Nazarene Theological Seminary

Nazarene Theological Seminary (NTS) stands as the dedicated theological heart of the Church of the Nazarene, a denomination founded in 1908 with a profound commitment to education. For years, the Church relied on college religion departments for ministerial training. However, a growing sentiment for a central, specialized theological institution crystallized in the early 1940s, leading to the seminary's eventual establishment to meet the evolving needs of its constituents for advanced ministerial preparation.

The seminary's foundational journey began in earnest during the 1940-44 quadrennium. Following a recommendation from the Annual Conference of District Superintendents, the Board of General Superintendents appointed a Seminary Commission in January 1944. Their findings were presented to the Eleventh General Assembly of the Church of the Nazarene in June 1944, which officially authorized the establishment of NTS as a graduate institution.

This pivotal decision led to the election of the first Board of Trustees and the unanimous selection of Kansas City as the seminary's permanent home, with Hugh C. Benner elected as its first president in September 1944. NTS opened its doors in September 1945, welcoming 61 eager students to temporary facilities generously provided by the Nazarene Publishing House and denominational headquarters.

Its initial faculty comprised distinguished scholars in vital disciplines such as Philosophy of Religion, Greek and Bible, Preaching and Pastoral Ministry, Church History, and Theology, underscoring a rigorous academic vision from the outset. This strong foundation quickly propelled the seminary forward, culminating in the purchase of a 10.5-acre campus site in January 1950, which saw the erection of an administration and classroom building by 1954, and a dedicated library in 1966, solidifying its place as a robust center for theological scholarship and ministerial formation.