Mission
- Heidelberg Theological Seminary shall have as its main mission the goal of training and preparing men who are committed to being faithful and devoted pastors in the Reformed Church in the United States (and sister denominations), all to the glory of the one head of the church, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers.” This work shall be done by the Church; preferably by its ministerial members. “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” [Ephesians 4:11; I Timothy 6:20-21; II Timothy 2:1-2].
- Heidelberg Theological Seminary shall seek to train and prepare qualified men by equipping them with the necessary skills to teach and preach the glorious gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and care for His flock. “For the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” [Ephesians 4:12-13].
- Heidelberg Theological Seminary shall seek to impart a sincere desire and zeal for continuous study and growth in historic Reformed teaching as well as in the production of such biblical teaching. HTS shall thus seek to engender in its students a companion desire to impart this knowledge to others through the writing of articles, pamphlets, and books.
- Heidelberg Theological Seminary shall seek to provide for the continuing education of ministers and elders through various means such as conferences, classes, and other media sources.
- Heidelberg Theological Seminary shall seek to provide opportunities and resources for further education and training for lay members of the denomination as well as for others
- Heidelberg Theological Seminary shall train its students in the importance and methods of catechetical instruction of our covenant youth as has been carried on through the centuries for our posterity and for “as many as the Lord our God shall call” [Acts 2:39].
Doctrinal Standards
The Board of Trustees and Faculty of the Heidelberg Theological Seminary believe and affirm the Word of God as inerrant, inspired, and infallible. They profess the Bible as the very words of God inscriptured for the preservation of truth and doctrine. This doctrine has been well formulated in the historic Reformed and Presbyterian creeds of the faith that are the result of faithfully searching those same Scriptures. Therefore, the members of the Board of Trustees and the Faculty of the seminary are required to sincerely and in good conscience before the Lord, declare that each heartily believes and is persuaded that all the articles and points of doctrine contained in the following Reformation confessions: the Belgic Confession of Faith, Heidelberg Catechism, the Canons of Dordt (commonly called the “Three Forms of Unity”), the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Shorter Catechism, and the Larger Catechism (commonly called the “Westminster Standards”) — do fully agree with the Word of God. Furthermore, each individual is required to promise diligently to teach and faithfully defend the aforesaid doctrine, without either directly or indirectly contradicting the same by our public speaking or writing.
While the Faculty members at the Seminary are held to this affirmation of the Faith, students may enroll from any Christian body (Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, non-denominational, etc.) provided they can attest to a belief in “our undoubted catholic faith” as set forth in what is commonly called “The Apostles Creed.” This includes a faith in the authority, infallibility and inerrancy of Scripture, the Trinity, the full deity and humanity of Christ, the fallen nature of man, the vicarious atonement and bodily resurrection of Christ, that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone, and the future, physical return of Jesus Christ.