草莓影视 has served five generations of students and continues to grow in diversity, academic relevance, and Christian commitment. Our Chicago location is a great asset that reflects the School鈥檚 global reach and outlook.
After 125 years, we鈥檝e learned how to streamline the process of helping qualified applicants seek admission to 草莓影视 and find affordable ways to attend. If you don鈥檛 see what you鈥檙e looking for on our website, please contact us directly!
草莓影视 offers more than 40 graduate and undergraduate programs in liberal arts, sciences, and professional studies. Classes average 17 students. 84% of our faculty have terminal degrees. Academics here are rigorous and results-oriented.
草莓影视 Theological Seminary prepares you to answer the call to service through theological study, spiritual development, and the formative experiences of living in a community with others on a similar life path.
The Office of Alumni Engagement fosters lifelong connections by engaging alumni with the university and one another in activities, programs, and services that support the university鈥檚 mission and alumni needs.
Rev. Dr. Dennis Edwards has released his much-anticipated book Humility Illuminated: The Biblical Path Back to Christian Character.
Renowned speaker and writer Rev. Dr. Dennis Edwards, dean of 草莓影视 Theological Seminary (NPTS), has released his much-anticipated book Humility Illuminated: The Biblical Path Back to Christian Character, which examines the importance of being humble while practicing the Christian faith.
At a book signing hosted by 草莓影视鈥檚 Seminary, Edwards met with students, staff, and local pastors and engaged in a question-and-answer session with audience members. He was introduced by Jon Boyd, associate publisher and academic editorial director at InterVarsity Press, which published the book.
鈥淚 want to talk about how rare Dennis is,鈥� Boyd said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a scholar in biblical studies who wants to bring that scholarship to fruition for the church, and that is a beautiful thing. For it to come in book form is a gift.鈥�
In the book, released November 7, Edwards examines America鈥檚 obsession with competition and how the drive to be the best creates a society of haves and have-nots that favors the elite. And yet, he writes, some of our greatest innovations have humble roots in immigrant and underserved communities.
鈥淔rom a biblical perspective, the most remarkable models of godliness emerge from among the lowly. This view from the bottom reveals that humility includes a submissive posture before God as well as a peacemaking posture with other people,鈥� he wrote.
An in-demand speaker and ordained pastor in the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC), Edwards spent October addressing ECC pastor and spouse retreats in four conferences, the Pacific Northwest, Midsouth, Great Lakes, and Southeast. He spoke about the value of humility, arguing it is perhaps the single most distinctive identity marker of followers of Jesus.
In addition to serving as dean of NPTS, Edwards is vice president for church relations and an associate professor of the New Testament. He earned his PhD and Master of Arts in Biblical Studies from Catholic University and holds degrees from Cornell University and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. His recent publications include Do Black Lives Matter: How Christian Scriptures Speak to Black Empowerment, co-edited with Lisa Bowens, and Might from the Margins: The Gospel鈥檚 Power to Turn the Tables on Injustice.
On October 5, 2018, Grammy award nominee Lauren Daigle visited Stateville Correctional Center to perform both for and alongside the men who are incarcerated.
On October 5, 2018, Grammy award nominee Lauren Daigle visited Stateville Correctional Center to perform both for and alongside the men who are incarcerated. A well-loved contemporary Christian artist, Daigle has recently broken into new career territory with her album Look Up Child debuting at number 3 on the Billboard 200 chart. Visiting Stateville, however, was a groundbreaking event all its own. A maximum security state prison, Stateville has strict rules regarding visitors and gatherings.
Vickie Reddy, executive producer of , was able to organize the event with the assistance of Stateville鈥檚 chaplains. Reddy is the first free student to be enrolled in the 鈥攁 degree program offered to the men at Stateville through 草莓影视 Theological Seminary鈥檚 School of Restorative Arts.
