Christian Theological Seminary holds five core values that reflect our mission and vision:
- Affirming God-given human dignity
- Working toward justice for all
- Embracing diversity
- Advancing scholarship and formation
- Promoting healing and wholeness
In 2012, the Board of Trustees approved an official resolution making CTS an open and affirming seminary and signifying our commitment to the full inclusion of the LGBTQ+ community. In 2019, CTS welcomed its first openly gay President with the appointment of Dr. David M. Mellott. Dr. Mellott remains one of the pioneer LGBTQ+ Presidents within the Association of Theological Schools.
This October, CTS is proud to celebrate and honor LGBTQ+ History Month. In 1994, Missouri high school teacher Rodney Wilson gathered teachers and community leaders who believed a month should be dedicated to the celebration and teaching of gay and lesbian history. While Pride Month is celebrated in June to mark the anniversary or the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, the group chose to celebrate LGBTQ History Month in October so that public schools would be in session and to coincide with National Coming Out Day, Oct. 11, which is the anniversary of the 1979 march on Washington for gay and lesbian rights.
There are many ways the CTS community can celebrate this month:
- All Month – Students can stop by CTS room 168 to pick-up a LGBTQ+ History Month memento
- Oct. 11th – Honor National Coming Out Day with us on social media
- Oct. 19th – Join us for LGBTQ+ History Month Chapel at 11:30am
- Oct. 19th – Join us following chapel for the Rainbow Celebration – a fun and interactive event in the CTS Café open to students, faculty, and staff
- Oct. 20th – Generally recognized as LGBTQ+ Spirit Day – join people around the world in wearing purple to show support for LGBTQ+ youth
- Learn about LGBTQ+ historical icons each day at 31 Days. 31 Icons.
- Continue to stand for the full worth and God-given human dignity of all in your day-to-day life
