Bicentennial
The Seminary was founded in 1810. We Praise the Lord for nearly 200 years of faithful service!
Bicentennial Campaign Summary
In December 2010, RPTS completed its $6.4 million bicentennial campaign. This was an exciting and momentous time for us! In God's abounding grace, our six-year campaign, conducted in part during a major economic recession, ended with pledges and gifts approaching $7.4 million. This remarkable provision was beyond what any of us had the faith to imagine when we began the campaign. It was a remarkable evidence of God's continued goodness to the Seminary.
During these last six years we have started a Doctor of Ministry program, strengthened our two master degree programs, begun a Biblical Counseling Institute, added concentrations in Biblical Counseling to each of our three degree programs, and purchased and renovated another building (now named the Willson Center) which houses the Biblical Counseling Institute and provides more classroom and Library space, as well as four more married student housing units. In every way, the Lord has shown His mercy to us, and we are thankful.
In June of 2010, approximately 625 people came together at the Senator John Heinz History Center to celebrate God's grace to us. He has kept the Seminary faithful to the historic Christian faith for 200 years, and we are indeed thankful. The Evening of Celebration was the highlight of the bicentennial activities, and few will forget the joy and excitement of being a part of that historic moment.
The future is in God's hands. We pray for faithfulness to the mission He has given to us, and we pray for wisdom. If God answers these prayers, then we trust that He will give us another 200 years of service--and many more years beyond that if Jesus tarries. We continue to serve the Reformed Presbyterian Church as well as other Reformed and Presbyterian churches, and we also have the privilege of serving the tri-state area by training Bible-believing Christians from the broader evangelical church for service in their respective churches.
Bicentennial Events
200th Anniversary Celebration
Thursday, June 24, 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. dinner, 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. program
Heinz History Center, Pittsburgh PA
Sold out! Praise the Lord!
Click below to listen to messages from the keynote speakers of the 200th Celebration:
Derek Thomas - "Significance of Seminary Education"
Sinclair Ferguson - "To God Alone Be Glory"
Click Here to purchase a full length DVD of the entire evening program. (The purchase link is on bottom right of the page)
Bicentennial Digital Book Series
In celebration of the bicentennial of RPTS in 2010, each month we will make available at the above link a digital copy of an older book from our Library (most off the shelves of our Rare Books Room!) that are no longer in print, each highlighting doctrinal, pastoral, and evangelical emphases of the Seminary's denomination, the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America. Most of these books are by people who served the RPCNA in their ministry and life, and some are more than 200 years old!
The February sharing of Alexander McLeod's 1802 Negro Slavery Unjustifiable booklet was accompanied by a 27-minute video documentary released during Black History Month in 2010, which included dramatic readings of selections from the booklet and the singing of negro spirituals. This video also is available for viewing at the digital book series page link.
Bicentennial Video
To view a 9 1/2 - minute video about the bicentennial campaign, click on the play button of the video screen to the right. The video includes interviews and testimonials of professors, students, and alums.
Oral History Video
Click here to watch an oral history video shared at the RP International Conference in 2008.
Public Phase
We are now in our public phase of the bicentennial campaign aimed at strengthening six key areas:
- Academics (New Doctor of Ministry program with a pastoral or counseling concentration, and endowing our first chair to help cover our annual faculty costs);
- Scholarships (Financial Aid and the Minority and Urban Student Endowed Scholarship);
- Operations (Annual costs of Instruction, Academic Support, Student Services, Institutional Support, Communications, and Campus Maintenance -- our expenses have gone up significantly as we have brought on more faculty and related costs to our new D.Min. program and the new Biblical Counseling Institute);
- Youth (Theological Foundations for Youth Annual summer program for RPCNA high school students to study theology at RPTS);
- Infrastructure (new computer, database, and internet technology to help the administration and faculty more efficiently serve the student body, alums, and friends);
- Facilities (Elevator on the main campus - done 2005, Windows - half way completed, Basement renovations, Classroom Additions, and renovating the new Willson Center build ling across the road that houses the new RPTS Biblical Counseling Institute. Work began in 2008. Second floor renovations for married student housing is completed and the rooms are rented. The first three units on the first floor have been completed that house the BCI offices, classroom, and conference room, and the Library Annex is nearly completed as of June, 2010. We still need support to take care of outdoor signage, lighting, etc.
How might you be able to help us with the above efforts to strengthen the ministry at this historic time? Click here to give online.
For more information on the campaign, please read the Bicentennial Case for Support below.
Bicentennial Case for Support
To read our Bicentennial Case for Support, From Strength to Strength, that shares about how we hope the Bicentennial will be a vehicle for important growth with the help of our friends, please email gvanleuven@rpts.edu to have one mailed to you, or click here to read a PDF file version of the Bicentennial Case for Support.
200th Anniversary History Book
A bicentennial history book has been published this summer is available for purchase through the Seminary bookstore. It is a collection of memories and touching anecdotes by alums and their wives, emeritus professors, and others whose lives have been directly impacted by RPTS.
