On July 3, 1946, the Highland Park Baptist Church, under the leadership of the pastor, Dr. Lee Roberson, voted to establish Tennessee Temple College (now University). Then, recognizing the lack of sound Biblical training in the majority of the seminaries, Dr. Roberson led the church in establishing Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary on January 26,1948. Dr. Roberson served as President, and Dr. Alfred Cierpke as Dean. Five years later, the name was changed to Temple Baptist Theological Seminary since the Southern Baptist Convention founded a Seminary by the former name. Since 1985, the institution has been known as Temple Baptist Seminary. In 1962, Dr. Douglas Cravens assumed the position of Dean.

With the assumption of the presidency of the University and Seminary by Dr. J. Don Jennings in 1985, Dr. Roger Martin was named Dean.

In June 1993, the University and the Seminary were restructured, placing each under the supervision of a separate Board of Trustees and administrative leadership, while maintaining the identity of each as owned by and a ministry of Highland Park Baptist Church. With respect to the Seminary, Dr. Lee Roberson was reappointed Chancellor, Dr. David E. Bouler, senior pastor of Highland Park Baptist Church since August 4, 1991, was named Vice-Chancellor and Dr. Barkev S. Trachian was elected President. The Seminary charter was amended in August 1993, to make the name Temple Baptist Seminary official.

April 2005 saw the University and Seminary restructured a second time, reuniting the two under the supervision of a single Board of Trustees and the administration of Dr. J. Danny Lovett, the seventh president of Tennessee Temple University, with Temple Baptist Seminary re-establishing itself as the premier graduate division as originally envisioned by the founder, Dr. Lee Roberson. This restructure was confirmed in late November 2005 by the University’s and Seminary’s accrediting agency. Fixed firmly to its foundations, Temple Baptist Seminary continues committed to training qualified candidates for dynamic leadership in Bible-believing churches and related field ministries, to shaping His shepherds, developing disciples with the unchanging Word of God on a global scale.

From the outset, the Seminary has been committed to upholding the Biblical faith historically believed by fundamental Baptists. In addition there has been a strong emphasis upon Bible teaching, Christian education, evangelism, and ministry endeavor. With the theme “Preparing for Leadership,” TBS continues to expand its efforts to equip both church leaders and laypersons for the work of the ministry. In recent years, a program of winter and summer modular classes has been initiated. That program has become very popular with both resident and out-of-town students Soon nearly all Temple Baptist Seminary’s courses will be available on-line, enabling studies anywhere worldwide! .

Temple Baptist Seminary has matriculated students from almost every state and from many foreign countries. Many graduates have distinguished themselves as pastors, military and civilian chaplains, teachers, educators, missionaries, and evangelists.
 

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