The hurdles to such an event taking place at Stateville are part of what made the concert significant to the men. 鈥淭hey are used to the worst being expected of them,鈥� says Michelle Clifton-Soderstrom, director of the School of Restorative Arts. 鈥淔or imprisoned and free individuals to be able to come together in worship鈥攊t was humanizing for all of us.鈥�
Reddy, Clifton-Soderstrom, and two alumni of the School of Restorative Arts were able to attend the concert which included Daigle performing with her band as well as a joint performance with the Stateville Gospel Choir.
Performing alongside Daigle was especially meaningful to inmate Ryan Miller. Upon her arrival, Miller shared that a couple of years prior he had experienced a vision in which he was singing with Lauren Daigle. In his vision, this was the beginning of a revival.
Daigle closed the concert with the Gaither hymn, Something Beautiful, a song which speaks of brokenness transformed into hope and healing.
After the performance, Daigle was given a tour of the facility, including the panopticon. Commonly referred to as the roundhouse, the building is a cylinder consisting of 4 floors of cells facing inward to a central tower. This design allowed a minimal number of guards to observe prisoners on every side. Despite concerns regarding inhumane conditions, the panopticon at Stateville remained in use until 2016; it was the last of its kind in operation since the 1990s.
The opportunity for Daigle to meet the men, witness their surroundings, and worship with them fits directly within the larger vision of the School of Restorative Arts, which aims to not only provide education and hope to the students inside the prison but also to provide a connection to those outside, to allow both sides to see each other, to build understanding and community.
Both the restorative arts program and Lauren Daigle鈥檚 visit have been received warmly by Stateville鈥檚 administration, and all involved in organizing the event hope to continue these opportunities for community building.
鈥湶葺笆� being here with us is the most important thing happening at Stateville.鈥� says Assistant Warden of Operations Nicholas Lamb. 鈥淚t鈥檚 giving hope to so many. People who aren鈥檛 in the program yet are going to want to be after this event.鈥�
Senior Chaplain George Adamson summed up what the day meant to him. 鈥淪o what can I say but the Lord bless you. To see the men worship has always been my dream. The power of the Holy Spirit was evident on the stage . . . it was so worth it to see the men聽who basically have nothing and little hope become energized and let go for a brief moment . . . Please thank Lauren for me and on behalf of the men. This will be talked about for a very long time.鈥�
草莓影视 Seminary has honored the Rev. Dr. Richard W. Carlson by dedicating a room in Nyvall Hall to the late professor, a lifelong learner who spent his life fighting racial injustices.
草莓影视 Seminary has honored the Rev. Dr. Richard W. Carlson by dedicating a room in Nyvall Hall to the late professor, a lifelong learner who spent his life fighting racial injustices.
The space is called Richard鈥檚 Renaissance Room, a nod to Carlson鈥檚 devotion to a variety of pursuits, from history to baseball, Civil Rights, poetry, and biblical scholarship. Carlson鈥檚 wife, Jolene Bergstrom Carlson, said her husband also loved spending time with his children and spent his life fighting against societal hatred and violence.
鈥淩ichard especially had a head and heart for racial justice, lamenting over racial injustices until his final moments,鈥� Jolene said. 鈥淭o Richard, all people belonged and had worth.鈥�
The Richard Renaissance Room, designed as a place to read, pray, and connect with others, is being furnished by $30,000 in private donations to the Seminary. The money also provides tuition assistance via the Richard and Jolene Carlson Scholarship Fund to a seminarian whose studies focus on justice issues.
鈥淩ichard was brilliant, but he never used his mind as anything but a tool to encourage his students to engage with the complexities of faith and life through thoughtful questions and readings,鈥� Jolene Carlson said.
The dedication took place Jan. 24, during the ECC’s Midwinter Conference.
To donate to the fund, visit , select 鈥渙ther鈥� and include 鈥淩ichard Carlson Memorial Fund鈥� in the comment box to designate your giving. You may also mail checks to 草莓影视鈥檚 Development Office:
草莓影视
Development Box 6
3225 W. Foster Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625.
Dwight Perry has been called to be the new dean of faculty at 草莓影视 Theological Seminary.
