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Rooted and Growing

As RTS has expanded and evolved over the past 60 years, each campus has discovered distinct ways to embody the seminary’s long-standing values and commitment to the inerrant Word of God, engaging both students and their wider communities with renewed creativity and purpose. Here are a few current examples.

Jackson

The transition to the new Belcher campus in 2023 has facilitated opportunities for ministry preparation and community engagement. The Meadowbrook location, situated in the heart of Jackson, features integrated smart classroom technology that advances the seminary’s commitment to academic excellence and enhances the student’s learning experience. RTS Jackson continues its legacy of preparing strong pastor-theologians through partnerships with a wide network of churches allowing students to minister to various congregations while also providing valuable preparation for these seminarians. Students and members of the community also benefit from events such as the annual John Reed Miller and Hughes Lectures. Dr. David Strain (DMin '16), senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church Jackson, delivered the JRM Preaching Lectures during the fall, and Dr. Jonathan Leeman, editorial director for 9Marks, delivered the Hughes Lectures in February 2025.

Orlando

RTS Orlando launched a new Master of Theology (ThM) program in January 2025, providing advanced academic preparation beyond the Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree. The ThM equips pastors with deeper resources for preaching and pastoral ministry while also preparing scholars for further theological research, such as PhD studies. Additionally, RTS Orlando continues to run the Hybrid MDiv program, the largest of its kind among confessional Reformed institutions. This program reaches and serves students across the U.S., blending online coursework with on-campus intensives for a flexible yet robust theological education. Further demonstrating its commitment to faithful stewardship, RTS Orlando has completed a solar power integration project on campus. Over time, this initiative will improve energy efficiency and reduce operating costs, allowing more resources to be allocated toward academic and other institutional pursuits.

Charlotte

Founded in 2016, the Center for Church Planting at RTS Charlotte seeks to be an international resource for the planting of healthy Reformed churches by training future pastors for the unique challenges, complexities, and opportunities faced by church planters. The center hosts regular conferences and lectures as well as specialized training and assessment experiences and provides students with hands-on ministry and internship opportunities. RTS Charlotte remains steadfast in its commitment to campus ministry, recognizing the vital role it plays in shaping the faith of the next generation. To further this support, the seminary has introduced the new Reformed Campus Ministry Scholarship, designed to encourage and equip students pursuing campus ministry roles with theological training and practical resources.

Washington, D.C.

RTS Washington, D.C. continues to deepen its influence in the nation’s capital through theological scholarship and leadership development. The campus houses the Institute for Theology and Public Life, the Anglican Studies program, and partners with The Fellows Initiative (TFI), a network of over 20 church-based programs equipping emerging Christian leaders. RTS Washington, D.C. has also launched the Initiative on Neo-Calvinist Scholarship, hosting lectures, sponsoring book events, and offering advanced courses on Neo-Calvinist thought. As part of its legacy, RTS Washington, D.C. will celebrate its 30th Anniversary in March 2025 with special guests, including Dr. Ligon Duncan, Nancy Guthrie, Keith and Kristyn Getty, and Irwyn Ince (MAR '06). To mark this milestone, the campus hosted the “History & Hope” Church Lecture Series for the 2024-25 academic year, featuring speakers from key denominations served by RTS, reflecting on their confessions, history, and vision for the future.

Atlanta

The Alonzo and Althea Edmiston Center for Christian Endurance Studies focuses on global church issues like persecution and perseverance. The center offers courses each semester and hosts the Francis Grimké Lecture Series, emphasizing practical theology with a focus on marginalized believers. In a recent initiative, the Edmiston Center led workshops on worldview and discipleship for church planters and seminarians in a restricted country. Beyond the Edmiston Center, RTS Atlanta is expanding its course offerings to address critical areas of need in the church, including pastoral leadership, church planting, and contemporary Reformed theology. Additionally, RTS Atlanta plans to begin offering coursework in Baptist studies. This furthers its mission to prepare men and women for faithful service in ministry.

Houston

RTS Houston has partnered with Christ Community Church (C3), an Acts29 church in Houston, to support theological education for future church planters. Launched in the fall of 2024, interns participating in C3’s church planting initiative will receive significant financial aid for their theological studies at RTS Houston. Campus Administrator Markus Berger (MABS '16) expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, sharing, “RTS and C3 are delighted with this agreement as we patiently wait to see what God does in Houston with this partnership.” This initiative aims to equip and support church planters with robust theological training as they prepare for ministry in the Houston area.

Dallas

RTS Dallas relocated to its new campus at Town North Presbyterian Church in Richardson, Texas in October 2024. This move provides increased opportunities for partnership with the host church and other local churches, expanded community visibility, and additional space for course offerings and library resources. In the 2024-2025 academic year, RTS Dallas will host lectures featuring prominent theologians, including Dr. Christopher Watkin, Sinclair Ferguson, and Rev. Fred Greco (MDiv '06), continuing its tradition of offering excellent theological education and engagement with the broader community.

New York City

RTS New York has announced an exciting new opportunity for students to pursue an MDiv through the Flex-Residential course modality in partnership with RTS Washington, D.C. This innovative program offers students greater flexibility, providing access to residential course credits with minimal commuting and travel requirements. Additionally, RTS New York continues to expand its reach through the Queens Conexxus cohort program, which serves as a pathway to onboard new students from the outer boroughs, furthering the seminary's mission of accessible theological education in the region.

Global

RTS Global continues to expand its reach and impact with innovative resources and course offerings. The RTS Mobile app, which serves over 220,000 users worldwide, underwent a complete overhaul and re-release in 2022. It now provides free biblical and theological course content, sermons, and special lectures, including materials from past RTS faculty members. Over the 2023-2024 academic year, RTS Global launched six new courses, further enhancing its curriculum. To better accommodate diverse learning styles, classes are now offered through Canvas in multiple formats, including high-definition video, audio-only, and screencast technology—especially beneficial for biblical language students. Additionally, the introduction of Zoom office hours has strengthened student-professor connections, leveraging technology to support theological education globally. .

Rooted and Growing

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