Northern Seminary is a private Baptist seminary in Lisle, Illinois. Historically known as Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, it is affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA.
History The Seminary was founded in 1913 by the Second Baptist Church of Chicago named as Northern Baptist Theological Seminary as a theologically conservative alternative within the framework of its association with the American Baptist Churches USA. In 1920 a collegiate department was founded, and the American Baptist Churches became a seminary partner. In 1963, it moved to Lombard, Illinois. In 2004, it was renamed Northern Seminary. In 2017, it moved to Lisle, Illinois.
It is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada.
On March 13, 2023, the president, William D. Shiell, resigned from his position amid controversy. After several interim presidents, Joy J. Moore officially became the president of Northern Seminary on December 1, 2024. On January 2, 2026, Moore and the Board of Trustees mutually agreed that she would resign from the position of president of the seminary. Ingrid Faro was named interim president.
Presidents +No.NameTermRef 1 John Marvin Dean 19131918 2 George W. Taft 19181936 3 William Law Ferguson 19361938 4 Charles W. Koller 19381961 5 Benjamin P. Browne 19601964 6 Bryan F. Archibald 19651975 7 William R. Myers Sr. 19751988 8 Ian M. Chapman 19882001 9 Charles W. Moore 20012006 John F. Kirn 20062008 10 Alistair Brown 20082016 11 William D. Shiell 20162023 John C. Bowling 2023 Karen Walker Freeburg 20232024 12 Joy J. Moore 20242026 Ingrid Faro 2026present
Notable people Alumni David Breese, evangelist, author, and radio broadcaster Millard Erickson, 20th-century theologian and author Clay Evans (pastor), 20th-century African-American evangelical pastor Derwin Gray, professional football player and pastor Carl Henry, founder and first editor of Christianity Today Torrey Johnson, first president of Youth for Christ Stephen R. Lawhead, fiction writer Tara Beth Leach, pastor and author John Osteen, first pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas Kenneth N. Taylor, creator of The Living Bible paraphrase and founder of Tyndale House publishers Warren W. Wiersbe, author, teacher, and minister for Moody Church and Back to the Bible Gideon B. Williamson, general superintendent in the Church of the Nazarene Mildred Bangs Wynkoop, Wesleyan-Holiness preacher, evangelist, and theologian
Faculty Lynn H. Cohick, former provost, dean of academic affairs and professor of New Testament Harold Lindsell, former professor Nijay Gupta, Professor of New Testament Greg Boyd (theologian), Adjunct Professor Scot McKnight, former Julius R. Mantey chair of New Testament Joy J. Moore, former president of Northern Seminary Robert E. Webber, former Myers Professor of Ministry
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