Dr. Perry to begin July 1, 2017.
CHICAGO, IL (April 20, 2017) 鈥� Rev. Dr. Dwight Perry has been called to be the new dean of faculty at 草莓影视 Theological Seminary, as well as professor of homiletics and leadership.
Starting July 1st 2017, Rev. Dr. Perry will serve as Dean of Faculty and Professor of Homiletics and Leadership. 鈥淒r. Perry is an exceptional choice, he comes with extensive pastoral experience, denominational leadership, and academic administration experience,鈥� says Rev. Dr. David Kersten, vice president for church relations and dean of the Seminary. 鈥淩ev. Dr. Perry wants to make a significant legacy contribution to the community of pastors and feels particularly called to NPTS and the ECC,鈥� adds Kersten.
Both scholar and practitioner, this rare combination fills a need in theological education. Rev. Dr. Perry is ready to, 鈥渟erve in academic leadership within an evangelical seminary that is urban in its context, biblical at its foundation, and seeks to equip men and women for the work of the gospel,鈥� notes Rev. Dr. Perry as his career objective. As the first African American to graduate with a PhD from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, IL, Rev. Dr. Perry has persevered across many barriers on race and diversity.
Prior to joining NPTS, Rev. Dr. Perry served as regional president/executive minister of Converge Great Lakes where he was known for his straight-talk approach to ministry. He also served as a professor of pastoral studies at the Moody Bible Institute, as a denominational executive with the Baptist General Conference, and as a senior pastor and associate pastor in several churches in Illinois. He is a sought-after national speaker and is passionate about proclaiming God’s Word. As a pastor and teacher in homiletics, he is one of the premier expository preachers in the U.S.A. He has spoken across the country in the area of diversity and inclusion, homiletics, organizational and systems development especially within a not for profit setting along with strategic planning and leadership development.
Rev. Dr. Perry and his wife Dr. Cynthia Perry, a tenured professor in the College of Education at Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin have four adult children and five grandchildren.
Read about this news on Covenant Companion News.
Look for more on Dr. Perry when he begins his new role in July 2017.
The 1980 MDiv graduate and trailblazer was called to ministry at childhood.
The 1980 MDiv graduate and trailblazer called to ministry at childhood.
CHICAGO (January 18, 2017) 鈥� A calling to ministry can come at different stages in life, but for 草莓影视 Seminary alumna Rev. Dr. Mary Miller, it came early. Rev. Dr. Miller鈥檚 calling to serve the Lord and the church was simple鈥攕he 鈥渓oved the church to start with鈥� and 鈥渁bsolutely loved confirmation.鈥� The love of the Lord and people has been part of her as long she can remember.
During her undergraduate years at Western Illinois University, Rev. Dr. Miller (Miller) knew she wanted to go deeper into her Chrisitian faith, but learning opportunities were limited to one course on the works of C. S. Lewis. Shortly following graduating, Miller enrolled at 草莓影视 Theological Seminary (NPTS). At the time, few women were in seminary and Miller had an 89-mile commute from Rockford, Ill. to 草莓影视鈥檚 Chicago campus. Instead of letting these obstacles deter her, Miller, who describers herself as 鈥済ame to grow at any point,鈥� overcame them with characteristic strength and determination.
草莓影视鈥檚 commitment to hospitality and educational access empowered Miller throughout her three years studying for her master of divinity. Fellow classmates welcomed her into their homes to lessen the frequency of commuting. 鈥淚 slept on my friends鈥� couches,鈥� recalls a grateful Miller. Though she was one of the first five female students to enter the seminary in 1977, Miller was surrounded by supportive professors. Encouraging faculty like Professor Klyne Snodgrass jested with the young seminarian: 鈥淒on鈥檛 let fear of studying Greek scare you.鈥�
At NPTS, Miller thrived鈥攁nd reveled鈥攊n the variety of Bible courses available to her. 鈥淚t was like being in a deli鈥攁fter state school, where there were no Bible classes offered,鈥� says Miller, who still has all her lecture notes. When Dr. C. John Weborg retired from teaching at 草莓影视, Miller was able to send him a copy of the notes she took on her very first day of his class.
