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The Birth and Development of Turner Theological Seminary
October 13, 2008 --
Rev. Kyle “K.C” Gibson
Class of 2003
The
Concept of Turner Theological Seminary date back to September 23, 1885 when
Reverend T.G. Steward a Chaplain in The United States Army was elected to serve
as Dean of Theology of Morris Brown College. It would take nine years before the
Department of Theology became a reality. On October 2, 1894 the Department of
Theology officially opened with an enrollment twelve students. The first person
elected to serve as Dean was Reverend E.L. Chew, however he never served in the
position. Reverend E.W. Lee who later went on to become President of Morris
Brown was elected as the first active Dean
In
December 1895, the Reverend J.S. Flipper (Future Bishop) was elected to serve as
dean but did not serve in the position; however Reverend Wellington G. Alexander
served for the remainder of the year. In 1896, the General Conference assigned
Bishop Henry McNeal Turner to the Six Episcopal District and Reverend E.L. Lee
was again elected to serve as Dean. However, Lee was transferred to the Macon
Conference and Wellington G. Alexander again served as Dean for the remainder of
that school year.
In.
1896, Rev. J.S. Flipper was elected to serve as Dean, but resigned again and
Rev. M.M. Ponton became the next Dean. The Department of Theology of Morris
Brown College name was changed in 1900 to Turner Theology Seminary, in honor of
Bishop Turner who at that time was the Senior Bishop of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church. In July 1903, the Rev. J.A. Lindsay was elected as its first
Dean but resigned, and Rev. J.S. Flipper was appointed and served until 1904 as
Turner Seminary’s first Dean. Rev. W.G Alexander returned to Turner Seminary and
served as Dean until 1907.
In
1908, Rev. F.R. Simms became the seminary’s Dean and was followed by Rev. W.G.
Alexander who served until 1913 when Rev. Peter W. Greatheart was elected to
serve as Dean until 1920. It was during the Episcopal administration of Bishop
W.A. Fountain that Turner Theological Seminary was most prolific in the
production of prominent Pastors.
Under Bishop Fountain’s administration, he placed emphasize on the preparation
of young men (women were not permitted in the ministry during this time) in the
ministry. Bishop Fountain brought in well trained personnel to teach in the
seminary. These included personalities such as Dr. S.H. Giles, Dr. Charles L.
Hill, and Dr. J.R. Coan just to name a few.
Bishop Fountain named Dr. Charles L. Hill to serve as Dean of Turner Seminary
and under Hill’s leadership, the curriculum was standardized and he established
the precedent of conferring degrees on college graduates only and also secured
the participation of Turner Seminary in the Southern Inter Seminary Movement.
Under Hill, Turner Seminary was able to establish a more intimate association
with Morris Brown College. Another accomplishment under Hill’s administration
was that Turner Seminary had its largest enrollment of students up to that time.
In
1957 the Turner Seminary acquired a two-story building on 557 Mitchell Street,
N.W. The first floor had lecture and conference rooms along with offices for the
staff, faculty and a spacious office for the Bishop. A library was located on
the second floor which was equipped with modern furnishings. In sequential years
the Reverends David R. Fobbs, Charles Leander Hill, Carleton L. Lee, Frank
Cunningham, E.J. Odom Jr also served as Dean of Turner Seminary
In
1958, when the Interdenominational Theological Center was organized, Turner
Theological Seminary was one of the four founding constituents members and
George A. Sewell, became the first ITC era Dean of Turner Seminary. Following
Sewell were Josephus R. Coan, George L. Champion, Cecil W. Cone, and C.D.
Wilkerson. Turner Seminary’s immediate past Dean is The Reverend Doctor Daniel
Wesley Jacobs
who headed the seminary from 1985 to 2008. The current president/dean of Turner
theological seminary is the Reverend Doctor John Frank Green.
Turner Theological Seminary was created to render service throughout the
connection of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Some of Turner’s graduates
have served as Deans, professors, pastors of some of African Methodism’s most
prestigious pulpits, chaplains, and have been elected to public office. Under
Jacobs’s leadership, the enrollment of Turner has more that doubled and the
four-story Turner building was erected. Another significant accomplishment
during his administration is that several Bishops, General Officers and
Connectional Officers have been elected to serve our Zion.
In
keeping with the original purpose of the founders to fill the void of
educational opportunities for blacks, Turner Theological Seminary has provided
this opportunity to many women and men of the African Methodist Episcopal
Church. Among some of the graduates of Turner Seminary are Dr. David R. Fobbs,
the first alumnus to serve as Dean; Dr. C.D. Wilkerson, Turner’s (ITC) first
Dean and was a part of ITC’s first class as part of the ITC; David P. Talbot, a
Presiding Elder an uncle of Bishop Fredrick H. Talbot
The
first three Turner alumni to be elected to the Bishopric were Bishops William A.
Fountain Sr, (1920) William R. Wilkes (1948) and Harold I. Bearden (1964). The
first ITC era Turner Alumni to be elected to the Episcopacy was Bishop Adam
Jefferson Richardson (1996) followed by Bishop Preston Warren Williams (2000).
At
the 2004 General Conference, three sons of Turner were elevated to African
Methodism highest office. These distinguished Alumni were Bishops James Davis,
Samuel L. Green and E. Earl McCloud. In addition to the election of Bishops, two
of Turner graduates, George L. Champion and George Flowers have been elected as
General Officers. In addition, the current President of the Connectional
Council, Reverend Michael K. Bouie is an Alumni of Turner Seminary
The
early history of Turner Seminary does not include many accomplishments of women
in the ministry because they were not permitted to in the ministry during the
early years. But in recent years the A.M.E. Church has made tremendous changes
in this area with Turner Alumni leading the way
Presiding Elder Leeomia Kelly was appointed as the first African American female
chaplain of The Miami-Dade Police Department and currently serves as a member of
the Judicial Council; Rev. Debra Grant was the first female appointed to a major
pulpit in Georgia and currently serves as the Turner Alumni President; Dr.
Jacquelyn Grant-Collier is a world renown scholar in Theology with a
specialization in Womanist Theology.
Rev.
Ammie Davis currently serves as a Chaplain in the United States Navy and pastors
a major charge in the 8th Episcopal District; Rev. Cassandra Hill
currently server as the Administrative Assistant of Turner Seminary; Rev.
Charletta Robinson who serves as Woman in Ministry Episcopal leader in the 11th
Episcopal District and pastors Mother Mid-Way the Mother Church of African
Methodism in Florida.
For
111 years, Turner Theological Seminary has produced many women and men who have
made major contributions to the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Over the
course of her celebrated history, Turner Theological Seminary continues to train
clergy “For a Prepared Ministry.” It is my prayer that God continues to shine a
light on the Legacy of our beloved Seminary as we continue into the 21st
Century.
God Bless Turner Theological Seminary and Long Live The
African Methodist Episcopal Church.
To God Be the Glory!!!
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