Methodist Seminaries - SaBC (Seminaries and Bible Colleges)

The methodist movement started by Charles and John Wesley has given rise to several denominations, including the United Methodist Church, African Methodist Episcopal Church and others. These denominations are served by many methodist seminaries, as well as some other seminary schools that offer accredited courses for methodist students.

African Methodist Episcopal Church Seminary

The African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME Church) is a primarily African-American methodist denomination. It has the unique distinction of being the first denomination to arise not primarily out of doctrinal distinctions but for racial reasons.

There’s one official African Methodist Episcopal Church seminary:

Payne Theological Seminary, a historically black AME seminary

African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Seminary

The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (AME Zion Church) is another historically black methodist denomination. It formed in New York City a few years after the AME church. (The AME Church was founded in Philadelphia.)

There’s also one African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church seminary:

Hood Theological Seminary, a historically African-American AME Zion seminary

Evangelical Congregational Church Seminary School

The Evangelical Congregational Church comes from the brethren tradition. Today, it has wesleyan and arminian leanings.

There is one Evangelical Congregational Church theology school:

Evangelical Theological Seminary, an Evangelical Congregational Church seminary school that teaches methodist theology

Free Methodist Church Seminary

The Free Methodist Church traces its roots the holiness movement. The evangelical denomination is thoroughly wesleyan and arminian.

There is one Free Methodist Church seminary:

Azusa Pacific Seminary, a wesleyan seminary in California

United Methodist Church Seminaries

The United Methodist Church (UMC) is a mainline methodist denomination. The largest methodist denomination in the United States, the UMC is known for both its evangelicalism and liturgical commitment. The UMC participates in several ecumencial organizations, including the World Council of Churches and World Methodist Council.

There are many United Methodist Church seminaries:

Boston University School of Theology, a United Methodist graduate theology school in Massachusetts
Brite Divinity School, a United Methodist and Disciples of Christ divinity school
Candler School of Theology at Emory University, a UMC theology school in Atlanta
Central Baptist Theological Seminary, a United Methodist seminary that also serves many other Christian denominations
Claremont School of Theology, a United Methodist theology school in California
Drew University Theological School, a United Methodist theology school in New Jersey
Duke University Divinity School, a United Methodist divinity school in North Carolina
Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, a UMC seminary school in Illinois
Iliff School of Theology, a seminary of the UMC and many other mainline denominations
Methodist Theological School in Ohio, a United Methodist theology school in Ohio
Pacific School of Religion, a school of religions that serves the UMC and many other denominations
Perkins School of Theology of Southern Methodist University, a United Methodist theology school in Texas
Saint Paul School of Theology, a United Methodist seminary school in Kansas
United Theological Seminary, a UMC seminary school in Ohio
Wesley Theological Seminary, a UMC seminary in Washington, D.C.

A few other schools aren’t officially United Methodist seminaries but offer courses for UMC students:

Chicago Theological Seminary, a United Churches of Christ seminary that has a program for ordination in the UMC
Eastern Mennonite Seminary of Eastern Mennonite University, a Mennonite Church USA seminary school that has United Methodist classes
Luther Seminary, an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America seminary school that has courses for UMC students

Wesleyan Church Seminaries

The Wesleyan Church is an international denomination that comes from the wesleyan and arminian holiness movement.

There are two Wesleyan Church seminaries:

Azusa Pacific Seminary, a wesleyan seminary school in California
Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University, a wesleyan seminary school in Indiana

Other Methodist Seminaries, Theology Schools and Divinity Schools

Some seminaries aren’t formally affiliated with a methodist denomination, but still serve methodist students. They may be historically rooted in Wesleyanism and the methodist tradition, teach methodist theology, or offer courses or programs for students in methodist denominations. These other methodist seminaries include:

Asbury Theological Seminary, a wesleyan seminary
Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary of Lenoir-Rhyne University, a lutheran seminary that offers a Methodist Studies program
Northeastern Seminary at Roberts Wesleyan College, a non-denominational seminary that’s unofficially methodist
Oral Roberts University College of Theology and Ministry, a historically methodist ministry school
Seattle Pacific Seminary of Seattle Pacific University, a wesleyan seminary school
Vanderbilt University Divinity School, a divinity school that was historically affiliated with the UMC but is now non-denominational
Wesley Biblical Seminary, a wesleyan and arminian seminary

Looking for more seminaries? Check out our lists of:

Or, see all the different denominations we cover.