Columbia Theological Seminary is a seminary in Decatur, Georgia. It is one of ten theological institutions affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA).
Columbia Theological Seminary was founded in 1828 in Lexington, Georgia, by several Presbyterian ministers. In 1830, the seminary was moved to Columbia, South Carolina (taking its name at that location), and in 1927, to its current location in suburban Atlanta. During the American Civil War, the seminary became affiliated with the Presbyterian Church of the Confederate States of America, renamed the Presbyterian Church in the United States after the war. The school became a battle ground in the debate over the theory of evolution in the PCUS during the 1880s, due to the controversial views of James Woodrow, an uncle of President Woodrow Wilson and seminary science professor, who affirmed evolution, a controversy which led to the school not operating during the 1887-1888 academic year.
In 1830, Columbia, South Carolina, became the first permanent location of the seminary. The school became popularly known as Columbia Theological Seminary, and the name was formally accepted in 1925. The decade of the 1920s saw a shift in population throughout the Southeast. Atlanta was becoming a commercial and industrial center and growing rapidly in its cultural and educational opportunities. Between 1925 and 1930, President Richard T. Gillespie provided leadership that led to the development of the present facilities on a fifty-seven-acre tract in Decatur, Georgia. Because the early years in Decatur were difficult, the future of the institution became uncertain. Columbia, however, experienced substantial growth under the leadership of Dr. J. McDowell Richards, who was elected president in 1932 and led the seminary for almost four decades.
Columbia was one of the several PCUS seminaries that joined the PC (U.S.A.) following the 1983 PCUS and United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. merger. It upholds its historic covenants with the Synods of Living Waters and South Atlantic.
1921–1925 Dr. John M. Wells1925–1930 President Richard T. Gillespie1932–1971 Dr. J. McDowell Richards1971–1976 Dr. C. Benton Kline1976–1987 Dr. J. Davison Philips1987–2000 Dr. Douglas Oldenburg2000–2009 Dr. Laura S. Mendenhall2009–2014 Dr. Stephen A. Hayner2015–present Dr. Leanne Van Dyk David L. Bartlett, Professor Emeritus, writer.Walter Brueggemann, Old Testament Professor Emeritus, theologian and writer.Erskine Clarke, Professor Emeritus, religious historian.Catherine Gunsalus Gonzalez, Professor Emerita, writer.Ben Campbell Johnson, Professor Emeritus of Evangelism, former Director of Spirituality, writer.Sara Myers, Professor Emerita, theological librarian.Kathleen M. O'Connor, Old Testament Professor Emerita, writer.George Stroup, J.B. Green Professor Emeritus of Theology, author.Brian Wren, Conant Professor of WorshipJohn Azumah, Professor of World Christianity and Islam; Director of International ProgramsWilliam P. Brown, William Marcellus McPheeters Professor of Old Testament, writerKathy Dawson, Associate Professor of Christian Education; Director of MAPT Program.Mark Douglas (Ethicist), Professor of Christian Ethics; Director of MDiv Program.Anna Carter Florence, Peter Marshall Associate Professor of PreachingIsrael Galindo, Associate Dean for Lifelong LearningElizabeth Johnson (New Testament Scholar), J. Davison Philips Professor of New TestamentKimberly Bracken Long, Associate Professor of WorshipMartha L. Moore-Keish, Associate Professor of Theology, Director of Th.M. ProgramDeborah Flemister Mullen, Dean of Faculty/Executive Vice President, Associate Professor of American Christianity and Black Church StudiesMarcia Y. Riggs, J. Erskine Love Professor of Christian Ethics and Director of ThM Program, writerJeffery Tribble, Associate Professor of MinistryHaruko Nawata Ward, Associate Professor of Church HistoryRalph Watkins, Peachtree Associate Professor of Evangelism and Church GrowthChristine Roy Yoder, Professor of Old Testament Language, Literature, and ExegesisBarbara Brown Taylor, Adjunct Professor of Christian Spirituality, and well-known Episcopal priest and writer.G. Thompson Brown, (1921-2014), Professor Emeritus, writer, missionary, Director of the Division of International Mission for the Presbyterian Church (US) (1967–1980), founder of Honam Theological Academy (now Honam Theological University and Seminary).Pamela Cooper-White, Ben G and Nancye Clapp Gautier Professor of Pastoral Theology, Care and Counseling. writer.Charles Cousar, (1933-2014) Professor Emeritus, New Testament Scholar, author.Justo Gonzalez, adjuct professor with an international reputation for his contributions to Historical theology.Joan Gray, Interim Vice President for Student Services and Dean of Students, former Moderator of the 217th General Assembly.Charles Colcock Jones, Sr., professor (1835–38, 1847–50), patriarch of the family chronicled in Children of Pride (1972) and Erskine Clarke's Dwelling Place (2005).Rodger Nishioka, Benton Family Associate Professor of Christian EducationWilliam Swan Plumer, (1802-1880), Professor of Didactic and Polemic Theology (1867-1875) and Professor of Pastoral, Casuistic, and Historical Theology (1875-1880).Syngman Rhee (Presbyterian minister), (1931-1915), Distinguished Visiting Professor for Global Leadership DevelopmentJames Henley Thornwell, (1812-1862) professor of theology post-1855; president of South Carolina College, leader in organizing the Presbyterian Church in the Confederate States.Joseph R. Wilson, father of Woodrow Wilson, faculty member following the Civil War.James Woodrow, first Perkins Professor of Natural Science, uncle of president Woodrow Wilson and controversial professorCharles Cousar, BD 1958.D. James Kennedy, graduate.John C. Knapp, graduate, author, speaker, college presidentJohn H. Leith, graduate.Peter Marshall, 1931 graduate, twice Chaplain of the United States Senate.Ben Mathes, graduate, Missionary, founder of Rivers of the World.J. Vernon McGee, graduate (1933), founder of Thru The Bible Radio Network.Benjamin Morgan Palmer, graduate (1841); Professor of Church History and Polity (1854-1856), first Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in the Confederate States.Ian Punnett, graduate, radio talk show host.James M. Robinson, 1946 graduate, New Testament scholar.John Leighton Wilson, 1833 graduate; first missionaries to West Africa by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.
