Congregational Seminaries - SaBC (Seminaries and Bible Colleges)

Few seminary schools explicitly identify themselves as “congregational seminaries,” as this is more an organizational distinction than a theological one. Several seminary and theology schools serve denominations that have congregational forms of church government, though. Therefore, they might be thought of as “congregational,” although this usually isn’t their only label.

Additionally, students who hope to serve in congregational churches shouldn’t necessarily limit themselves to the seminary, theology and divinity schools listed below. Congregational churches and denominations often accept graduates from other schools that don’t necessarily claim to be congregational.

Churches of Christ Seminaries

The Churches of Christ (sometimes Christian Churches) is an association of autonomous congregational churches. The churches trace their history to the Restoration Movement.

There are three Churches of Christ seminaries:

Abilene Christian University Graduate School of Theology, a Churches of Christ theology school
Cincinnati Bible Seminary of Cincinnati Christian University, a Churches of Christ seminary
Emmanuel Christian Seminary at Milligan, a Disciples of Christ and Churches of Christ seminary
Fred-Hardeman University Graduate School of Theology, a Churches of Christ school of theology
Harding School of Theology, a theology school of the Churches of Christ
Hazelip School of Theology at Lipscomb University, a Churches of Christ theology school
Kearley Graduate School of Theology of Faulkner University, a Churches of Christ school of theology
Lincoln Christian Seminary, a Churches of Christ seminary
Lubbock Christian University College of Biblical Studies and Behavioral Sciences, a Churches of Christ Christian university
Oklahoma Christian University Graduate School of Theology, a Churches of Christ theology school

Disciples of Christ Seminaries

The Disciples of Christ (sometimes The Christian Church) is an ecumencial denomination based in the reformed tradition. The denomination is part of the World Council of Churches and the National Council of Churches.

There are several Disciples of Christ seminaries:

Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University, United Methodist Church, and Disciples of Christ divinity school
Central Baptist Theological Seminary, a seminary school of the Disciples of Christ and many other denominations
Christian Theological Seminary, a seminary of the Disciples of Christ
Emmanuel Christian Seminary at Milligan, a Churches of Christ and Disciples of Christ Seminary
Lexington Theological Seminary, a Disciples of Christ theology school
Pacific School of Religion, a United Methodist Church, United Churches of Christ and Disciples of Christ school of religion
Phillips Theological Seminary, a Disciples of Christ seminary school

Evangelical Congregational Church Seminary

The Evangelical Congregational Church is a denomination of evangelicals that come out of the brethren tradition. The denomination is focused on keeping authority in the local church, as its name implies.

There is one Evangelical Congregational Church seminary:

Evangelical Theological Seminary, a methodist seminary affiliated with the Evangelical Congregational Church

General Association of General Baptists Seminary

The General Association of General Baptists is a baptist denomination primarily located in the Midwest United States. The denomination’s churches are defined by their congregational structure and adherence to general atonement (the doctrine that Christ died for everyone).

There is one official General Association of General Baptists seminary:

Chapman Seminary of Oakland City University, a seminary of the General Association of General Baptists

United Churches of Christ Seminaries

The United Churches of Christ (UCC) is historically grounded in the Reformed Tradition and congregationalism. Today, the denomination has thousands of churches and almost 1 million members. The denomination is known for its ecumenical and interfaith efforts, and maintains full communion with many other mainline protestant denominations.

The United Churches of Christ has official relationships with seven seminaries:

Andover Newton Theological Seminary, an American Baptist Church USA, and UCC seminary
Central Baptist Theological Seminary, a seminary of the UCC and many other denominations
Chicago Theological Seminary, a UCC seminary school
Eden Theological Seminary, a theology school of the UCC
Lancaster Theological Seminary, a seminary school of the UCC
Pacific School of Religion, a United Methodist Church, Disciples of Christ and UCC theology school
United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, a United Methodist Church, and UCC theology school

One seminary isn’t officially affiliated with the United Churches of Christ, but offers UCC courses:

Iliff School of Theology, a methodist theology school that has courses on the UCC

A number of theology schools are no longer official United Churches of Christ seminaries but have historic roots in the tradition:

Hartford Seminary, a non-denominational seminary that has historic ties with the UCC
Harvard University Divinity School, a non-denomination divinity school that has historic ties with the UCC
Howard University School of Divinity, a divinity school that historically had ties with the UCC and served the African American community
Interdenomination Theological Center, an interdenominational seminary that historically had ties with the UCC and served the African American community
Vanderbilt University Divinity School, a divinity school with historic ties to the UCC
Yale University Divinity School, a historically UCC divinity school

Looking for more seminaries? Check out our lists of historically African American, baptist, ecumenical and protestant seminaries. Alternatively, peruse all the denominations we have listed.