Making History Today: The Closing of a Seminary

Late last month it was announced that as of July 31, 2026 Memphis Theological Seminary, the school of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, will close its doors. Because the Cumberland church and the Presbyterian Church (USA) are partners in the PHSSW, this is an especially painful decision. The Society has met on that campus twice in recent years – in 2010 and again in 2025. 

Although theological education has been part of the Cumberland tradition from its earliest years (Finis Ewing established a school in his home in Lebanon County, Missouri in 1821), it was not until 1852 that the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church established a theological department at Cumberland University at Bethel College in McKenzie, Tennessee. In 1911 the theological seminary became incorporated as its own school, though still associated with Bethel College. From 1923 until 1956 the seminary was a department of Bethel College (the boards of Bethel College and of the seminary were merged into one body in 1922). 

In 1956 the Cumberland General Assembly made the Cumberland Presbyterian Theological Seminary a separate institution and placed it under a new board of trustees. In 1962 the seminary relocated to Memphis, Tennessee and in 1964 the school was renamed Memphis Theological Seminary of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 

The January 26, 2026 press release notes that the Seminary’s “graduates have gone on to serve as pastors, military and hospital chaplains, missionaries, and leaders in homeless outreach and community ministries throughout the region.” The late Robert M. Shelton was not only a graduate of the Cumberland Theological Seminary and served as pastor in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, but he also served on the faculty of Memphis Theological Seminary and as moderator of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He went on to serve at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary as professor, academic dean, and president. 

We are proud to have two representatives from the Cumberland church on our board – Rev. Michael Qualls and Rev. Mary Kathryn Kirkpatrick. Others who have also served on the PHSSW board include Rev. Perryn Rice, Rev. Norlan Scrudder and Rev. Hubert Morrow. The Historical Foundation of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church is located in Cordova, Tennessee, just outside of Memphis. Susan Knight Gore serves as the director and archivist there.  

Plans are for Memphis Seminary to partner with Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University, allowing current students to continue their studies there. For 174 years Memphis Theological Seminary has been faithful in preparing students to proclaim the gospel in a variety of ways. Clearly, the Cumberland church will continue its distinguished tradition of serving Jesus Christ and we are grateful for the witness of Memphis Theological Seminary and its predecessors in preparing its ministers to do this. 

The Presbyterian Historical Society of the Southwest exists to “stimulate and encourage interest in the collection, preservation, and presentation of the Presbyterian and Reformed heritage” in the Southwest. If you are not a participating member of the Society and would like to become one, the annual dues are $20 per individual and $25 per couple. Annual institutional and church membership dues are $100. Checks may be made out to PHSSW and sent to: 

PHSSW – 5525 Traviston Ct., Austin, TX 78738.