Northern Baptist Theological Seminary

The Seminary was founded in 1913 by the Second Baptist Church of Chicago named as Northern Baptist Theological Seminary as a theologically conservative alternative within the framework of its association with the American Baptist Churches USA . [ 3 ] [ 4 ] In 1920 a collegiate department was founded, and the American Baptist Churches became a seminary partner. [ 5 ] In 1963, it moved to Lombard, Illinois . [ 6 ] In 2004, it was renamed Northern Seminary. [ 5 ] In 2017, it moved to Lisle, Illinois . [ 7 ] It is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada . On March 13, 2023, the president, William D. Shiell, resigned from his position amid controversy. [ 8 ] After several interim presidents, Joy J. Moore officially became the president of Northern Seminary on December 1, 2024. [ 9 ] On January 2, 2026, Moore and the Board of Trustees mutually agreed that she would resign from the position of president of the seminary. [ 10 ] [ 11 ] Ingrid Faro was named interim president. [ 10 ] Presidents More information No., Name ... No. Name Term Ref 1 John Marvin Dean 1913 – 1918 [ 12 ] [ 13 ] 2 George W. Taft 1918 – 1936 [ 12 ] 3 William Law Ferguson 1936 – 1938 [ 14 ] [ 15 ] 4 Charles W. Koller 1938 – 1961 [ 16 ] [ 17 ] [ 14 ] 5 Benjamin P. Browne [ a ] 1960 – 1964 [ 18 ] [ 19 ] [ 20 ] 6 Bryan F. Archibald 1965 – 1975 [ 19 ] [ 21 ] 7 William R. Myers Sr. 1975 – 1988 [ 22 ] [ 12 ] 8 Ian M. Chapman 1988 – 2001 [ 12 ] 9 Charles W. Moore 2001 – 2006 [ 12 ] [ 23 ] – John F. Kirn [ b ] 2006 – 2008 [ 12 ] [ 23 ] 10 Alistair Brown 2008 – 2016 [ 24 ] [ 12 ] 11 William D. Shiell 2016 – 2023 [ 25 ] – John C. Bowling [ b ] 2023 [ 8 ] [ 26 ] [ 27 ] – Karen Walker Freeburg [ b ] 2023 – 2024 [ 28 ] [ 29 ] 12 Joy J. Moore 2024 – 2026 [ 30 ] [ 9 ] – Ingrid Faro [ b ] 2026 – present [ 10 ] [ 11 ] Close [a] Browne served as interim president during Koller's sabbatical during his last year. [ 18 ] [b] Served as interim president

Alumni David Breese , evangelist, author, and radio broadcaster Millard Erickson , 20th-century theologian and author Clay Evans (pastor) , 20th-century African-American evangelical pastor Derwin Gray , professional football player and pastor Carl Henry , founder and first editor of Christianity Today Torrey Johnson , first president of Youth for Christ Stephen R. Lawhead , fiction writer Tara Beth Leach , pastor and author John Osteen , first pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas Kenneth N. Taylor , creator of The Living Bible paraphrase and founder of Tyndale House publishers Warren W. Wiersbe , author, teacher, and minister for Moody Church and Back to the Bible Gideon B. Williamson , general superintendent in the Church of the Nazarene Mildred Bangs Wynkoop , Wesleyan-Holiness preacher, evangelist, and theologian

Lynn H. Cohick , former provost, dean of academic affairs and professor of New Testament Harold Lindsell , former professor Scot McKnight , former Julius R. Mantey chair of New Testament Joy J. Moore , former president of Northern Seminary Robert E. Webber , former Myers Professor of Ministry