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Dallas Theological Seminary

Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS) is an evangelical theological seminary in Dallas, Texas. It is known for popularizing the theological system of dispensationalism. DTS has campuses in Dallas, Houston, and Washington, D.C., as well as extension sites in Atlanta, Austin, San Antonio, Nashville, Northwest Arkansas, Europe, and Guatemala, and a multilingual online education program. DTS is the largest non-denominational seminary accredited by the Association of Theological Schools.

DTS was founded in 1924 as the Evangelical Theological College by Rollin T. Chafer, Lewis Sperry Chafer, and William Henry Griffith Thomas. Its founders envisioned a school dedicated to expository Bible teaching, pioneering one of the first four-year Master of Theology (Th.M.) programs. The seminary moved to its current location in 1926 and launched its Doctor of Theology (Th.D.) program in 1927. Under Lewis Sperry Chafer’s leadership until his death in 1952, DTS played a significant role in shaping the fundamentalist movement, training pastors and educators who founded Bible colleges and independent churches. In 1934, the seminary began publishing ''Bibliotheca Sacra'', one of the oldest continuously published theological journals in the United States.

Following Chafer’s death, John F. Walvoord became president in 1952, expanding DTS’s academic programs and influence. Under his leadership, the seminary introduced the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) program in 1980 and several master’s programs in biblical studies and Christian education. Subsequent presidents included Donald K. Campbell (1986–1994), Chuck Swindoll (1994–2001), and Mark Bailey (2001–2020), during whose tenure DTS launched programs in biblical counseling, linguistics, media, leadership, a Spanish D.Min. track, and multilingual online education. Mark Yarbrough succeeded Bailey as president in 2020. As of 2014, DTS reported over 15,000 alumni serving in ministry roles across 97 countries worldwide.

Theologically, DTS is widely regarded as a center of modern dispensational teaching, based on Lewis Sperry Chafer’s eight-volume ''Systematic Theology'' (1948), which remains a core resource in its curriculum. The seminary upholds beliefs in premillennialism, dispensationalism, and biblical inerrancy while maintaining a non-denominational Protestant identity. DTS was first accredited in 1944 and is a member of several theological and educational associations. Its alumni include prominent pastors, scholars, and authors such as David Jeremiah, Andy Stanley, and Tony Evans. Provided by Wikipedia