Announcing Merger

November 11, 2009 — At the 2009 MTS Board of Directors Gala event held in Plymouth, MI last week, Moody Bible Institute (MBI) President, Paul Nyquist, and Michigan Theological Seminary Chairman, Rick Warren, jointly announced plans for Michigan Theological Seminary (MTS) to merge with Moody Bible Institute and join with the Moody Theological Seminary and Graduate School (MGS). Both Boards approved the decision to join the seminaries at their spring 2009 board meetings. The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) officially approved the merger at their Oct. 29 meeting, stipulating a few additional merger conditions. These issues will be addressed in anticipation of a formal merger agreement to be in place by Jan. 1, 2010.  More information about the HLC decision can be found on the Moody Bible Institute Press Release and Moody Bible Institute News Story 

The exciting new partnership between Michigan Theological Seminary and Moody Bible Institute will create a “new MTS” for the southeastern Michigan region.  The merger of these two established and successful institutions promises to provide an exceptional opportunity to more effectively achieve the mission to train and equip students for ministry.

• MTS will become a fully-functional Michigan campus of Moody Theological Seminary, the graduate studies branch of Moody Bible Institute (MBI), located in Chicago.
• Both institutions share similar and compatible statement of faith and doctrinal teaching positions.
• The combined size of the Chicago and Michigan graduate student bodies will place the seminary in the top 15% of seminaries in the country.  The larger school will provide more efficient and effective use of Kingdom resources.
• Academic programs will be enhanced by incorporating the best of each school’s curriculum into broader program offerings and electives.
• The richness of a student’s education experience will be improved with access to a more diverse faculty and faculty/student ratios more in line with national standards.
• Educational technologies developed and already in place in Chicago will lead to distance learning opportunities for Michigan students. 
• Moody’s history, national market presence, and radio ministry is expected to contribute to faster growth of the Michigan campus.
• Members of the current MTS Board of Directors will continue to represent Southeastern Michigan needs and interests by serving on a newly established Advisory Board.
• Ongoing local church and donor support is essential for continuing the impact the “new MTS” will make in this regional area.  Designated gifts for this purpose will be honored by MBI.
• The merger of MTS and Moody Bible Institute will be effective January 1, 2010.  There will, however, be an extended transition period to complete all the necessary merger steps.

"The Michigan Theological Seminary board is passionate about sustaining solid biblical education in the Detroit area.  We felt that seeking to merge with a school such as Moody would make this not only possible, but would provide even greater potential for the future.”

Mr. Rick Warren
Chairman of the Board
Michigan Theological Seminary

Dr. Eugene Mayhew
Interim President
Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages
Michigan Theological Seminary