Fuller Theological Seminary

Fuller Theological Seminary, located in Pasadena, California, is the largest multidenominational seminary in the world. A leading Christian theological institution known for its academic rigor and ethnic and denominational diversity, Fuller has over 4300 students from over 70 countries and 120 denominations.

Through its three schools, Theology, Psychology, Intercultural Studies, and the Horner Center for Lifelong Learning, the seminary offers university-style education leading to 13 different degrees.

While maintaining an evangelical outlook, Fuller is welcoming both to the evengelical conservative and the theologically liberal. The faculty consists of a variety of Christian scholars with equally diverse backgrounds. Students and professors often hold diametrically opposing views and vehemently debate a wide range of religious and ethical issues, yet remain committed to their Christian camaraderie. Fuller's diverse student body and ecumenical persuasion are among its chief strengths. It is also frequently at the center of debate among religious and secular intellectuals on issues ranging from politics, religion, science and culture. Fuller is also the target of criticism in conservative evangelical circles for its allegedly liberal stance on religious and political issues.

History

Fuller Seminary was founded in 1947 by Charles E. Fuller, a well-known radio evangelist, Harold Ockenga, pastor of Park Street Church in Boston, Carl F. H. Henry, and Harold Lindsell. It began with the theological vision of reforming fundamentalism from its anti-intellectual and socially isolationist stance of the 1920-40 era. The founders envisaged that the seminary would become the CalTech of Christian scholarship.

Some of the earliest faculty held to theologically and socially conservative views, which later gave way to more progressive thinking in the 1960s and 1970s. There were tensions in the late 1950s and early 1960s as some of the conservative faculty members—such as Carl F. H. Henry, Harold Lindsell, Wilbur Smith and Gleason Archer; became uncomfortable with staff and students who did not agree with total biblical inerrancy. These tensions are discussed at length in George Marsden's well-known historical account of the seminary and its place in the rise of neo-evangelicalism. Since the 1970s, Fuller has gone through significant transformation and is influential today as a progressive evangelical institution with strong commitment to scholarship and training of Christian leaders, as well as to social justice and mission.

Extended education

In addition to its main campus in Pasadena, Fuller Theological Seminary offers classes at five extension sites located in the western United States:

Fuller Northwest (Seattle)
Fuller Northern California (Bay Area and Sacramento)
Fuller Southern California
Fuller Southwest (Phoenix)
Fuller Colorado (Colorado Springs)

Notable alumni and faculty members

Fuller Theological Seminary has numerous notable alumni and faculty.

Notable alumni

Miroslav Volf (M.A), influential theologian and Yale University professor. Director of the Yale Center for Culture and Faith.

Anthony C. Yu (S.T.B), religion and literary scholar; translator of Journey to the West. Professor at the University of Chicago.

Wallie Jennings (M.Div), scholar and theologian at Duke University

John Piper (B.D), author, theologian and senior pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church.

Rob Bell (M.Div), founding pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church.

Bill Bright (B.D), founder of Campus Crusade for Christ.

Joon Gon Kim, founder of Korea Campus Crusade for Christ.

Robert Grant, founder of the Christian Voice organization.

John Ortberg, teaching pastor of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, and author of several books including The Life You've Always Wanted and If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat.

Rick Warren (D.Min), pastor of Saddleback Church and author of the best-selling hardback book in U.S publishing history, The Purpose Driven Life.

Fictional Alumni-

Danny Witwer: Federal agent and one of the main characters in Steven Spielberg's science-fiction thriller Minority Report, played by Colin Farrell.

Notable faculty

Nancey Murphy, notable philosopher of science and Christian theologian. Known for her works on religion and science. Author of Theology in the Age of Scientific Reasoning, winner of prizes from the American Academy of Religion and the Templeton Foundation.

Miroslav Volf, influential theologian and currently the Henry B. Wright Professor of Systematic Theology at Yale University. Author of Exclusion and Embrace, named by Christianity Today as one of the 100 most important religion books of the 20th Century. Volf taught at Fuller from 1991-1998.

Richard Mouw, influential Christian philosopher, ethicist and author. Current President of Fuller.

Glen Stassen, Christian ethicist and son of Harold Stassen. Currently the Lewis B. Smedes Professor of Christian Ethics at Fuller.

Charles H. Kraft, linguist and anthropologist. Proponent of the Third Wave of the Holy Spirit Movement. The Sun-Hee Kwak Professor of Anthropology and Intercultural Communication at Fuller.

Gleason Archer, influential Biblical scholar and theologian. Taught at Fuller from 1948-65.

David M. Scholer, Associate Dean for the Center for Advanced Theological Studies and Professor of New Testament. Scholer is a distinguished authority on ancient Gnosticism and particularly the Nag Hammadi Scrolls. Scholer, who has incurable cancer, has been delivering sermons on drawing on religious faith and having a deadly disease. Listen to the sermon Living With Cancer here.

Edward John Carnell (1919-1967) was the author of Introduction to Christian Apologetics, A Philosophy of the Christian Religion, and many other books. He served as seminary President from 1954-59.

Lewis B. Smedes (1921-2002), influential theologian and writer. Author of Forgive and Forget. Formerly Professor of Theology and Ethics and taught at Fuller for twenty-five years.

John Wimber, pastor and founder of the Vineyard Movement. Wimber directed the Charles E. Fuller Institute of Evangelism and Church Growth from 1974-1978 and later served as an adjunct professor at Fuller.

C. Peter Wagner, former professor of Church Growth at Fuller Theological Seminary. Coined the term Third Wave; founder of Global Harvest Ministries, and co-founder of the World Prayer Center.

Richard J. Foster, theologian and author of Celebration of Discipline- named by Christianity Today as one of the 100 Best Religious Books of the 20th Century.

Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen, a creative and prolific theologian with notable influence in ecumenical circles.

Thomas Talbott, a professor of philosophy at Willamette University who is controversial in theological circles for his vigorous defense of the doctrine of Christian universal salvation.

Russell P. Spittler, a professor of New Testament and Corinthian Christianity, and former provost at Fuller.

Cecil Mel Robeck, ordained with the Assemblies of God, a professor of ecumenics, church history, and Pentecostalism with influence in Roman Catholic circles.

Trivia

In the movie, Minority Report, character Danny Witwer, played by Colin Farrell, noted that he had attended Fuller Theological Seminary for three years before joining the Attorney General's office as a representative.

Bibliography

George M. Marsden, Reforming Fundamentalism: Fuller Seminary and the New Evangelicalism (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1987).

External links

Los Angeles area colleges and universities | Pasadena, California | Seminaries and theological colleges | United States seminaries | Universities and colleges in California

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