Denominations and Gordon-Conwell
Gordon-Conwell is proud of its history of evangelical ecumenism, as our students, staff and faculty hail from a wide variety of denominational backgrounds. While many of our incoming students come from non-denominational or inter-denominational backgrounds, the seminary encourages students to think and pray through their personal theological stances and consider how best they might fit into existing denominations.
We believe that this exercise is especially critical for students planning to pursue ordination. The advantages of belonging to a denomination or an association are many, including help with career services, ordination, networking, ministry training, ministry opportunities and professional development. As we often say – unless God has clearly told you to go non-denominational, you should seek to choose an appropriate denomination.
The Gordon-Conwell Denominational Chart
So, how can you start the process of checking out denominations? Please take a look at our Denominational Chart. We have listed the top-represented denominations from the GCTS student body and categorized them by topics that seem to matter most to our students in their selection process: church polity, theology, stance on women in leadership, and view on baptism. We have also included contact information for the regional and national representatives of these denominations for your convenience.
The denominations listed in this Chart reflect the top-represented denominations from the Gordon-Conwell student body. Omission of any particular denomination does not reflect a negative view on the part of the seminary, nor does inclusion in this chart reflect our endorsement. Also, the descriptions and categorizations are written from a general evangelical stance, and do not connote their official endorsement by the respective denomination.
The Mentored Ministry Department welcomes any clarifications, updates or corrections from knowledgeable readers or denominational representatives to improve the accuracy of this Chart. We also reserve the right to decide whether the proposed changes should be adopted. Most of all, we hope and pray that this Chart will be of genuine help to our students as they seek God’s direction for their lives and ministry.
Finally, please note that we have several copies of The Handbook to Denominations in the United States available on loan in the Career Services office (AC233).