Editing Reformed Theological Seminary

{{Short description|American theological seminary}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox university
 | name                   = Reformed Theological Seminary
 | image_name             = Rts-logo-landing.png
 | image_size             = 
 | motto                  = A mind for truth. A heart for God.
 | established            = {{start date and age|1966}}
 | type                   = [[Private university|Private]] [[seminary]]
 | endowment              = $78.6 million (2020)<ref>As of June 30, 2020. {{cite report |url=https://www.nacubo.org/-/media/Documents/Research/2020-NTSE-Public-Tables--Endowment-Market-Values--FINAL-FEBRUARY-19-2021.ashx |title=U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2020 Endowment Market Value and Change in Endowment Market Value from FY19 to FY20 |publisher=National Association of College and University Business Officers and [[TIAA]] |date=February 19, 2021 |access-date=February 21, 2021}}</ref>
 | religious_affiliation  = [[Reformed theology|Reformed]] [[Protestant]]
 | students               = 1780
 | city                   = [[Jackson, Mississippi|Jackson]]
 | state                  = [[Mississippi]]
 | country                = United States
 | coor                   = 
 | campus                 = Multiple campus locations
 | website                = {{URL|http://www.rts.edu}}
 | logo                   = 
 | footnotes              = 
 | chancellor             = [[Ligon Duncan]]
 | provost                = Robert Cara
}}
{{Portal|Reformed Christianity}}

'''Reformed Theological Seminary''' ('''RTS''') is a [[Christian theology|theological]] [[seminary]] in the [[Reformed theology|Reformed theological tradition]] with campuses in multiple locations in the [[United States]]. Founded by conservatives in the Southern Presbyterian Church, the [[Presbyterian Church in the United States]], 1966, serves primarily students from more conservative branches of the [[Presbyterianism in the United States|Presbyterian]] and Reformed traditions.

== Founding ==
In 1966, conservatives from the Southern Presbyterian Church, the [[Presbyterian Church in the United States]] (PCUS), concerned about the increasing influence of liberalism and [[neo-orthodoxy]] in the denomination's seminaries and pulpits, established Reformed Theological Seminary, independent from the PCUS, along "[[Old School–New School Controversy|Old School]]" Presbyterian lines, to educate ministers.<ref>D.G. Hart & John Muether ''Seeking a Better Country: 300 Years of American Presbyterianism'' (P&R Publishing, 2007) p. 235</ref> RTS has largely served the [[Presbyterian Church in America]] since that denomination's founding in 1973, then later the [[Evangelical Presbyterian Church (United States)|Evangelical Presbyterian Church]] and the [[Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church]] and in more recent years serves a large population of students from [[Particular Baptist]] and independent churches.

== Leadership ==
RTS is governed by a board of trustees exercising oversight through its administration. RTS is led by its executive committee, the chancellor of the RTS system and through the respective campus presidents.<ref name="ats.edu">{{cite web|title=Reformed Theological Seminary|url=http://www.ats.edu/MemberSchools/Pages/SchoolDetail.aspx?ID=475|publisher=[[Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada]]|access-date=6 February 2012}}</ref> [[Ligon Duncan]] is Chancellor and CEO.<ref>[http://www.rts.edu/seminary/newsevents/NewsDetails.aspx?id=1857 RTS Appoints Pastor-Theologian as New Chancellor]</ref>

== Academics ==
RTS follows the [[Reformed tradition]], including [[Covenant Theology]].<ref name="Statement of Belief">{{cite web|title=RTS Statement of Beliefs|url=http://www.rts.edu/site/about/beliefs.aspx|access-date=December 19, 2010}}</ref>

=== Accreditation ===
Reformed Theological Seminary is accredited by the [[Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada]] to award the MDiv, MABS, MAR, MATS, MAC, MACC, and DMin degrees.<ref name="ATS">{{cite web |title=Association of Theological Schools – Member Detail |url=http://www.ats.edu/MemberSchools/Pages/SchoolDetail.aspx?ID=475 |access-date=February 20, 2012}}</ref> It is also accredited by the [[Southern Association of Colleges and Schools|Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges]] to award masters and doctorate degrees.<ref name="ccsac">{{cite web |title=Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools – Member Detail |url=http://www.sacscoc.org/details.asp?instid=59280 |access-date=February 20, 2012}}</ref> The MAC degree program is accredited by the [[The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs|Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs]].

