Asbury Theological Seminary was founded in Wilmore, Kentucky, in 1923 by its first president, Henry Clay Morrison, who was at the time the president of Asbury College. In 1940, Asbury Seminary separated from the college in order to satisfy accreditation requirements. Because of the proximity of the two schools (across the street), similar names, and common theological heritage, many people confuse the relationship between the college and the seminary. While they are separate institutions, the schools maintain a collegial relationship that benefits both communities. The current president of Asbury Theological Seminary is Dr. Timothy Tennent, Ph.D., who has served as the eighth president since July 1, 2009.[5]
In addition to the main campus at Wilmore, the seminary offers courses at the Florida Dunnam Campus in Orlando, Florida, through online courses (Extended Learning), and extension sites in Memphis, Tennessee, and Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Accreditation
Asbury Theological Seminary is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award master's and doctoral degrees. It is an accredited member of The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada. Asbury Theological Seminary does not, within the context of its religious principles, heritage, mission, and goals, discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, physical impairment, or gender in the administration of its admission policies, educational policies, scholarship, and loan programs, athletic or other school-administered programs. The seminary is authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant alien students.[6]
Academic Schools
Asbury Theological Seminary has five academic schools.
School of Biblical Interpretation
E. Stanley Jones School of World Mission and Evangelism
School of Theology & Formation
Beeson School of Practical Theology
Orlando School of Ministry
Notable faculty
Craig S. Keener, professor of New Testament, known for his expertise in Greco-Roman and Jewish sources
John N. Oswalt, a visiting distinguished professor of the Old Testament, involved with the NIV and NLT Bible translations and author of a major commentary on Isaiah
Ben Witherington III, Jean R. Amos Professor of New Testament for Doctoral Studies and prolific author
Bill T. Arnold, Paul S. Amos Professor of Old Testament Interpretation and associate editor of NICOT a major Old Testament commentary series [7]
Kenneth J. Collins, Professor of Historical Theology and Wesley Studies, prominent John Wesley scholar
^Winn, Christian T. Collins (2007). From the Margins: A Celebration of the Theological Work of Donald W. Dayton. Wipf and Stock Publishers. p. 115. ISBN9781630878320. In addition to these separate denominational groupings, one needs to give attention to the large pockets of the Holiness movement that have remained within the United Methodist Church. The most influential of these would be the circles dominated by Asbury College and Asbury Theological Seminary (both in Wilmore, KY), but one could speak of other colleges, innumerable local campmeetings, the vestiges of various local Holiness associations, independent Holiness oriented missionary societies and the like that have had great impact within United Methodism. A similar pattern would exist in England with the role of Cliff College within Methodism in that context.
