PURITAN REFORMED THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
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Mission Statement
Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary is an educational institution whose mission is to prepare students to serve Christ and His church through biblical, experiential, and practical ministry. The seminary purposes that such training be God-glorifying and in accord with the Scriptures and historic Reformed creeds for the promotion and defense of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In dependence on the Holy Spirit, we believe that this purpose is well-served by providing theological instruction and training to facilitate the development of knowledge and skills as well as personal piety and Christian character that is essential for faithful Christian ministry.
About This Cause
Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary began in 1995 with the acceptance of four seminary students from the Heritage Reformed Congregations (HRC). Classes officially commenced on August 9, 1995, under the leadership of our president, Dr. Joel R. Beeke. When we first opened, the vision of PRTS was to provide a high quality, four-year seminary program for men accepted by the HRC to train for pastoral ministry. After one year that vision broadened to include training men from other denominations, providing that they meet the admission requirements and adhere to the Reformed confessional tradition represented in the Three Forms of Unity or the Westminster Standards. In 1998 the Free Reformed Churches of North America (FRC) chose to train their theological students at PRTS, at which time Dr. Gerald M. Bilkes became the second full-time professor, teaching Old and New Testament Studies. Within five years PRTS had outgrown its building. Receiving degree-granting status from the State of Michigan and several other approvals were contingent on a new facility as well. Construction began on our current facility in northeast Grand Rapids and the doors were opened in November of 2004. In October of 2005, we opened and dedicated the Puritan Resource Center, a unique part of our library intended to allow people around the world access to a wide variety of Puritan literature and to gain a deeper appreciation for the Puritan tradition. Dr. David P. Murray joined the full-time faculty in 2007 as Professor of Old Testament and Practical Theology. In 2010 Dr. William VanDoodewaard became Associate Professor of Church History at PRTS. In 2012 PRTS hired on Dr. Michael P. V. Barrett as Vice President for Academic Affairs/Academic Dean and Professor of Old Testament, as well as Rev. Mark Kelderman as Dean of Students and Spiritual Formation. Over twenty visiting professors/instructors round out our faculty. The faculty is also supported by a growing administrative staff. Currently, Mr. Jonathon Beeke serves as Registrar and Director of Admissions, Mrs. Ann Dykema serves as Administrative Secretary and Finances, Mr. Chris Engelsma serves as Director of Distance Learning, Mr. Chris Hanna as Director of Marketing and Development, Mr. Seth Huckstead as IT Director, Mr. Henk Kleyn as Vice President for Operations, and Mrs. Laura Ladwig as head librarian. From 1995 until the present, PRTS has graduated approximately ninety students; many other part-time and non-program students have attended throughout the years. Alumni are serving the church in various ways: pastoring, preaching, teaching, pursuing further education, international missions, domestic missions, and church planting. Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary offers three programs designed to meet the needs of church and ministry: the Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree, the Master of Arts (Religion) degree, and the Master of Theology (ThM) degree. Our programs are demanding and thorough; we believe that there are no shortcuts to proper preparation for ministry. Graduates find that the work done at PRTS is foundational, instructive, and invaluable for the rewarding obligations of their vocation and ministries. The State of Michigan has granted PRTS a degree-granting license and approved all of our degree offerings. As of February 2014, PRTS has been fully accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS). We are also a charter member of the Association of Reformed Theological Seminaries (ARTS), and are subject to the standards of that organization. ARTS oversees a number of Reformed seminaries in North America that adhere to the Three Forms of Unity or the Westminster Standards. PRTS is recognized by the US Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt, non-profit organization, with the privilege of issuing tax-deductible receipts for donations to the seminary.