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History Of Gordon-Conwell

Russell Conwell	A.J. Gordon	Billy Graham	Harold John Ockenga	Robert Cooley	Walter C. Kaiser, Jr.	James Emery White	Haddon W. Robinson

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary has a rich, century-long heritage. The school's roots are found in two institutions which have long provided evangelical leadership for the Christian church in a variety of ministries.

The Conwell School of Theology was founded in Philadelphia in 1884 by the Rev. Russell Conwell, a prominent Baptist minister who was well known for his famous sermon and book, Acres of Diamonds. The Conwell School later developed into Temple University in Philadelphia.

In 1889, out of a desire to equip "men and women in practical religious work...and to furnish them with a thoroughly biblical training," the Boston Missionary Training School was founded by another prominent Baptist minister, the Rev. A.J. Gordon. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, the school shared Gordon's deep concern for missions abroad and in New England urban centers. Upon his death, the institution was given his name, and the Gordon Divinity School eventually moved to Boston's North Shore.

The Conwell School of Theology and Gordon Divinity School merged in 1969 through the efforts of philanthropist J. Howard Pew, Dr. Harold J. Ockenga and Dr. Billy Graham. Their vision was for an institution "established within a strong evangelical framework, an independent, interdenominational seminary whose constituents are united in the belief that the Bible is the infallible, authoritative Word of God...consecrated to educating men and women in all facets of gospel outreach."

The united schools became known as Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Dr. Ockenga, the long-time pastor of Boston's historic Park Street Church, became the new institution's first president. Dr. Ockenga retired in 1979 but maintained an active emeritus relationship with the school and served as member of the Board of Trustees until his death in 1985.

In 1981, Dr. Robert E. Cooley was inaugurated as president. Under his leadership, Gordon-Conwell strengthened its on-campus program, expanded seminary housing, completed the campus learning complex, including the Chapel and a 41,000 square foot Academic Center, and completed a $28 million capital campaign. In addition, the Burton L. Goddard Library increased its holdings to 192,500 catalogued items, the core strength of which is in the classic disciplines of theological studies. During the 1991-1992 academic year, the establishment of two branch campuses was formalized: the Boston campus, and the Charlotte, North Carolina campus. In 1997, Dr. Cooley was appointed Chancellor of the Seminary. In 2000, he was named President Emeritus. Currently, he serves on the Board of Directors of In Trust magazine and is the president of In Trust, Inc. Dr. Cooley also serves as Executive Director of the CTI Foundation, Carol Stream, Illinois, and as Distinguished Visiting Scholar and Counsel to the President at Bethel College and Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota.

In 1997, world-renowned member of Gordon-Conwell's faculty, Dr. Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., Colman M. Mockler Distinguished Professor of Old Testament, succeeded Dr. Cooley as the third president of the seminary. Under Dr. Kaiser’s leadership, the seminary grew from 900 to nearly 2100 students from 44 nations, to become the 5th largest seminary in North America. Thirty new professors joined the faculty, and scholarship funding increased by more than 300 percent. Gordon-Conwell developed a new state-of-the art campus in Charlotte, North Carolina; retrofit a spacious new headquarters for the Boston campus in Roxbury, Massachusetts; and launched a new extension site in Jacksonville, Florida. During his tenure, the seminary also launched several new academic and spiritual life programs, such as the Center for Preaching, Pierce Center for Disciple-Building, Compass for high school youth, the J. Christy Wilson, Jr. Center for World Missions, the Center for the Study of Global Christianity, Semlink distance learning now available in Chinese, and free Dimensions of the Faith courses used by churches and missionaries across the globe. Many of these advances were funded by a successful $54 million capital campaign led by Dr. Kaiser. Upon his retirement in 2006, Dr. Kaiser was named President Emeritus.

Dr. James Emery White was named the fourth president of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in 2006. Before coming to the Seminary, Dr. White was the founding and senior pastor of Mecklenberg Community Church in North Carolina, which grew from one family to more than 3000 members with over 5000 active attenders. He also served as an adjunct professor at the seminary's Charlotte campus. An accomplished author, Dr. White has written numerous books, including the Gold Medallion finalist Serious Times. He is also the founder of Serious Times, an organization devoted to understanding the intersection of church and culture. Dr. White is married to Susan, and has four children: Rebecca, Rachel, Jonathan and Zachary.

Dr. Haddon W. Robinson was named Acting President in May, 2007. Dr. Robinson has been the Harold John Ockenga Distinguished Professor of Preaching since 1991 and is widely regarded as an expert in the area of preaching. He was named one of the twelve most effective preachers in the English-speaking world in a 1996 Baylor University poll and his Biblical Preaching is used as a textbook in over 120 Bible Colleges and Seminaries. Dr. Robinson also serves as co-director of the Doctor of Ministry Program at Gordon-Conwell and had been President of Denver Seminary from 1979 - 1991.

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