A Century of Faithful Formation: Reflecting on CTS’s 100th Anniversary

 

This past academic year marked a profound milestone in the life of Christian Theological Seminary — our 100th anniversary. From its early days in 1924 to the vibrant, diverse community we are today, CTS has remained steadfast in its mission: to form disciples of Jesus Christ for church and community leadership, rooted in deep theological reflection, justice-seeking, and spiritual integrity. 

Throughout the year, we came together — students, alumni, faculty, staff, and supporters — to honor a century of theological education and to imagine the next hundred years with hope and purpose. From panel discussions and guest lectures to worship services and special events, each gathering served as a reminder of God’s enduring faithfulness and the transformative power of Christian community. 

Highlights of the celebration included an Alumni Day gathering featuring reflections from distinguished alumni and scholars, a centennial worship service honoring our ecumenical roots, and a powerful CTS Talk by author and activist John Green. His address, titled “In These Last Days,” explored themes of apocalyptic anxiety, radical hope, and our shared responsibility in the face of inequality. The festivities continued with a vibrant fundraising gala that amplified voices from across generations of CTS graduates and raised over $60,000 to support student scholarships. The centennial celebration culminated in a meaningful Commencement weekend, which included the debut of a new hymn—commissioned by CTS and composed by honorary degree recipient Mark Miller—at the Baccalaureate service, and a joyful Commencement ceremony recognizing a new generation of leaders in theology and counseling, ready to carry the CTS legacy into the world.  

These lyrics accompany and give meaning to the video montage that follows.  

 

Our Story Started As a Dream 

David Bjorlin & Mark A. Miller, 2025

 

Our story started as a dream you placed within your people’s heart, 
With love its everlasting theme and justice its unchanging art: 
Where you would split a sea to set the captives free; 
Surrender your own Son to see our death undone; 
And breakdown every wall to prove your grace for all. 
We give you thanks and boldly pray to live your ancient dream today. 

The dream our ancestors received and labored bravely to engage,
Is taken up and reconceived by faithful saints in every age:
Where all your children seek the welfare of the weak;
Endeavor to increase the common cause of peace;
and strive to recreate the lives destroyed by hate. 
We give you thanks and boldly pray to live your present dream today. 

And though this dream is unfulfilled and clouded by our grief and pain,
We pledge to use this time to build from blue-prints of your coming reign:
Where nations shore to shore will study war no more;
The roles of last and first will surely be reversed;
And your reviving breath will liven even death;
We give you thanks and boldly pray to live your future dream today.  

 

As we step into a new century, we give thanks — for those who came before us, for those walking with us now, and for the Spirit who leads us forward. May the next 100 years be marked by the same courage, curiosity, and commitment that shaped the first. 

Here’s to the journey ahead — grounded in faith, committed to justice, and open to the call of God in all its forms.