Press Kit
About Christian Theological Seminary
Christian Theological Seminary (CTS) is an academic learning community with graduate programs through our School of Theology and School of Counseling. Additionally, we offer accessible and affordable mental health services to students and the local community through the Counseling Center. As an advocate for social justice, we collaborate with other community partners to mitigate poverty through the Faith & Action Project. While we are related to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), we are open to people of all denominations, faith expressions, and spiritualities. Our community diversity helps us create an intellectually rigorous, spiritually formative, and emotionally supportive education that equips our students to go into the world and serve—whether that’s in the church or the broader community.
Mission
To form disciples of Jesus Christ for church and community leadership to serve God’s transforming of the world.
Vission
To be an academic learning community that gives witness to God’s liberative, restorative, and life-affirming message.
Core Values
- Advancing Scholarship and Formation: Preparation for ministry should be intellectually rigorous, spiritually formative, and emotionally supportive.
- Embracing Diversity: The diversity of the human community is a gift from God and an indispensable resource in preparation for responsible ministry.
- Working Toward Justice For All: Working toward justice for all is an imperative of Christian faith and life.
- Affirming God-Given Human Dignity: All people are created in the image of God and therefore have inherent worth and dignity.
- Promoting Healing and Wholeness Throughout Creation: Promoting healing and wholeness throughout creation is one way we participate in God’s work.
School of Theology
Preparing Leaders for a Changing World
The School of Theology prepares leaders for a changing world as they proclaim God’s liberative, restorative, and life-affirming message. CTS seeks to serve the world through serving the church, and we believe that our school of theology brings a distinctive voice, informed by these commitments, to contexts where the questions of the human family are asked, and easy answers are not provided.
School of Counseling
Healing and Wholeness, One Counselor at a Time
The School of Counseling prepares students to address the mental health crisis through study and preparation as Clinical Mental Health Counselors or Marriage and Family Therapists. The School of Counseling honors diversities of race, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, gender identity, and physical ability through curriculum and clinical training. This emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion is also carried forth in the school’s emphasis on integrating spirituality in the therapeutic enterprise. Both counseling degree programs offer extensive onsite practicum experience at the CTS Counseling Center, where students see individuals, couples, and families with supervised oversight. Additionally, all students participate in therapy themselves in order to provide empathetic care. Upon graduation, students can apply for licensure—in any state—as a marriage and family therapist or clinical mental health counselor through completing either degree program.
Open & Affirming
Christian Theological Seminary is an open and affirming ministry as designated by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Open & Affirming Ministries have committed to openly welcoming and affirming persons of all gender expressions and sexual orientations. The Mission of the Open & Affirming Ministry Program is to welcome persons of all gender expressions and sexual orientations to the table of Christ’s communion and to the full life and leadership of the Christian Church.
CTS Digital Assets
CTS Logos
CTS Icon
Photos
Rev. David M. Mellott, PhD, (right) serves as President and Professor of Theological Formation at Christian Theological Seminary. Francisco Lozada, Jr., PhD (left) serves as Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dean of the Faculty, and Professor of New Testament Studies. 2024.
Graduates celebrate the culmination of their hard work at Commencement with President Mellott and Dean Lozada. 2024.
A photograph of the Christian Theological Seminary faculty, representing both the School of Theology and the School of Counseling. 2024.
Christian Theological Seminary is located on the beautiful South Campus of Butler University. The picturesque setting includes the sculpture “Sphere within a sphere” by Arnaldo Pomodoro. There are a handful of these sculptures on display in the world, including one at the Vatican.
Christian Theological Seminary features stunning architecture like Sweeney Chapel, designed by internationally acclaimed architect Edward Larrabee Barnes.
The Counseling Center provides mental health counseling services to the public, including individual and family therapy as well as support groups. It also serves as a clinical training center for counseling students, interns, and resident therapists.
The Faith & Action Project connects advocates, inspires actions, and empowers local organizations to make a lasting difference through our grant program, educational events, workshops, and trainings.
The main entrance of CTS on the South Campus of Butler University boasts a beautiful fountain, incorporating natural elements with its stunning architecture.
