Academic Catalog: The Seminary
Welcome to Denver Seminary
Our world is in desperate need of Christ. Perhaps God is calling you to be a light and to minister to this rapidly changing and deeply broken world. But where do you begin? How do you respond to that call with the tools, knowledge, and experiences required to be a competent leader? To be an effective leader in today’s ever-changing world, Christians must focus on fully comprehending the Bible, living a life of character and integrity, and leading in an environment that is becoming more global. Denver Seminary equips you to be that kind of leader, no matter the context to which God calls you.
At Denver Seminary, students experience authentic and holistic life change while gaining the knowledge and insight they need for a lifetime of ministry. Seminary faculty and mentors can help you ascertain your true calling and guide you to profound personal transformation that extends beyond academics. Our graduates are recognized for their outstanding knowledge of Scripture, strong character, competencies suited to their callings, and leadership skills.
So are you called to lead? Has God planted in you the passion and desire to serve and lead his people or one of the unreached people groups in our world? Or has he laid on your heart the desire to attend seminary, but no clear direction yet on what he has in store for you after you graduate? If you can answer yes to any of these questions, we invite you to consider Denver Seminary, where we exist to glorify God by equipping leaders to think biblically, live faithfully, and lead wisely for a lifetime, to see first-hand how you might fit into this transforming community.
Whether you are considering seminary for full-time vocational ministry, to improve your impact as a lay leader in your church, or to gain biblical training for your professional, academic or personal development, come to Denver Seminary because you sense God's leading. We stand ready to help you find your God-given giftedness, fulfill your call in His Kingdom and increase your ability to impact our world.
When asked why theological training was necessary, Denver Seminary Chancellor Dr. Vernon C. Grounds noted the following: “It was Abraham Kuyper, the noted reformed theologian and one-time premier of the
Visiting the Denver Seminary Campus
Prospective students are welcomed and encouraged to visit the campus. With some advance notice, arrangements can be made with the Admissions Office for visits with faculty members, class attendance, and lodging, if needed.
Denver Seminary is located in the southwestern part of the greater Denver area, situated on Santa Fe Drive in the city of Littleton.
Address: 6399 S. Santa Fe Dr., Littleton, CO 80120
Phone: 303-761-2482 or 800-922-3040
Fax: 303-761-8060
Web: www.denverseminary.edu
Email:
A History of Denver Seminary
Denver Seminary of Denver, Colorado, began in the minds of several Colorado Conservative Baptist pastors who presented the idea at the annual meeting of the Conservative Baptist Association of Colorado in May, 1950. In response, the association formed an organizing committee of Conservative Baptist leaders. In the ensuing months, these men secured an adequate building for the new school and led in the selection of the first faculty and board of trustees. After promotion began, inquiries came from a number of prospective students. In September 1950, thirty-one students enrolled.
The next year marked the coming of Dr. Carey S. Thomas as president and Dr. Vernon C. Grounds as dean. In a relatively short time the school obtained governmental approval for education under the G.I. Bill. This was followed by approval for the training of foreign students and later by governmental recognition for the education of chaplains. The first graduating class (1952) consisted of six members, all of whom had transferred to
In 1955, a new administrative arrangement was initiated with Vernon C. Grounds as president,
In June 1962, Denver Seminary was granted associate membership in the American Association of Theological Schools (now the Association of Theological Schools). Shortly thereafter, a major study of the curriculum resulted in changes embodied in the academic catalog of 1965–67. Other standards of the accrediting association were met, but an adequate library building remained only in the planning stages.
In the summer of 1968, however, the school relocated to the south side of
In 1971, full accreditation by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) was achieved. This was followed by full accreditation under the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools in 1972.
In 1979, Dr. Haddon W. Robinson followed Dr. Grounds as the third president of the institution. Under his leadership, the Seminary continued to expand; faculty increased to twenty-two full-time and twenty-five adjunct professors. Five of the seven administrators received faculty status and the staff increased to sixty people. By 1992, the student body numbered over 600 and came from forty states, fifty-three denominations, and fifteen countries.
