Distinctives and Emphases

The aim of the Seminary is to provide comprehensive biblical, theological and pastoral training for the Christian ministry. The Seminary subjects include Systematic Theology, Biblical Studies, Church History, Preaching and Pastoral training. In all the subjects the Seminary seeks to provide a gospel emphasis and communicate heart religion.

A Seminary Conservative, Evangelical and Reformed

Conservative, in the sense of holding and teaching Biblical doctrine, worship, and practice: and therefore adhering to Holy Scripture as the infallible and inerrant Word of God; maintaining reverent and structured worship and only such as is prescribed in Scripture; and cultivating holiness of heart and life after the image and likeness of God.

Evangelical, in the sense of maintaining the Biblical Gospel concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, who, as Representative and Surety, fulfilled all righteousness on the behalf of sinners: appearing in the holiness of his human nature; perfectly obeying every precept of the Moral Law as summarily comprehended in the Ten Commandments; and rendering full satisfaction for sin – the breach of that Law – by His sufferings unto death; and, thereby, providing a full and free salvation received only by faith in Christ;

Reformed, in the sense of recognizing the Holy Scriptures as God’s Word written, without error or fault in all its teaching, the only complete, sufficient and authoritative Rule for Faith and Practice, and therefore the means by which the Church should be reformed and restored to its apostolic and primitive form; also acknowledging Confessional Christianity, believing and teaching the truths set forth in the Second London Baptist Confession [1689], and showing the greatest respect for the two other 17th century Confessions upon which it was based and with which it was so much in agreement: the Westminster Confession [1647], the Savoy Declaration [1658]. Central to the Scripture’s revelation and the Confessions’ theology is the doctrine of sovereign, free and distinguishing grace, often and commonly identified as Evangelical Calvinism, which doctrine neither eliminates or excludes the presentation of Christ to sinners and the overtures of mercy to them, through the preaching of the Gospel.

Our vision also includes the conviction and resolve that such a Seminary should only use in teaching the Authorized King James Version which is still the most accurate and faithful translation of God’s Word in the English Language, the underlying Texts being the Hebrew Masoretic and Greek Received Texts, the authentic and preserved Texts of Holy Scripture. Furthermore, it has been thought imperative that there should be strong emphasis on experimental Christianity, that, through the gracious ministry of the Holy Spirit, the Truth may be known and felt in the hearts of God’s people, the spirit of true devotion being thereby cultivated, expressing itself in consecrated service to God; and that there should also be the strongest belief in the need for true Holy Spirit revival – God visiting His people and granting them an overwhelming sense of His presence, power, and favour.