New Life Theological Seminary

New Life Theological Seminary is an evangelical Christian seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. The Seminary was established in 1996 by Eddie G. Grigg, a pastor, educator, and theologian. The Seminary was approved as a degree granting institution in 1997. Grigg holds an honorary doctorate awarded by New Life Theological Seminary. Grigg also holds a Master of Divinity with Religious Education from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Gardner-Webb University. Grigg was licensed into the Gospel Ministry by Oak Grove Baptist Church, Kings Mountain, North Carolina in 1975 and Ordained to the Gospel Ministry by Oak Grove Baptist Church at the request of Victory Baptist Church of Grover, North Carolina in 1976, one year after being called to serve as lead pastor. Other churches Grigg served includes: Christian Freedom Baptist Church of Kings Mountain, Pleasant Hill Baptist Church of Shelby, Wilson Grove Baptist Church of Charlotte, and Founder of New Life Baptist Church in 1993 all located in said cities in North Carolina. During his studies at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (1981-1985) Grigg served Sanford Memorial Baptist Church in the town of Brodnax, Virginia.

History and Campus Location

In 1997, New Life Theological Seminary began offering courses on the campus of New Life Baptist Church in northeast Charlotte, NC. At the time, Dr. Eddie Grigg was the senior pastor of this congregation. The Seminary received TRACS accreditation in 2003, complemented by its move to a campus near the heart of Charlotte. Whiting Avenue Baptist Church graciously donated their 37,000-square-foot (3,400 m2) facility on 2.5 acres (10,000 m2) of land near Uptown Charlotte in 2002. In 2003, New Life Theological Seminary began offering classes at 3117 Whiting Avenue in the NoDa neighborhood. The facility was renovated in 2007 to meet ADA standards, house administrative offices and classrooms, and provide wireless Internet access throughout the building.

Accreditation and Recognition

New Life Theological Seminary is accredited by the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools, an accrediting agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). New Life Theological Seminary is listed as a "Yellow Ribbon" school by the Department of Veteran Affairs.

Degrees Offered and Modes of Instruction

Undergraduate Certificate

Biblical Studies Christian Counseling Lay Leadership Pastoral Ministry Urban Ministry

Associate of Arts (A.A.)

Biblical Studies Urban Christian Ministries

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

Biblical Studies

Concentrations in: Biblical Languages New Testament Old Testament Theology Pastoral Ministries

Urban Christian Ministries

Concentrations in: Counseling Christian Education Church Planting Youth/Music Cross-Cultural Studies

Master of Arts (M.A.)

Urban Christian Ministries

Concentrations in: Biblical Studies Church Planting Divinity Youth/Music

Master of Divinity (M.Div.)

Concentrations in: Chaplaincy Pastoral Counseling Pastoral Ministry

New Life Theological Seminary operates on a traditional semester system. Before each regular semester, the Seminary holds 5-day intense block courses. The coursework for these intense courses is completed by the end of the regular semester. The Seminary focuses on practical training for inner-city ministers; most courses are held in the evening to accommodate working adults. The Seminary employs a "fast-track" approach to education. The classroom hours required for classes are less than comparable classes in other institutions. Students supplement classroom time with guided, extra-curricular readings, practicums, and volunteer hours.

Though most students are pursuing undergraduate degrees, the Seminary has recently added a Master of Divinity program, with specializations in pastoral studies, pastoral counseling, and chaplaincy. Students in the Chaplaincy concentration can apply for an official certificate in Chaplaincy in the state of North Carolina. Dr. William Fleming heads this program. He serves as the Head of the Department of Pastoral Studies.

Library

The library occupies the former church sanctuary. The library has 20,000 volumes, 60 periodical subscriptions, and subscribes to the ATLA database. The collections' strengths are in pastoral ministry and urban ministries, drawing from scholarship in urban sociology, urban anthropology, and urban theology. The seminary library is a member of Carolinas Theological Library Consortium, a regional consortium of the American Theological Library Association (ATLA). Bob McInnes is the Head Librarian (MLIS, UNC-Greensboro, 2012).

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