=== Programs of study ===
RTS's institutional focus is on training students (especially in its [[Presbyterian]] and [[Calvinism|Reformed]] branches) to be [[pastor]]s, [[missionary|missionaries]], [[education|educators]], and [[Christianity|Christian]] [[psychotherapy|counselors]]. RTS offers [[Doctor of Ministry]] (DMin), [[Master of Divinity]] (MDiv), and [[Master of Arts]] (MA) degrees in several subjects.<ref name=degrees>{{cite web|url=http://www.rts.edu/site/academics/degree_programs/index.aspx | title=Degree programs|publisher=Reformed Theological Seminary | access-date=2012-01-16}}</ref> Through its Global program, RTS offers the Master of Arts (Biblical studies) degree (MABS) and the Master of Arts (Theological Studies) degree (MATS).<ref name=degree>{{cite web|url=http://www.rts.edu/site/Virtual/Admissions/mareligion.aspx|title=RTS Global Degree Program |publisher=Reformed Theological Seminary|access-date=February 20, 2012}}</ref> The degrees can be earned completely online.

=== Faculty ===
RTS has had many notable faculty members, adjunct professors, and visiting lecturers, including [[R.C. Sproul]], [[John Frame (theologian)|John Frame]], [[Roger Nicole]], [[Ronald H. Nash]], [[Steve Brown (author)|Steve Brown]], [[Douglas F. Kelly]], [[Richard L. Pratt, Jr.]], [[Michael J. Kruger]], [[Justin S. Holcomb]], [[Bruce Waltke]], [[Willem A. VanGemeren]], and [[Tim Keller (pastor)|Tim Keller]].

In April 2010, [[Bruce Waltke]] offered to resign his professorship at Reformed Theological Seminary because of controversy over a video made by [[The BioLogos Foundation]] where he discussed his positive views on evolution.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2010-04-09-IHE-evangelical-endorsing-evolution-forced-out09_ST_N.htm | title=Evangelical Scholar Forced Out After Endorsing Evolution | work=USA Today | first1=Scott | last1=Jaschik | date=2010-04-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2010/04/09/on-theistic-evolution-and-professor-waltkes-resignation/ | title=On Theistic Evolution and Professor Waltke's Resignation| date=9 April 2010}}</ref> Waltke wrote in a letter that he found no fault with the administration of RTS on the matter.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2010/04/12/updates-from-waltke-and-from-rts/ | title=Updates from Waltke and from RTS | date=12 April 2010 }}</ref>

== Campuses ==
RTS has campus locations in [[Jackson, Mississippi]]; [[Orlando, Florida]]; [[Charlotte, North Carolina]]; [[Atlanta, Georgia]]; [[Washington, D.C.]]; as well as its Global Campus.<ref name=campuses>{{cite web|url=http://www.rts.edu/site/about/reformed_tradition/following/campuses.aspx|title=RTS Campuses Near You | publisher=Reformed Theological Seminary|access-date=2012-01-17}}</ref> RTS also has sites in [[New York City]], as well as [[Dallas]] and [[Houston]] in Texas.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Reformed Theological Seminary Opens an Extension Campus in Houston|url=http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/9372814501.html|publisher=Christian News Wire|access-date=6 February 2012}}</ref>

RTS's Washington, D.C. campus is a member of the [[Washington Theological Consortium]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washtheocon.org/members.html|title=Member Institutions|publisher=[[Washington Theological Consortium]]|access-date=2009-09-01}}</ref>

RTS's global campus traces its origins to the Orlando campus, from which distance education was first offered for RTS students in the early 1990s.<ref name="RTSV.history">{{cite web|title=History of RTS Global|url=http://www.rts.edu/site/Virtual/Home/historyofrtsv.aspx|publisher=Reformed Theological Seminary|access-date=6 February 2012}}</ref> In 1998, the Global campus became a separate "campus".<ref name="RTSV.history" /> The global campus eventually became the first online seminary to offer accredited degrees.

== People ==
{{Main|List of Reformed Theological Seminary people}}
{{hatnote|See also: [[:Category:Reformed Theological Seminary alumni]].}}

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|http://www.rts.edu}}

{{Reformed_Seminaries_in_the_United States}}
{{Private Colleges and Universities in Mississippi}}
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{{Washington Theological Consortium}}
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[[Category:Seminaries and theological colleges in Mississippi]]
[[Category:Seminaries and theological colleges in Florida]]
[[Category:Seminaries and theological colleges in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Seminaries and theological colleges in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Seminaries and theological colleges in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Reformed church seminaries and theological colleges in the United States]]
[[Category:Christianity in Orlando, Florida]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges in Orlando, Florida]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]]
[[Category:Education in Jackson, Mississippi]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Jackson, Mississippi]]
[[Category:1966 establishments in Mississippi]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1966]]
[[Category:Christian organizations established in 1966]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges in the Jackson metropolitan area, Mississippi]]
[[Category:Reformed Theological Seminary|*]]
[[Category:Presbyterian universities and colleges in the United States]]