Reed, pastor of Chicago First Church of the Nazarene, as Professor of Preaching and Pastoral Ministry; Mendell Taylor, Bethany Nazarene College professor, as registrar and Professor of Church History; and Stephen S. White, Olivet Nazarene College professor, as Professor of Theology.
The seminary started its first school year in September 1945 in temporary quarters with 61 enrolled. The Nazarene Publishing House generously provided space for administrative offices and a classroom on the first floor of the General Editorial Building, 2901 Troost; and the management of the denominational headquarters building extended a similar courtesy in providing the seminary with its main classroom and chapel. The library was housed in the renovated coach house of the Headquarters property.
In January 1950, a 10+1⁄2-acre (4.2 ha) site was purchased at 1700 East Meyer Boulevard, Kansas City. An administration and classroom building was erected on this campus in 1954. A library building was added in 1966.[better source needed]
NTS has received criticism from clergy and laity within the Nazarene denomination. This criticism has focused on the theologically progressive views of seminary professors and speakers. Critics have expressed concern for how NTS has employed LGBTQ-affirming professors and hosted LGBTQ-affirming speakers.
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Nazarene Theological Seminary
Nazarene Theological Seminary (NTS) is a Nazarene seminary in Kansas City, Missouri. The seminary was established by the Eleventh General Assembly in June 1944 and started its first school year in 1945 with 61 students.[better source needed] It moved to its current location in 1950. The seminary offers master's degrees in Divinity, Transformational Leadership, Black Leadership in Ministry, and Theological Studies as well as a Doctor of Ministry degree (D.Min.) and non-degree programs.
For the 2025-2026 academic year, NTS reported a total enrollment of 150 students—64 MDiv students, 22 MA students, and 62 DMin students. NTS enrollment has declined in the last six years, particularly in the master's programs. In the 2019-2020 school year, NTS reported 118 MDiv students, 50 MA students, and 52 DMin students, for a total of 220 students.
The Church of the Nazarene, founded in 1908, has since its beginning stressed the importance of education. It started and developed a number of denominational colleges to meet the demand of its constituents for college training, and for some time it relied on the religion departments of its colleges as the principal means for training students preparing for ministry. However, during the quadrennium of 1940-44, sentiment favoring the establishment of a central theological school grew rapidly and finally crystallized in an action of the Annual Conference of the District Superintendents held in Kansas City, January 5–6, 1944. The conference recommended that the Board of General Superintendents appoint a Seminary Commission to study the need for such an institution. On January 10, 1944, the Board of General Superintendents appointed the commission: Russell V. DeLong, chairman, M. Lunn, secretary; E.O. Chalfant; M. Kimber Moulton, and Harlan Heinmiller.
The commission reported its findings to the Eleventh General Assembly of the Church of the Nazarene held in Minneapolis in June 1944. This assembly authorized the establishment of the seminary as a graduation institution of the Church of the Nazarene. The first Seminary Board of Trustees was then elected and the name Nazarene Theological Seminary was chosen. The Board of Trustees unanimously selected Kansas City as the Seminary's location.
At a special meeting in Kansas City, September 1944, the board of trustees unanimously elected Hugh C. Benner as the seminary's first president. The following year, the board of trustees elected the following full-time faculty: Russell V. DeLong, district superintendent of the Northwest Indiana District, as dean and Professor of Philosophy of Religion; Ralph Earle, Eastern Nazarene College professor, as Professor of Greek and Bible; L. A. Reed, pastor of Chicago First Church of the Nazarene, as Professor of Preaching and Pastoral Ministry; Mendell Taylor, Bethany Nazarene College professor, as registrar and Professor of Church History; and Stephen S. White, Olivet Nazarene College professor, as Professor of Theology.
The seminary started its first school year in September 1945 in temporary quarters with 61 enrolled. The Nazarene Publishing House generously provided space for administrative offices and a classroom on the first floor of the General Editorial Building, 2901 Troost; and the management of the denominational headquarters building extended a similar courtesy in providing the seminary with its main classroom and chapel. The library was housed in the renovated coach house of the Headquarters property.
In January 1950, a 10+1⁄2-acre (4.2 ha) site was purchased at 1700 East Meyer Boulevard, Kansas City. An administration and classroom building was erected on this campus in 1954. A library building was added in 1966.[better source needed]
NTS has received criticism from clergy and laity within the Nazarene denomination. This criticism has focused on the theologically progressive views of seminary professors and speakers. Critics have expressed concern for how NTS has employed LGBTQ-affirming professors and hosted LGBTQ-affirming speakers.