Forming women and men for ministry
MISSION & PURPOSE
The Mission of Western Theological Seminary
By God’s grace, Western Theological Seminary forms women and men for faithful Christian ministry and participation in the Triune God’s ongoing redemptive work in the world.
Average Class Size
Student to Faculty Ratio
Degree Programs
Denominations Served
“Regardless of where God has called you, you will be ready to go”
Dr. Felix Theonugraha
President of Western Theological Seminary
UPCOMING EVENTS
AROUND WTS
05
DecMA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Online Info Session
07:30 PM - 08:30 PM
10
DecThe Bonhoeffer Movie: Fact or Fiction?
08:00 PM - 09:00 PM
16
DecChristmas Break
Dec 16 - Jan 03 ,All Day
06
JanSpring 2025 Semester
Jan 06 - Apr 25 ,All Day
24
JanMA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Virtual Preview Day
01:00 PM - 04:00 PM
10
FebSpring Abbey Retreat
Feb 10 - Feb 11 ,All Day
12
FebSpring Course Intensives
Feb 12 - Feb 14 ,All Day
07
AprSpring Break
Apr 07 - Apr 11 ,All Day
The Commons Online
News, stories, and resources from the WTS community to the Church.
From the Commons
DO WE STILL NEED SEMINARY?
In the age of Google, where seemingly endless content is at our fingertips, why is formal theological education still important?
WHY SEMINARY?
The Commons Online
WHO WE ARE
MEET THE FACULTY
WTS faculty are always available to guide and support students as they pursue their education. As importantly, our professors are deeply involved in congregational ministry and several offer the unique perspectives of having served as pastors.
At Western Theological Seminary, students are formed for faithful Christian ministry within an intentional learning community. Whether in-person or online, we seek to equip students with ministry tools through practical experiences, whole-person formation, rigorous academics, and theologically integrated leadership skills.
Visit the link in our bio to discover how our programs are designed to support the needs of today’s ministry leaders.
Thanksgiving break has arrived at WTS! Enjoy the rest and time with loved ones this week.
A new three-year Doctor of Ministry cohort is now accepting applications!
“Bonhoeffer for the Contemporary Church: Living Wisdom for Faith & Ministry Today” seeks to encourage its cohort members to engage with Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s life, sermons, writings, and ministry, as well as with the growing community of Bonhoeffer scholars and related ministries.
As a cohort, we will ask two questions: Who was Dietrich Bonhoeffer? What message does this twentieth-century German Lutheran pastor-theologian have for 21st-century North American pastors?
Learn more or start your application by visiting the link in our bio.
Whether in person or online, WTS faculty are renowned for their enthusiasm for subject matter, dedication to teaching, and high student engagement and development standards. Visit the link in our bio to see a full list of recent publications by WTS faculty members!
Applications are open for the second Spiritual Formation and Relational Neuroscience Doctor of Ministry cohort!
This cohort, focused on nurturing a secure attachment with God as a means of integrating relational neuroscience and spiritual formation, will prepare students to minister to a culture suffering from a mental health crisis and have deep spiritual longings for connection.
Applications are being accepted through March 1, 2025. To learn more about the cohort or to start your application today, visit the link in our bio.
This past fall, the Faith and Illness Initiative (FII) hosted its second-annual colloquy at Western Theological Seminary. Participants gathered for conversation, lectures, and exploration around the topic of chronic pain and discipleship.
The Faith and Illness Initiative is an interdisciplinary ‘think tank’ hosted by the Girod Chair at WTS. Each fall, the FII brings together scholars, pastors, medical professionals, and students to discover a theology of vocation and virtue for Christians living with chronic illness. Learn more by visiting fii.westernsem.edu.
Join us for a virtual Q&A about the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program on Thursday, December 5 from 7:30-8:30 PM EST. Dr. Chuck DeGroat and Dr. Elizabeth Pennock will be available to answer any questions about the program or application process.
Visit counseling.westernsem.edu to learn more or to apply for the program. (Link in bio)
Thank you to all who participated in the second-annual Great Lakes Theology Conference! We were joined by undergraduate students and others considering seminary for paper presentations on the topic of humanity. Congratulations to Jude Ruetschle, who was awarded the 2024 GLTC paper prize!
What is Christian imagination? On today’s blog post, learn how the Eugene Peterson Center fosters Christian imagination to revitalize pastoral hearts, churches, and vocations.
“What we need is a renewed pastoral imagination, where our vision for what God is doing with us–what is possible for the Church–is defined by God rather than by the powerful, idolatrous forces of our age. We need a holy imagination to do this.”
Read the full story by visiting the link in our bio.
The new Graduate Certificate in Restorative Justice (GCRJ) program lays a foundation for restorative justice ministries and practices in the Christian faith. In partnership with the Hope-Western Prison Education Program (HWPEP), this program is designed to transform students’ approach to pastoral, social, or educational ministry, particularly for those with callings or involvement in justice systems.
The GCRJ program begins in the fall of 2025. Start your application by visiting the link in our bio.
Are you interested in learning more about trauma-informed care in ministry? Western Theological Seminary is offering an individual course for Christian leaders who want to learn how to approach ministry from a trauma-informed perspective.
Students will explore theological topics related to trauma and suffering, understand the broad-reaching impact of psychological trauma on individuals and communities, and examine models for trauma-informed ministry. The impact of vicarious trauma on Christian leaders will also be addressed.
This course is offered online and asynchronously. Visit the link in our bio to apply by December 1.
Last week, our Seeking Sabbath Doctor of Ministry cohort was gathered on campus for their fall seminar!
“Seeking Sabbath in a Frantic World: Transformative Practices for Ourselves and Our Ministries” began its three-year Doctor of Ministry cohort journey this fall. Designed for women in pastoral ministry, this program provides a framework for exploring what it means to receive the gift of Sabbath—as individuals and in our community/ministry contexts.