A Timeline of the History of
REFORMED THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

On December 24, 1962, the Presbyterian Outlook magazine publishes an article denying biblical infallibility. The Rev. Sam Patterson is deeply provoked and aroused to action, especially in light of the fact that professors from all four seminaries of the Presbyterian Church in the United States (PCUS) joined in this denial.

At the PCUS General Assembly in Memphis, four ministers join Sam Patterson for prayer at breakfast on June 13, 1963. Chief on their prayer list was the need for a new seminary faithful to the infallibility and inerrancy of Scripture. On December 25, 1963—one year and one day after the Outlook article—flyers go out announcing the formation of Reformed Biblical Institute (later Reformed Theological Institute). The Institute conducts lay-education night classes in Bible, Reformed theology, and evangelism—a work that would eventually grow into Reformed Theological Seminary.

Beginning in January 1964, Sam Patterson begins to meet with men who will be part of the original RTI board. On April 13, the Charter for RTI is signed by Sam Patterson, Bob Cannada, Robert Kennington, Erskine Wells, Frank Horton and Frank Tindall. Shortly thereafter, the board calls Dr. Morton Smith to serve as the first faculty member of the Institute, effective June 1.

In February 1965, the board decides to locate RTI near Jackson, and in June renames RTI to Reformed Theological Seminary. The original Clinton Boulevard property in West Jackson is purchased.

In June 1966, RTS has five full-time professors and no students. By September 6, 15 students are enrolled in time for the very first convocation. Two more would join later in the academic year. In the Fall 1988 semester (its final year as a single-campus institution), RTS enrolled 367 students.

RTS Orlando opens its doors to students in the fall of 1989. The move further establishes RTS as a national and international institution. R.C. Sproul, Richard Pratt, Frank Farrell, John Muether, and Roger Nicole are the founding faculty.

At the invitation of Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church in Matthews, NC, and Westminster Presbyterian Church in Rock Hill, SC, RTS begins teaching classes in Charlotte, NC in 1990. In 1992, RTS sends Gordon K. Reed to establish a campus there. Ric Cannada, who later became Chancellor of RTS (2002-2012) serves as the initial RTS vice

president for the Charlotte campus. Current RTS Provost, Bob Cara, a Jackson alumnus, joins him as the campus’s first full-time faculty member.

RTS begins offering courses in the greater Washington, DC area. Several area churches, including McLean Presbyterian Church, in McLean, VA, Fourth Presbyterian Church in Bethesda, MD, and Falls Church, Episcopal (now Anglican) all partner with RTS in various ways. Howard Griffith becomes the first full-time faculty member in 2007. The campus moves to its current space in New City Presbyterian Church in Vienna in 2019.

RTS begins offering extension courses in the Atlanta area in 1996, in partnership with Church of the Apostles. RTS Atlanta is approved to offer the Master of Arts (Religion) degree in 2003, with approval for the Master of Divinity in 2013. Bruce Lowe becomes the first full-time professor in 2007. The campus moves from the church to its current location in 2010.

Though RTS’s involvement in correspondence learning dates all the way back to 1975, the Seminary established a department of distance education in 1996. The department eventually develops into the RTS Virtual campus and is later renamed RTS Global. In 1999, RTS becomes of the first seminaries approved to deliver degrees via distance education.

In the 1970s and 80s, RTS Jackson professors Simon Kistemaker and Gerard Van Groningen begin teaching courses in Brazil for Brazilian Presbyterian theological students in conjunction with Presbyterian Church of Brazil (IPB) seminaries. These early relationships come to full flower in 2006, when the Andrew Jumper Center for Postgraduate Theological Studies (CPAJ) at Mackenzie Presbyterian University in Sao Paulo, Brazil, is approved as a degree-granting site for RTS’s Doctor of Ministry.

RTS begins teaching courses in Houston, TX at Christ Evangelical Presbyterian Church—now Christ Presbyterian Church—in 2010. The campus initially offers the Master of Arts (Religion) degree and is approved to offer the Master of Divinity and Master of Arts (Biblical Studies) in 2017.

For several years, Tim Keller and Redeemer City to City (CTC), a non-profit organization that recruits, trains, coaches, and resources leaders who aspire to church plant and pastor in global cities, had been talking with RTS for years about partnering for theological education in New York City. The vision comes to fruition in 2014, as RTS begins offering a specially designed MA degree in partnership with RTS Global and CTC.

The pastor and session of Park Cities Presbyterian Church in Dallas and Providence Presbyterian Church request RTS to come to Dallas following the closure of Redeemer Seminary. The Dallas site is approved in 2017, and Dr. Mark I. McDowell, a Charlotte graduate, becomes the first executive director in 2017.

After years of exploring the idea of moving from West Jackson, RTS purchases its current Jackson campus in June 2022. The first classes are held in the new campus during the Summer 2023 term.

God willing, RTS will mark the 60th anniversary of its first entering class of students (1966) in 2026. The Lord has very evidently blessed and used RTS over the years. He should receive all the praise, glory, and credit for everything good accomplished. We do not know what lies ahead, but by God’s grace, RTS intends to continue standing firm, but not standing still, and preparing students for gospel ministry with a mind for truth and a heart for God. Because, as the motto on the original RTS seal says, ὁ λόγος ὁ σὸς ἀλήθειά ἐστιν, “Thy Word is Truth.”