Missio Seminary is an interdenominational Evangelical Christian seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania . The seminary was previously known as Biblical Theological Seminary but changed to its current name in 2018. It is located on the site of Franklin Music Hall, formerly the Electric Factory .
19-515: Missio Seminary was founded in 1971 as the Biblical School of Theology by Jack W. Murray , president of Bible Evangelism, Inc., and founder of the now-closed Clearwater Christian College , and Allan A. MacRae , a former president of Faith Theological Seminary , who served as the seminary's first president. The former E.B. Laudenslager public school in Hatfield, Pennsylvania , was renovated to house
38-697: A faculty member since 2020. The seminary received regional accreditation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools in 1990 and from the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada in 1996. The seminary offers the Master of Arts (MA), Master of Divinity (M.Div.), Master of Theology (Th.M.), and Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) degrees. Certificate programs are also offered, as well as online courses. In addition to
57-514: A reading endorsement. On May 7, 2012, John F. Klem became the fifth president of Clearwater Christian College. However, the economic downturn across America caused student enrollment to drop significantly. On June 5, 2015, the board of directors of the College announced the closure of Clearwater Christian College effective immediately, citing "ongoing struggles with maintaining enrollment, rising costs, and challenging development efforts" as reasons for
76-590: A spirit of growth and restoration whenever possible. Clearwater Christian College was accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Master of Education degrees. CCC had been given Teacher Education Program Approval by the Florida Department of Education. Clearwater
95-541: A student newspaper, and other opportunities. The CCC intercollegiate athletics teams, known as the Cougars, participated in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Division II. The women's volleyball team won 13 national titles, including eight in a row during 2006-2013. The men's soccer team also won back-to-back national titles in 2009 and 2010. The women's soccer team won
114-401: A week for prayer and peer edification, for all resident students. Clearwater Christian College students were composed of roughly 80% residence hall students and 20% commuters, and there were a variety of student activities and organizations for all students to participate in. There were Greek letter organizations, student government, intramural sports, fine arts groups, yearbook, political club,
133-513: The ecumenical movement , new evangelicalism , and ecumenical evangelism . Evangelist Jack Murray supported the founding as chairman of the Advisory Council. These two founders were both graduates of Faith Theological Seminary , and had each served as a president of Shelton College . Steele chose to found the college in Clearwater, and soon acquired 50 acres (200,000 m ) waterfront at
152-435: The 2012 and 2014 national title. Clearwater was conservative and maintained student guidelines including a modest dress code, regulation of facial hair, limited physical contact between the sexes, and chapel attendance three times per week. Student rooms were inspected weekly for cleanliness, and a "white glove" inspection was performed once a semester. The college used a relational approach to discipline in order to facilitate
171-626: The Philippines, South Africa, Turkey, and Thailand. Clearwater Christian College was a denominationally unaffiliated Christian college; however most of their faculty, staff, and students came from various Baptist and independent Bible church backgrounds. The college's doctrinal statement focused on the historic fundamentals of Protestant Christianity. Students were required to attend Sunday services, chapel services, and spend time in Christian service. Small group, student-led devotional times occurred twice
190-503: The decision. CCC was known as a Christ-centered liberal arts college with a general education curriculum in the arts and sciences plus an embedded Bible minor for all students. The most popular majors were business, elementary education, and general studies, but there was increasing demand for the programs in the division of science: biology, pre-med, exercise and sport science, psychology, and mathematics. Education majors earned Florida state certification. The interdisciplinary studies major
209-610: The eastern entrance of Clearwater. On September 17, 1966, the college officially opened with 15 students enrolled. Clearwater Christian College received full accreditation from the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS-COC) in December 1984 and in 1998 gained reaffirmation for SACS-COC accreditation. In January 1987, the Board of Directors named George D. Youstra to succeed Steele as president. In
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#1733085845081228-485: The final years of operation, the college offered study abroad trips for college credit during spring break and summer break to Austria, Costa Rica, England, France, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Scotland, and Wales. As a faith-based institution committed to serving God, CCC sponsored missions trips to international locations. Faculty, staff, and students ministered across the globe in Argentina, Brazil, China, Jamaica, Mexico,
247-433: The following years, enrollment tripled, new buildings were added, 89 additional acres of property were acquired, and new programs were offered. In May 2002, Richard A. Stratton assumed the presidency. In the summer of 2008, the College began its first graduate program in the area of Educational Leadership, and the Florida Department of Education granted full approval for Elementary Education graduates to be certified with
266-418: The new school. In 1978, the name was changed to Biblical Theological Seminary. Frank A. James III was inaugurated as Biblical's fourth president in 2013. James previously served as provost of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and president of Reformed Theological Seminary . In October 2018, the seminary announced that it would rename itself from Biblical Theological Seminary to Missio Seminary. In 2019,
285-407: The school's regular full-time and part-time faculty, various prominent scholars have served as visiting professors or adjunct faculty, including Scot McKnight , D. A. Carson , Timothy Keller , and Peter Enns . 40°16′54″N 75°18′14″W / 40.2816°N 75.3038°W / 40.2816; -75.3038 Clearwater Christian College Clearwater Christian College (CCC)
304-504: The seminary moved from its location in Hatfield to Center City, Philadelphia . The move was complete by 2020. In February 2023, the college announced a potential partnership with Kairos University. In July 2023, James retired from his role as President. The board appointed Clarence E. Wright to serve as the seminary's fifth president and first African-American president. Wright graduated from Missio (then Biblical Theological Seminary) with an M.A. in 2016 and M.Div. in 2017 and had served as
323-464: Was a non-denominational Christian college in Clearwater, Florida on Tampa Bay from 1966 until 2015. In July 1965, Arthur E. Steele went to Florida looking for a place to found a Christian college, as a reaction to what the founders saw as trends in evangelical colleges away from biblical standards of morality. The school would emphasize doctrine and personal soul-winning, and was a reaction against
342-523: Was a member of the following groups: Richard Stratton (college president) Richard A. Stratton (born 1958) became president of Clearwater Christian College in 2002. Previously he was the Dean of the School of Business at Bob Jones University . On January 31, 2011, Stratton announced his resignation from Clearwater effective at the end of 2011, though he continued in his post as president until May 2012. He
361-446: Was available for students who wished to focus on two academic disciplines without having to assume the coursework of a double major. Clearwater Christian College had an agreement with the nearby University of South Florida (USF) to offer its students ROTC programs in Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. Clearwater encouraged its students to participate in study abroad and missions trips. In
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