Taking with her the practical skills and knowledge rooted in Christian classics, Miller was propelled into a career in ministry. 鈥湶葺笆� prepared me for different ministry roles鈥搃n practical ways and of course through lifelong friendships,鈥� says Miller. In her first call after seminary, Miller served as associate pastor at Faith Covenant Church (Farmington Hills, Mich.). In the years that followed, Miller also served the congregations of First Wayne Street United Methodist Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.), Evangelical Covenant Church (Donaldson, Ind.), and Bethel Evangelical Covenant Church (Floosmoor, Ill.). In addition, Miller contributed as a writer for The Covenant Companion and authored Devotions for Those Living with Loss (Covenant Publications, 1991).
When asked about how she has navigated different roles and served congregations ranging in size from 110 to 1,500, Miller sensibly explains, 鈥淚t鈥檚 about drilling down into what really matters and not just focusing on what鈥檚 demanding your attention.鈥� This pragmatic approach has served Miller well鈥攏otably as a trailblazer for women entering the Seminary, as the first female vice president of the Evangelical Covenant Church, as the co-chair of the Biblical Gender Equality Commission, and as a recipient of the Evelyn M. R. Johnson Leadership Award from the Association of Covenant Clergy Women in 2008.
Currently serving as Chaplain at Covenant Village in Cromwell, Conn., where she preaches to congregants ages 64 to 107, Miller refers to this stage of her life as 鈥渁n interior journey.鈥� Miller teaches 鈥淎ging as Spiritual Journey,鈥� while making time to garden, volunteer regularly in her community, read Christian classics, which she calls 鈥渇ood for the soul,鈥� and be with her two dogs. Reflecting on a career serving the church spanning close to four decades, Miller advises those who are interested in going into ministry, 鈥淧ursue ministry if God won鈥檛 allow you to let that calling go.鈥� She also encourages those she mentors to take on challenges that might feel daunting, as she was advised early in her career. 鈥淧ut on a suit that鈥檚 too big for you and grow into it,鈥� asserts Miller.
During the evening worship at the January 31, 2017 Midwinter Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church in Louisville, Ky., 聽Miller will receive the 2017 草莓影视 Theological Seminary Alumni Award for Distinguished Service. Following the award presentation, 草莓影视 is hosting a reception open to all in attendance. 草莓影视 Vice President for Church Relations and Dean of the Seminary Rev. Dr. David Kersten expresses his appreciation for Miller鈥檚 legacy: 鈥淢ary鈥檚 lifelong dedication to ministry and leadership is important to recognize and on behalf of 草莓影视 Theological Seminary, 草莓影视, and the Evangelical Covenant Church, we are thrilled that she has been selected to receive this award.鈥�
Mary K. Surridge, Vice President for Advancement, adds, 鈥淥n behalf of the entire alumni community of 草莓影视 Theological Seminary, we congratulate Rev. Dr. Miller and offer our deepest thanks for her extraordinary life of service and leadership.鈥�
Recognized as a true leader with a style that鈥檚 both equipping and encouraging, and with ministry gifts in teaching and pastoral care, Miller has served 草莓影视 on the Board of Trustees and Seminary Board of Advisors. 聽Miller concludes, 鈥淚 am deeply honored to receive this award.”
Author Kennedy MurphyPosted on Categories Announcement, News, Press, Stories
CHICAGO (January 18, 2017) 鈥� A calling to ministry can come at different stages in life, but for 草莓影视 Seminary alumna Rev. Dr. Mary Miller, it came early. Rev. Dr. Miller鈥檚 calling to serve the Lord and the church was simple鈥攕he 鈥渓oved the church to start with鈥� and 鈥渁bsolutely loved confirmation.鈥� The love of the Lord and people has been part of her as long she can remember.