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 transform 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 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".
Today, the African Methodist Episcopal Church has membership in twenty Episcopal Districts in thirty-nine countries on five continents. The work of the Church is administered by twenty-one active bishops, and nine General Officers who manage the departments of the Church. AME Church History: https://www.ame-church.com/our-church/our-history/
Also known as the A.M.E. Church for short, the denomination is Methodist in terms of its basic doctrine and order of worship. It was born, through adversity, of the Methodist church and to this day does not differ in any major way from what all Methodists believe. The split from the main branch of the Methodist Church was not a result of doctrinal differences but rather the result of a time period that was marked by man’s intolerance of his fellow man, based on the color of his skin. It was a time of slavery, oppression and the dehumanization of people of African descent and many of these un-Christian practices were brought into the church, forcing Richard Allen and a group of fellow worshippers of color to form a splinter denomination of the Methodist Church.
To find the basic foundations of the beliefs of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, you need look no further than The Apostles’ Creed and The Twenty Five Articles of Religion:
Apostle's Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only son our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead; and buried. The third day he arose from the dead’ he ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Church Universal, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Amen.
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.
Institutional Objectives
Inherited from the work in the Interdenominational Theological Center consortium, these institutional goals reflect Turner's commitment to excellence and innovation in Theological Education. Turner Theological Seminary’s Institutional Goals are the responsibility of the Turner Theological Seminary Board of Trustees and are part of its strategic plan development.
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To educate men and women for leadership in Christ’s Church and the world.
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To demonstrate academic excellence in teaching and research.
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To attract, support, and retain qualified students capable of fulfilling the mission of the institution, who will foster and advocate diversity; promote integrity and competence in Christian leadership; and encourage justice, reconciliation, liberation, and peace.
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To provide a critique, informed by the perspectives of African American and other global interpretations, of Western, male-dominated theological education.
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To encourage scholarly research and publications related to Africa and the Diaspora African religious experience, the African American Church, and the church universal.
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To attract, develop, and retain competent faculty, staff, and administrators.
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To ensure that the learning, working, and living environment is healthy, safe, and secure through strong administrative practices.
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To develop and sustain partnerships that enhance the education of students, provide opportunities for community service, and foster interreligious dialogue.
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To maintain fiscal stability and to strengthen the financial vitality of Turner Theological Seminary.
Core Values
Our core values bind us together. They are deeply held beliefs that we translate into consistent standards of behavior when working with our students and each other.
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Integrity and Respect: The Seminary manifests an unwavering adherence to strict moral and ethical character and shows an authentic regard for others while practicing civility and supporting all dimensions of the human as being.
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Diversity and Inclusiveness: We celebrate individual differences and recognize that the inclusion of all is vital for the success of the institution and its ability to support a global agenda.
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Quality Teaching and Learning: We are committed to imparting and gaining knowledge to promote intellectual curiosity in a success-driven environment
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Excellence: We strive for excellence in all we do. We are committed to providing excellent teaching and service to our students and staff.
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Service to Community: Throughout Turner, we support and recognize service that contributes to the benefit of Turner's student body and its workforce, the State of Georgia, the nation, and the world.
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Innovation and discovery: We take the lead and adopt a spirit of innovation and creativity in our work. We are committed to building a robust culture of ingenuity through habits of mind and championing opportunities to improve our educational landscape.
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Collaboration: Through collaboration, we multiply our contribution. Together, we are stronger, contributing more with a shared sense of goals and mutual support that lead to greater success than isolated work and individual focus. We operate as one cohesive and collegial unit with a unified and student-centered culture.
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Christian Faith: As a practice, our faith is a vehicle of expression of best interest and intentionality. We are consciously dedicated to the purposeful and intentional expression of God's revealed truth.
Code of Ethics
Turner Theological Seminary is committed to developing transformative leaders equipped to serve with integrity, excellence, and compassion. With a focus on justice, reconciliation, and spiritual formation, we affirm the following ethical covenant as a reflection of our shared values and responsibilities:
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We uphold integrity in academic, professional, and administrative settings by stewarding our time, talents, and resources—physical, intellectual, and financial—with excellence and accountability.
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We foster a culture of mutual respect by engaging one another with appropriate language, conduct, and regard for the dignity of every individual and the community.
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We affirm our commitment to gender inclusivity in all aspects of seminary life.
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We support the holistic well-being of individuals and the community, promoting environments that nurture healthy and effective engagement.
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We honor the diverse theological, ideological, ecumenical, and personal expressions within our seminary community.
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We celebrate and build upon the richness of African cultural heritage as an essential part of our shared identity and mission.
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We encourage intellectual excellence through open dialogue, critical reflection, and the respectful exchange of ideas and perspectives.
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We ensure a safe and inclusive physical and psychological environment for all, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, ability, or any other characteristic protected by law.
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We preserve and manage institutional resources in ways that support our mission, affirm the contributions of others, and uphold fiscal responsibility.
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We hold ourselves and one another accountable to these ethical commitments, recognizing our collective responsibility in sustaining the integrity of our community.