What is unique about Salt Lake Theological Seminary?

What is unique about Salt Lake Theological Seminary?

As the only graduate school of theology in the Intermountain West, we aim to prepare students for the concrete demands of church leadership in our time. That involves learning how to construct sermons, mobilize volunteers, build budgets, chair committees and share the Gospel in culturally sensitive ways. In other words, students must master certain professional pastoral practices.

But we strive to do far more than that. Simply put, we want to teach people to think and to pray. Much of our academic energy is spent building a biblical foundation that will enable our students to think theologically and draw upon the accumulated wisdom of the church. And we help them integrate this intellectual knowledge into a vibrant spiritual life that is fostered and nurtured during their time with us.

Discipleship of Heart and Mind

Salt Lake Theological Seminary was founded on the clear vision that theological education must touch the whole person. Our motto is “discipleship of the heart and mind.” Naturally, we are concerned with academic excellence and the development of the intellect, but we are equally concerned with the heart: who we are when no one but God is watching. The vision of the Seminary is to shape both mind and heart in our students.

Academic Excellence

This commitment to spiritual formation complements our commitment to academic excellence. Our rigorous academic programs challenge the mind. Knowing the students personally enables faculty to stretch them academically, pushing them to new levels of understanding and application. The level of academic excellence encouraged here is unparalleled in the region.

Caring Community

A strong sense of community among students, faculty, and staff provides the atmosphere essential to forming whole persons. Each class offers a small group experience in which students and faculty share in each other's spiritual journeys and encourage one another along the way. Faculty members are personally committed to every student’s personal formation. Professors are reachable; concerns are real. The seminary’s multi-denominational character fosters heart-felt Christian community between students, faculty and staff across traditional boundaries and dividing lines.

Cross-cultural Focus

In the multi-cultural diversity of our modern, globalized society, seminaries need to train future Christian leaders in the practical skills of witnessing to people whose background and culture may be radically different from their own. They must be skilled at crossing geographic, cultural, racial, ethnic, economic and social boundaries as they seek to fulfill Christ’s mandate to make disciples of all nations.

Because of our experience preparing Christian leaders in Utah, a region dominated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we offer a unique opportunity for students to experience cross-cultural ministry first hand. We believe there is no better laboratory anywhere in the country than Utah for students to explore the theory and practice of effective methods of cross-cultural evangelism. Nowhere else in America today will students find such a large population whose worldview, social structure and church organization is so radically different from that which constitutes the norm of historic Christianity.

If you desire to be an effective leader in the church, Salt Lake Theological Seminary may be the place for you. You will be challenged and encouraged during your stay with us - and it is our belief that you will be transformed as well. Come and join us!