The History of Gordon-Conwell

“Our task is not to bring all the world to Christ, our task is unquestionably to

bring Christ to all the world.” A. J. Gordon

The roots of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary reach back over 100 years to

two urban East Coast schools: the Boston Missionary Training Institute and the

Temple Program in Philadelphia.

The two schools shared much in common. It was the late 1800s and immigrants

were pouring into their cities, only to discover little access to education. Both

schools desired to engage these new residents in ministry and prepare them

for the church and for missions. What better place than in two urban Baptist

churches: the Clarendon Baptist Church in Boston where Rev. A.J. Gordon served

as pastor, and Grace Baptist Temple in Philadelphia, led by Russell Conwell.

Opening their doors to men and women of all races and ethnicities, each

introduced ministry education designed specifically for people living in the city.

Underpinning the education at both schools was a biblical foundation that

still animates our seminary today: a common commitment to the authority of

Scripture, the experience of the new birth in Christ, biblical orthodoxy centered

in Christ and the Incarnation, and the great theme of missions.

Through the years, these schools would thrive and grow, change their names, and

ultimately merge in 1969 as Gordon-Conwell. But their commitments to the

Bible and to the Gospel mandate steadfastly remained. We are grateful to God for

this rock solid foundation, and for the wise men and women who have sustained

and nurtured it for more than a century.

At the behest of some young men in the congregation, Russell Herman Conwell, pastor of Grace Baptist Temple in Philadelphia, began tutoring sessions in his study. The “classes” grew quickly, and soon Conwell had inspired members of the church to begin a school, called the Temple College, which later became Temple University. His original vision for the school was “to establish a progressive, orthodox theology, vigorously Biblical, and yet in close touch with the modern culture.” Conwell wanted to make “education possible for all young men and women who have good minds and a will to work.”

1884

A.J. Gordon

Left to right: Acres of Diamonds, one of Russell Conwell’s most famous sermons, was delivered over 6000 times around the world; Philadelphia at the beginning of the 20th century.

Russell Conwell

1884 In 1889, out of a desire to train men and women for Christian service, Adoniram Judson Gordon, pastor of Boston’s Clarendon Street Baptist Church, founded the Boston Missionary Training Institute, to be “undenominational, broadly evangelical, practical, spiritual, humble and unworldly, and consecrated to the benefit of the ‘Regions Beyond.’” The school would be a place “of equipping men and women in practical religious work and furnishing them with a thoroughly Biblical training.”

A.J. Gordon

1889Early class at Gordon College of Theology and Missions

Clarendon Street Baptist Church

After the death of A.J. Gordon in 1895, the school’s name was changed to the Gordon College of Theology and Mission. The school grew, and eventually moved to the Fenway section of Boston. In 1931, The Graduate Theological Course at the College officially become Gordon Divinity School. And the 1950’s saw both the divinity school and the college move to the Princemere Estate in Wenham, Massachusetts.

1900-1960s The Schools Grow

Gordon College of Theology and Missions in the Fenway

Temple University

Gordon Divinity School

Beginning with just seven students in Russell Conwell’s study, what became known as Temple University had graduated over 10,000 within 25 years. When Temple came under the jurisdiction of the State of Pennsylvania, the theology school was reduced to a religion department. Christian leaders determined to continue Russell Conwell’s original vision founded the Conwell School of Theology in 1960 through the initiative of Mr. J. Howard Pew and Rev. Billy Graham.

1900-1960s

Rev. Dr. Harold John Ockenga was pastor of Boston’s historic Park Street Church from 1936 to 1969, and was involved in nearly “every major evangelical movement of the 1940-1980 period.”

1969Under the leadership of Rev. Billy Graham, Dr. Harold John Ockenga and Mr. J. Howard Pew, who saw the need for a strong, evangelical seminary in the Northeast, Gordon Divinity School and the Conwell School of Theology merged in 1969 to form Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Dr. Ockenga became the first President; Rev. Graham would served on the

Board of Trustees; and Mr. Pew provided much of the early funding.

Uniting and Becoming Gordon-Conwell

Rev. Billy Graham, well-known evangelist and

preacher, has been a key figure in Twentieth

Century Evangelicalism.

Early faculty of Gordon-Conwell.

Mr. J. Howard Pew, former president of the Sun Oil Company, was a prominent philanthropist.

The vision for the school was to “establish within a strong evangelical framework, an independent, interdenominational seminary whose constituents are united in the belief that the Bible is the infallible, authoritative Word of God...consecrated to educating men and women in all facets of gospel outreach.”

1969- 1982

1969 ushered in an exciting era for the new seminary. Through God’s providence, the founders purchased a former Carmelite seminary in South Hamilton, MA, for $1 million. Faculty, staff and students helped move Gordon Divinity School to the current Kerr Building, the only academic structure on the wooded 119-acre campus. Here, students took classes, worshipped, studied, dined and lived. The first new building, constructed in 1971, was the much-needed Goddard Library.

