Gordon-Conwell's Shield Logo
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Former names
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Gordon College of Theology and Mission, Gordon Divinity School, Conwell School of Theology |
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Motto | Think Theologically, Engage Globally, Live Biblically |
Type | Private |
Established | 1969 merger, 1888 (as Gordon Divinity School), 1889 (as Conwell School of Theology) |
Affiliation | Protestant, evangelical |
President | Dennis Hollinger |
Students | 2,137 |
Location |
Main campus, South Hamilton, Massachusetts, United States 42°36′46″N 70°50′43″W / 42.612896°N 70.845294°WCoordinates: 42°36′46″N 70°50′43″W / 42.612896°N 70.845294°W |
Campus | Multiple campus locations |
Affiliations | BTI, ATS |
Website | gordonconwell |
Gordon–Conwell Theological Seminary (GCTS) is an evangelical seminary whose main campus is based in Hamilton, Massachusetts, with three other campuses in Boston, Massachusetts; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Jacksonville, Florida. The current president of Gordon-Conwell is Dennis Hollinger, a Christian ethicist. According to the Association of Theological Schools, Gordon-Conwell ranks as one of the largest evangelical seminaries in North America in terms of total number of full-time students enrolled.
The history of Gordon-Conwell goes back to the late 1800s. In its current form, Gordon-Conwell arose from the refounding of two separate schools in 1969. This refounding was the product of a merger between Gordon Divinity School, formerly of Gordon College (1889) in Wenham, Massachusetts, and the Conwell School of Theology (1888), formerly of Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Both schools were founded in the Baptist theological heritage. Both Adoniram Judson Gordon and Russell Conwell were Baptist ministers; Gordon's divinity school was first established as Gordon Bible Institute in 1889, while Conwell's theological school was originally chartered as Temple College in 1888.
In 1969, both Gordon Divinity School and Conwell School of Theology experienced a downturn. The reorganization of both schools into Gordon-Conwell was the result of the financial backing of J. Howard Pew and the unifying influence of evangelist Billy Graham. Boston pastor and theologian Harold Ockenga was selected as its first president.