Mission
The mission of Memphis Theological Seminary is to educate and sustain men and women for ordained and lay Christian ministry in the church and the world through shaping and inspiring lives devoted to scholarship, piety, and justice.
Vision
Memphis Theological Seminary pursues its mission so that Christian leaders and the churches they serve can effectively proclaim and embody God’s mission of redemption, justice, and peace in service to the new creation in Jesus Christ.
Values
For more than a century and a half, Memphis Theological Seminary’s identity has been shaped by
- the traditions of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, its parent denomination,
- its location in Memphis and the Mid-South region of the United States,
- creative partnership with the broader Christian community,
- a commitment to dialogue with people from other faith traditions, and
- participation in the community of higher education.
This unique identity has forged the following values that guide our work:
MTS seeks to educate leaders who communicate confidently the good news of the gospel with all people. This gospel is centered on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus the Christ and witnessed in the authoritative scriptures of the Old and New Testaments.
MTS cultivates openness to the guidance and inspiration of Holy Spirit, who calls women and men of all peoples and nations to the ministry of Jesus Christ.
MTS seeks to form Christian leaders who are healthy in body, mind, and spirit, and who promote the vitality of Christian communities.
MTS is committed to the practice of hospitality, affirming that learning happens best in a setting that is ecumenical and global.
MTS affirms that the education of Christian leaders should be rooted in Jesus’ proclamation of the new creation in which all are invited to live free from the powers of sin and death.
MTS affirms that all people are created in God’s image and should use their talents to reflect God’s gifts of beauty, truth, and love.
MTS is convinced that teachers and learners who follow the way of Jesus are imperfect in knowledge and love in this life, and should demonstrate humility as they seek reconciliation in relationships with other Christians and persons of other faiths.