CTS alumni pose for a picture with beloved faculty Rev. Dr. Scott Seay and Rev. Frank A. Thomas, PhD during Alumni Day. 2024.
Videos
Study
A series of clips of students studying, faculty talking with students, and clips of the CTS library.
President’s Bio
Short Version
The Reverend Dr. David M. Mellott is the seventh president of Christian Theological Seminary, beginning his service on July 1, 2019. Rev. Dr. Mellott has dedicated his career to supporting and nurturing Christians and Christian communities as they seek to love God, neighbors, and themselves more deeply.
- Ordained minister, United Church of Christ
- Doctor of Philosophy, Theological Studies, Emory University
- MA in Religious Studies and Licentiate in Sacred Theology, Catholic University, Leuven, Belgium
- BA in English Literature and Latin American Studies, Pontifical College Josephinum
- Author of I Was and Am Dust and Finding Your Way in Seminary: What to Expect, How to Thrive.
Long Version
A theologian, teacher, administrator, and spiritual director, The Reverend Dr. David M. Mellott is the seventh president of Christian Theological Seminary (CTS), beginning his service on July 1, 2019. Rev. Dr. Mellott has dedicated his career to supporting and nurturing Christians and Christian communities as they seek to love God, neighbors, and themselves more deeply.
Reimagining theological education and spiritual formation have been the focus of Rev. Dr. Mellott’s teaching and writing. An ordained minister with the United Church of Christ, Rev. Dr. Mellott holds a PhD from Emory University, an MA in Religious Studies and a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium, and a BA in English Literature and Latin American Studies from the Pontifical College Josephinum.
Prior to his installation as President of Christian Theological Seminary, he served as Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Lancaster Theological Seminary in Lancaster, Pennsylvania from 2011 to 2019. He also was the Professor of Theological Formation and Director of Ministerial Formation. He is the author of two books: I Was and Am Dust and Finding Your Way in Seminary: What to Expect, How to Thrive.
Rev. Dr. Mellott is the son of Francis and Joyce Mellott and was raised in Shadyside, Ohio. He and his husband, the Reverend Lance F. Mullins, reside in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Historical Timeline
1855
Indiana Disciples establish North Western Christian University to provide education for school teachers and ministers, specifically with a commitment to the abolition of slavery.
1877
North Western Christian University is renamed Butler University.
1924
The Butler School of Religion opens, offering theological education to “all students on an equal basis,” including women, students of color, and those of varied theological worldviews.
1930s
The Butler School of Religion succeeds in admitting women, students of color, and those of varied theological worldviews.
1958-59
The School of Religion and Butler University enter into a separation agreement, but maintain continued cooperation in some academic programs. Butler School of Religion reincorporates as Christian Theological Seminary (CTS).
1968
CTS launches its Doctor of Ministry (DMin) degree program, one of the first seminaries in the U.S. to do so.
1970s
A “new ethos” develops at CTS, emphasizing the church’s active engagement with contemporary issues and social scientific approaches to the study of religious faith.
1971
- CTS begins offering graduate degree programs in pastoral care and counseling.
- Methodist theologian Willie White becomes the first African American appointed to the regular, full-time faculty.
1979
Sue Webb Cardwell is appointed the first woman to serve on the regular, full-time faculty of CTS. The appointment of Nelle Slater follows in 1980.
2003
CTS reaches goals of diversifying the administration, faculty, staff, and student body.
2012
The Trustees adopt a resolution making CTS “open and affirming,” committed to the full inclusion of the LGBTQ community.
2016
CTS launches the first-of-its-kind PhD degree program in African American Preaching and Sacred Rhetoric.
2023
CTS announces the formation of the School of Theology and the School of Counseling.
2024
Christian Theological Seminary celebrates its 100th Anniversary – a century of offering theological education to “all students on an equal basis.”
More Information
Media Inquiries
Other Contact Info
Website
cts.edu
Admissions
cts.edu/admissions
317-931-2305
Counseling Center
cts.edu/counseling-center
317-924-5205