Dr. Edward L. Hayes assumed leadership of Denver Seminary in 1993, becoming its fourth president, having previously served as academic dean and professor of Christian education. Under Dr. Hayes’ leadership, Denver Seminary was positioned to meet the spiritual and technological challenges of the twenty-first century. Dr. Hayes retired in December 1996, having served Denver Seminary with distinction for a total of twenty-three years.
In 1996, Dr. Clyde McDowell was named Denver Seminary’s fifth president. Of special interest to Dr. McDowell was the revitalization of the inner-city churches of all ethnic backgrounds. Dr. McDowell led Denver Seminary to reinvent its approach to seminary education by incorporating an intensive, contextualized mentoring experience into its core curriculum. His presidency ended with his death from a brain tumor.
In 1999, the board of trustees appointed Dr. Leith Anderson as interim president of Denver Seminary.
The Board appointed Dr. G. Craig Williford as Denver Seminary’s sixth president in August 2000. Dr. Williford’s desire to integrate theory and practice helped the Seminary continue to develop and expand the training and mentoring program which has become an essential part of a Denver Seminary education. Under his leadership, the student body grew to around 900 students, and the institution realized a level of economic health not experienced in previous years.
In July 2005, Denver Seminary relocated to a beautiful, new and debt-free campus situated next to the
In 2008, the Board of Trustees appointed Pastor Gordon MacDonald as interim president of Denver Seminary.
In March 2009, Dr. Mark S. Young was elected the seventh president by the Board of Trustees. Dr. Young brings to Denver Seminary extensive experience as an international educator and theologian, as well as an abiding commitment to mission and transformation. His life’s passion is to align all that he is and all that he does with the eternal purpose of God—the redemption of all peoples.
Today, almost 5,000 graduates of Denver Seminary serve Christ throughout the world. Thus the dream of a group of pastors is now a vibrant reality and a significant factor in reaching the world for Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Denver Area Information
History of Denver
Denver, the Mile High City, was founded on the site of a small Indian village at the confluence of Cherry Creek and the South Platte River. Originally a trade center for mountain mining camps of the 1859 gold rush, the town persevered despite flash floods, attacks of Plains Indians, and a devastating fire and drought. Early settlers and current Denver residents alike have enjoyed their location on the high plains at the foot of the spectacular Rocky Mountains. The Colorado History Museum, located in downtown Denver, and other sites in mountain towns such as Central City, contribute to keeping Colorado’s colorful past alive.
Weather
At 5,280 feet above sea level, the city has a mild, sunny, semi-arid climate with moderate temperatures. Colorado boasts more than 300 days of sunshine each year and its winters afford many opportunities for skiing, sledding, and other winter sports.
Culture
Diverse cultural opportunities are reflected in the Museum of Nature and Science, the striking, six-story Denver Art Museum, including the Frederic C. Hamilton addition which opened in 2006, and the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, which hosts the Denver Center Theatre Company, a nonprofit regional repertory company, and the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra offers several concerts per year, as well as the popular Symphony in the Park during the summer. Music lovers will also enjoy summer concerts in the Red Rocks Park outdoor amphitheater in the foothills of the Rockies or closer to the Seminary at Fiddler’s Green in Englewood.
The Denver Zoo participates in a number of conservation programs designed to ensure the long-term survival of rare and endangered species worldwide and is home to over 2,500 animals. The Tropical Discovery exhibit features a diversity of animal and plant life in its tropical rain forest environment. It includes a mountain cave, tropical streams and waterfalls, temple ruins, a jungle river, swamps, and an offshore coral reef.
The Downtown Aquarium, a world-class facility, is located in Denver's Central Platte Valley. This unique tourist attraction immerses visitors in the wonders of water on two journeys–from the Continental Divide in Colorado to Mexico's Sea of Cortez and from an Indonesian rain forest to the Pacific Ocean. Its mission is to create experiences that inspire its guests to discover, explore, enjoy, and protect our aquatic world.
