Union School of Theology

Union School of Theology is a Reformed educational institution in Bryntirion in Bridgend, South Wales. The School is part of the wider Christian ministry of Union which also involves church planting and the production of theological resources.[1]

For the Manhattan seminary, see Union Theological Seminary (New York City).

Union School of Theology
Former names
Barry School of Evangelism
South Wales Bible College
Evangelical Theological College of Wales
Wales Evangelical School of Theology
TypeReformed
Established1936
PresidentMichael Reeves
Academic staff
24
Students215 (2019)
Location
Bridgend
,
Wales

51.507°N 3.607°W / 51.507; -3.607
CampusBryntirion House, Bridgend
Websitehttp://www.ust.ac.uk

Leadership and faculty

The President of the school is Michael Reeves who also functions as professor of theology. He took up the role in January 2016, having been head of theology at the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship.[2][3] Other faculty of the school include provost Dustin Benge,[4] Robert Letham, Raymond C. Ortlund Jr., and Richard Turnbull.

Programmes of study

The majority of Union School of Theology students study with the School in order to prepare for Christian ministry.

Campus courses

A three-year, full-time residential BA Hons degree in Theology is offered, covering Biblical Studies, Theological and Historical Studies, and Ministerial and Missional Practice.[5] Students on the Masters of Theology (MTh) and PhD programmes may also reside on campus.

Learning Communities

The School's largest programme, a Graduate diploma in theology, is taught in regional church-based 'Learning Communities' in more than 20 locations globally including Oxford, Athens, Rome, Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Calgary, Alberta.[6] The course is designed to combine academic rigor with 'the convenience and added value of sharing and growing together in vibrant local settings under the care and guidance of an experienced Lead Mentor.'[7]

Postgraduate and research degrees

The School's Master of Theology (MTh) is a taught postgraduate master's degree, accessible both on the campus and in Learning Communities, and either full- or part-time.[8] Research degrees, up to PhD level are offered through 'a collaborative partnership with VU University Amsterdam'.[9]

History

The college was founded in 1936 as the Barry School of Evangelism (1936–1950) (also called Barry Bible College). It was successively known as South Wales Bible College (1950–1985), Evangelical Theological College of Wales (1985–2006), and Wales Evangelical School of Theology (2006-2016).[10][11] The school was situated in Barry from 1950 to 1985.[12][13][14][15] Eryl Davies became Principal in September 1985, moving the college to the seven acre grounds of the historic Bryntirion House in Bridgend. Since 2007 the school has maintained a partnership with SaRang Community Church, a Korean church which has added Wales and the United Kingdom to its worldwide areas of active mission.[16][17][18][19][20][21][22] In 2016, with the arrival as Michael Reeves as President, the college was renamed Union School of Theology.

The school had 215 students in 2019–2020 in undergraduate and graduate degree programs up to the Ph.D.[10] The graduate programme was described by Iain Murray as "well-known British training schools for ministers and missionaries" that attracts evangelical Christians wishing to study for the ministry.[23]

Criticism

The School has been the subject of criticism by the Bible League Quarterly and The Sword and the Trowel for its affiliation with the Korean churches, the involvement of the international director of the Lausanne movement on WEST's board till 2014, and claims of 'ecumenical connections' through the European Leadership Forum.[24][25][26][27][28]

Notable alumni

See also

References
  1. "Who we are". Union. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  2. "Announcement of President". Evangelical Times newspaper. March 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  3. "Michael Reeves author page". Crossway. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  4. "Announcement of Provost". Union. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  5. "BA Theology Course". Union School of Theology. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  6. "Graduate Diploma lovations". Union School of Theology. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  7. "Graduate Diploma". Union School of Theology. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  8. "MTh". Union School of Theology. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  9. "Research". Union School of Theology. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  10. "History of WEST". Wales Evangelical School of Theology. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
  11. Taught to Serve: History of Barry and Bryntirion Colleges, Noel Gibbard, Bryntirion Press (1996)
  12. Kerry Orchard "West's annual meeting", July 2007, Evangelical Times.
  13. "Theological Colleges in Wales". GENUKI. 4 September 2012. Archived from the original on 8 March 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  14. "Preaching – Pure and Simple," Stuart Olyott, Evangelical Movement of Wales, 2005, p. 181.
  15. Bruce, Steve, Conservative Protestant politics, Oxford University Press, 1998, p. 68.
  16. "East meets WEST". Evangelicals Now. May 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  17. Kerry Orchard "WEST" July 2010, Evangelical Times.
  18. (google translate title: "Love Church Discipleship Ministry is expected to expand into Europe.) 11 March 2011.
  19. “서진시대 교두보 역할 감당하겠다” 사랑의교회, 웨일즈복음주의신학교와 파트너십 맺어 (Google translate dateline and title:Church of Love on 27 October, 16:00 WEST (Wales Evangelical School of theology) and the signing of the partnership has promised.) (newspaper name according to Google translate:"Hunan Power News Power Chungcheong News", )
  20. 사랑의교회, 영국 웨일즈 신학교와 조인식 가져 크리스천투데이 김진영 기자 jykim@chtoday.co.kr (Google translate dateline and title:Love Churches, seminaries, and the signing of Wales brought Christian Today reporter Kim Jin Kim Jin, 1 March 2011) Christian Today newspaper. This one has an illustration of the signing ceremony)
  21. 사랑의교회, WEST신학교와 조인식 유럽복음화 위한 전초기지 마련 (Google translate dateline and title:Digital Holiness - 9 March 2011 Namwonjun reporters Church of Love (ohjeonghyeon Rev.) southwest of England and Wales last 27 February the only college in evangelical theology 'Wales Evangelical School of theology) also has illustration of the agreement signing.
  22. 3 March 2011, (Google translate title: Wales Evangelical Theological Seminary and the signing of the Church...)(First paragraph according to google translate: Church of Love (ohjeonghyeon pastor) to go on a European jaebok negative campaign. Five ministers in the Church of the recent Seoul Seocho-loving Jonathan Stephen Wales Evangelical Theological Seminary (WEST · Wales Evangelical School of Theology) have the next president and the signing of a special program for church leaders, missionaries, education and home, including the world jaepasong seminary exchange, the lay Promote global education and decided to get out.
  23. Murray, Iain. "Reinventing Evangelicalism". Banner of Truth Trust. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
  24. Palgrave, Ruth. "The Right Direction?" (PDF). The Bible League Quarterly, January 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  25. Dellam Corporation (16 November 2016). "Dellam Corporate Information Ltd, entry on Wales Evangelical School of Theology, now Union Foundation". Dellam.com. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  26. "Abandoning Separation from Biblical Error". Sword and Trowel. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  27. "WEST: Further Failure to Separate from Ecumenists in Poland". The Bible League Quarterly. July 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  28. Union School of Theology – The Lowest Common Denominator?, The Bible League Quarterly, July 2019, p. 419
  29. "Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster". Retrieved 24 May 2023.
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