The merger brought to Gordon-Conwell the gift of many distinguished professors who would be become legends in theological education. President Harold John Ockenga further strengthened the faculty during his tenure, built a new administrative team, and recruited new trustees. In 1976, the historic commitment of A.J. Gordon and Russell Conwell to theological education for the city was honored with the opening of a second campus, the Center for Urban Ministerial Education, at Twelfth Baptist Church in Roxbury, MA.

The Goddard Library was named after Dr. Burton Goddard, former professor, dean and library director.

Top to bottom: U.S. President Gerald Ford spoke at his son Michael’s Commencement in 1977.

Early faculty members, Drs. Douglas Stu-art and Gordon Fee who collaborated on the best-selling book, How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth.

Dr. Harold John Ockenga, shown here with students, served as President of the seminary until 1979.

Growing a New Seminary

Faculty and staff of the Boston Campus (CUME).

1969- 1982

1983-1996Top: Dr. Robert E. Cooley served as President from 1981 - 1996.

Below: Encouraged by alumni, Gordon-Conwell opened a campus in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Left to right: Ruth Bell Graham and Eileen Cooley standing in front of Bell Hall, one of three apartment

buildings constructed in the 1980s.

D.Min. class in front of CUME Building in Jamaica Plain, MA.

Top to Bottom: Drs. David Wells and Roger Nicole.

The Hamilton campus chapel was constructed in 1984, and the Academic Center (design shown left), was completed in 1990.

Expansion and Growth

Building on the strong foundation of the 70s, Gordon-Conwell continued to grow during the 80s and 90s. Under the leadership of President Robert E. Cooley, a prominent archaeologist and professor, the seminary expanded significantly. On the Hamilton campus, three new student apartments, the Chapel and Academic Center were constructed. The Boston campus moved into its own building in Jamaica Plain, MA, and the Charlotte, NC campus began offering classes in 1992.

The number of degree programs also climbed from three to 15 and the seminary’s endowment grew from just under $1 million to more than $26 million. After much prayer and deliberation, the seminary also adopted a strong Statement of Mission that continues to guide our work of preparing students for ministry.

1997- 2009

As Gordon-Conwell neared the beginning of the 21st century, expansion continued, adding new, larger campuses in Boston and Charlotte, and an extension site in Jacksonville, FL. Enrollment nearly tripled, growing the seminary to the 5th largest in North America. Students now represented 40-plus countries and over 100 denominations.

Dr. Walter C. Kaiser, Jr. was president from 1997-2006. He served as Senior Editor of the award-winning Archaeologi-cal Study Bible, published in 2006 by Gordon-Conwell and Zondervan.

Breadth and Depth

Dr. James Emery White, author, pastor and Adjunct Professor of Theology at the Charlotte Campus, was named President in 2006.

Dr. Haddon W. Robinson, renowned expert in preaching and Harold John Ockenga Distinguished Professor of Preaching at Gordon-Conwell, was appointed President in 2007.

Dr. Dennis P. Hollinger, a noted seminary President, professor and Christian ethicist, became President in August 2008.

Under President Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., an internationally-recognized Old Testament scholar, the seminary completed a $54 million capital campaign that funded new professors and greatly expanded scholarships for students. New centers during this era included the Pierce Center for Disciple-Building, J Christy Wilson, Jr. Center for World Missions, Center for the Study of Global Christianity, Center for Preaching and Compass for high school youth.

New leaders succeeded Dr. Kaiser, including Dr. James Emery White, Dr. Haddon W. Robinson and Dr. Dennis P. Hollinger…and the vision continues.

The Frank and Morrow Graham Academic Center opened in 2003 on a 19-acre campus in Charlotte. In 2006, the Boston campus returned to its historic roots with the new Michael E. Haynes Academic Center in Roxbury, MA. At the impetus of alumni and church leaders in Jacksonville, FL, an extension site opened in 2006.

Hamilton Campus Charlotte Campus Boston Campus Jacksonville Extension Site

1997- 2009 In its 40th year, Gordon-Conwell Theological

Seminary remains as passionately committed to advancing the Gospel throughout the whole earth as it was when A.J. Gordon and Russell Conwell heeded God’s call to prepare men and women for ministry.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.”

our vision To advance Christ’s kingdom in every sphere of life by equipping Church leaders to think theologically, engage globally and live biblically.

Since that time, thousands of students have also heeded God’s call, learning and then going...to pastor, preach, teach, evangelize and disciple, in the church, on the mission field and in the marketplace.

In devotion to God, many have ministered under life-threatening conditions among peoples hostile to Christianity. And yet the holy train continues.

Today, more than 2000 Gordon-Conwell students are rigorously studying and being formed spiritually to share the truth of the Gospel and the love of Christ to a needy and broken world. We are privileged to teach them, and grateful to God for their passion to serve Him.