Among Denver’s professional sports teams are the 1998/99 NFL Super Bowl Champion Denver Broncos, the NBA Denver Nuggets, the MLB Colorado Rockies, the 2001 NHL Stanley Cup-winning Colorado Avalanche, the NSL Colorado Rapids, and the NLL Colorado Mammoth.
Area Educational Institutions
Opportunities for undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate education are numerous. The University of Denver campus is approximately six miles north and east of the Seminary. Colorado Christian University is located in Lakewood, approximately one-half hour from the Seminary. Downtown, the Auraria campus houses the Metropolitan State College, Denver Community College, and the Denver branch of the University of Colorado. The main campus for the University of Colorado in Boulder is an hour away and Colorado State University in Fort Collins and the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley are less than two hours away from the Seminary.
Outside Denver
Denver serves as the gateway to the magnificent Rocky Mountains. West of the city, more than fifty peaks rise over 14,000 feet into the sky. Skiing, hiking, fishing, camping, and hunting are little more than an hour’s drive from the Seminary campus. The twenty-seven mountain parks maintained by the city of Denver include some of the most scenic areas of the Colorado Rockies.
For the more adventuresome, white-water rafting on the Arkansas River is only two hours away. Various companies offer quarter-, half-, whole- or two-day trips down rapids of varying difficulty. Some companies also offer rock climbing, kayaking, backpacking, and mountain biking.
Southern Colorado
Colorado Springs is home to the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy. Two multimedia presentations document the sport’s evolution. Heritage Hall contains exhibits of historic and modern cowboy and rodeo gear and the Hall of Champions honors athletes from each rodeo event.
The Royal Gorge Bridge is the world’s highest suspension bridge. The bridge spans nearly a quarter mile offering a spectacular view of the Arkansas River over a thousand feet below. The thirty-five-passenger aerial tram gives a view of the entire canyon. The world’s steepest incline railway goes to the bottom of the Royal Gorge. Seven Falls offers the sight of water cascading 300 feet down a sheer granite cliff. An express elevator travels to the Eagle’s Nest Platform for a magnificent view of Seven Falls.
The Anasazi Indian culture is kept alive through the Manitou Cliff Dwellings. This village was built into a cliff side and explores the culture, architecture, and artifacts of these Southwest Indians. Native American dancing is performed daily during the summer months.
Our Mission
Denver Seminary seeks to glorify God by equipping leaders to think biblically, live faithfully, and lead wisely for a lifetime.
Doctrinal Statement
Denver Seminary is committed to the great truths and abiding fundamentals of the Christian faith as evidenced by its confessional platform:
The Word of God
We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired Word of God, inerrant in the original writings, complete as the revelation of God's will for salvation, and the supreme and final authority in all matters to which they speak.
The Trinity
We believe in one God, Creator and Sustainer of all things, eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit; that they are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct and harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence, and redemption.
God the Father
We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. He concerns himself mercifully in the affairs of men and women, hears and answers prayer, and saves from sin and death all who come to him through Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is God's eternal Son and has precisely the same nature, attributes, and perfections as God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. He is not only true God, but true Man, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. We believe in his sinless life, his substitutionary atonement, his bodily resurrection from the dead, his ascension into heaven, his priestly intercession on behalf of his people, and his personal, visible, premillennial return from heaven.
Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit, his personality and his work in regeneration, sanctification and preservation. His ministry is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and implement Christ's work of redeeming the lost and empowering the believer for godly living and service.
Humanity
We believe God created humanity, male and female, in the image of God and free from sin. We further believe all persons are sinners by nature and choice and are, therefore, spiritually dead. We also believe that the Holy Spirit regenerates those who repent of sin and trust Jesus Christ as Savior.
Salvation
We believe in salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. This salvation is based upon the sovereign grace of God, and was purchased by Christ on the cross, and is received through faith apart from any human merit, works or ritual. We believe salvation results in righteous living, good works and proper social concern.
