About TURNER
Turner Theological Seminary, established in 1894 as a Department of Theology on the campus of Morris Brown College, is affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The seminary was named Turner Theological Seminary in 1900 in honor of Bishop Henry McNeal Turner, the resident Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and senior bishop of the denomination at that time.
Bishop Henry McNeal Turner, for whom the seminary is named, was a pioneering leader who, in 1863, became the first African American to serve as a U.S. Army Chaplain. Continuing this legacy of breaking barriers, in 1974, Chaplain Alice Henderson, a Turner Theological Seminary graduate, became the first woman of color in any branch of the military to serve as a chaplain.
Dedicated to preparing clergy and leaders for effective ministry, Turner offers a rigorous Afrocentric theological education. With a strong commitment to academic excellence, spiritual formation, and community engagement, the seminary equips its students to address contemporary challenges while promoting social justice and transformative leadership within the church and beyond.
Our Mission
Turner Theological Seminary (TTS) is African Methodist Episcopal in origin and affiliation and multi-denominational in spirit. TTS prepares men and women for ecclesial leadership in the African American tradition of theological reflection, liberation, evangelism, justice, and reconciliation to transforms a diverse community of learners into future global leaders who impact the church and the world.
Our Vision
Turner Theological Seminary (TTS) is to be the "seminary of choice" for people who desire to pursue excellence through theological perspectives with an emphasis on social justice as a transformational seminary in the world.
Our Motto
Turner Theological Seminary remains committed to its motto “For a Prepared Ministry” in keeping with the aim of its founders to be an institution for the preparation of men and women for every aspect of Christian Education.
Our Faith Statement
Turner Theological Seminary (TTS) hereby affirms its historical affiliation with the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME). In fulfillment of its mission as an institution of higher education, steeped in the foundational beliefs of The AME Church, Turner Theological Seminary is committed to AME Church's motto of “God Our Father,
Christ Our Redeemer, the Holy Spirit Our Comforter, Humankind, Our Family".