The Church
We believe that the church is the spiritual body of which Christ is the head and is composed of all persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit. This body expresses itself in local assemblies whose members have been immersed upon a credible confession of faith and have associated themselves for worship, instruction, evangelism, and service. The ordinances of the local church are believers' baptism by immersion and the Lord's Supper. We also believe in the interdependence of local churches and the mutual submission of Christians to each other in love.
Separation of Church and State
We believe that each local church is self-governing in function and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority. We also believe all men and women are directly responsible to God in matters of faith and life, and they should be free to worship God according to the dictates of their consciences.
Christian Conduct
We believe that the supreme task of every believer is to glorify God in life and conduct and be blameless before the world. Each Christian should be a faithful steward of all possessions and seek to realize in every area of life the full stature of maturity in Christ.
Last Things
We believe in the bodily resurrection of the saved and lost, the eternal existence of all people in either heaven or hell, in divine judgments, rewards and punishments.
Each year trustees, administration, and faculty are required to affirm and sign Denver Seminary's doctrinal statement without mental reservation. Students and seminary staff affirm and sign the National Association of Evangelicals' Statement of Faith.
Denver Seminary Student Learning Outcomes
What Are the Results We Desire?
Biblical Worldview
Demonstrate a Christian world view that integrates biblical, theological, and historical truth.
Healthy Relationships
Exhibit healthy relationships with self, family, church, community, and the world.
Embrace Human Diversity
Love, understand, and be equipped to minister among people of diverse ages, genders, ethnicity, beliefs, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Christ-Like Maturity
Display emotional stability, personal integrity, and spiritual vitality.
Organizational Expertise
Participate with understanding and sensitivity in a variety of Christian organizational structures.
Critical Thinking
Research, analyze, and address issues of life and ministry, utilizing critical and strategic thinking.
Passion for Ministry
Minister with a holy passion, especially in the areas of natural and spiritual giftedness.
Effective Communication
Communicate effectively with those to whom they minister.
Leadership Skills
Demonstrate visionary leadership-influencing, motivating, and empowering others for Christ and His kingdom.
Disciple-Making
Display effective skills in evangelism, disciple-making, acts of compassion, and the pursuit of justice both within their culture and cross-culturally.
The Campus
Denver Seminary has a 20.3 acre campus in Littleton, a thriving community southwest of the city of Denver.
Anita I. Graber Administrative Building
The Anita I. Graber Administration building is the primary office building on campus. The first floor contains the student life and enrollment management area, the registrar's office, and the financial services department, as well as the Shepherd's Gate Counseling Center where counseling students are professionally supervised in offering counseling services to the general public. Faculty offices, the president's office, and the advancement office are located on the second floor.
Harold and Virginia Simpson Leadership Center
The Simpson Leadership Center is where most of Denver Seminary's classes are held, with two student labs, nine classrooms, two lecture halls, an auditorium, and the Hazel Harriet Simpson Chapel. New technology provides an excellent teaching environment in each room of the facility.
Paul and Marjorie Lewan Learning Resource Center
Library
Named after the first president of the seminary, the Carey S. Thomas library is located in the Paul and
Students also have access to the facilities of the Ira J. Taylor Library at the Iliff School of Theology on the
Bookstore
The Seminary bookstore supplies textbooks and offers students the most recent publications in their fields of interest. It also sells basic supplies and apparel. For more information, go to http://www.denverseminary.edu/resources/our-bookstore/.
Student Center
The student center provides a central place for students, faculty, and staff to take a break and enjoy a cup of coffee or a sandwich in a relaxed environment that makes the most of Colorado's sunshine by providing both indoor and outdoor seating options.
Student Apartments
A four-building apartment complex houses both married and single students. The three-story buildings contain one-, two- and three-bedroom units for married students with children or for single students who wish to live alone or share an apartment with other single students. An application for campus housing is sent out after the application for admission is received. As apartments become available, they are assigned in the order housing applications are received and based on the occupancy date desired.
