Christian Theological Seminary

Name

Christian Theological Seminary

Legal name

Christian Theological Seminary

Website

https://cts.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1924

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Graduate Theological & Counseling Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Religious Organizations (81311), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Seminaries (Graduate Theology & Ministry) (EDAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Denominational Theological Colleges (e.g., Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical) (EDAHAKAM), Ministerial Training Institutes (Clergy Formation) (EDAHAKAE), Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)

Keywords

• Graduate theological education
• Seminary degree programs
• Mental health counseling
• Pastoral counseling training
• Clergy renewal programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Degree Programs: Graduate tuition from master's and doctoral degree programs in theology and counseling disciplines, including MDiv, MTS, MAMFT, MACMHC, PhD, and DMin programs.
2. Grants and Philanthropic Funding: Major grants from Lilly Endowment Inc. including the $5 million Testify! initiative grant and funding for Clergy Renewal Programs. Also receives grants through Faith & Action Project.
3. Counseling Center Services: Mental health counseling and therapy services provided through the CTS Counseling Center with fees based on a sliding scale.
4. Donations and Annual Giving: Charitable contributions from alumni, supporters, and community members through various giving programs including annual giving, planned giving, and endowment donations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Christian Theological Seminary delivers graduate theological education through its School of Theology (MDiv, MTS, PhD, DMin) and clinical mental health training through its School of Counseling (MAMFT, MACMHC). It supplements degree programs with the CTS Counseling Center (sliding-scale therapy services to the Indianapolis community), the Faith & Action Project (poverty mitigation through grants and partnerships), Lilly Endowment-funded Clergy Renewal Programs, and a suite of specialized initiatives including the Testify! storytelling program, the Compelling Preaching Initiative, and the Growing in God's Word Initiative.

Product overview

Christian Theological Seminary (CTS) operates as a dual-school institution offering graduate theological and counseling education through its Schools of Theology and Counseling. The seminary provides a comprehensive portfolio of degree programs (MDiv, MTS, MAMFT, MACMHC, DMin, PhD) alongside community-facing services including the CTS Counseling Center (offering sliding-scale mental health services), the Faith & Action Project (poverty mitigation through grants and collaboration), and Clergy Renewal Programs. Specialized initiatives include the PhD Program in African American Preaching and Sacred Rhetoric (the nation's first), the Compelling Preaching Initiative certificate, the Growing in God's Word Initiative, and the Testify! storytelling program. Academic offerings are supplemented by the Lifelong Learning continuing education division, the Spirituality and Psychotherapy Conference, and the Encounter theological journal. CTS is accredited by ATS since 1944 and serves as a certified Green Seminary.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Faith & Action Project: Collaborative initiative engaging in poverty mitigation work in the community.
• Testify! Your Art Is Your Witness
• Compelling Preaching Initiative
• Growing in God's Word
• Encounter: A Journal of Theological Scholarship

Products and services

• Master of Divinity (MDiv) Primary professional graduate degree preparing students for pastoral ministry, chaplaincy, and church leadership.
• Master of Theological Studies (MTS) Academic master's degree providing foundational theological education for further graduate study or general knowledge.
• Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy (MAMFT) Clinical master's degree preparing students for marriage and family therapy practice with systemic, relationship-focused therapeutic approaches.
• Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MACMHC) Clinical master's degree preparing students for mental health counseling practice across individual, group, and community-based settings.
• Doctor of Ministry (DMin) Advanced professional doctorate for working ministers seeking to deepen their practice and leadership in church and community contexts.
• PhD Program in African American Preaching and Sacred Rhetoric Specialized doctoral program, the first of its kind in the United States, preparing practitioner-scholars in African American preaching traditions and sacred rhetorical studies.
• CTS Counseling Center On-campus mental health clinic providing accessible counseling and therapy services to the Indianapolis community, with fees based on a sliding scale.
• Faith & Action Project Community outreach initiative addressing systemic poverty through grants, conferences, and collaborative partnerships with faith-based and community organizations in Marion County.
• Clergy Renewal Programs Lilly Endowment-funded programs providing pastors opportunities for renewal and reflection through temporary respite from daily ministerial obligations.
• Lifelong Learning Continuing education division offering Skills for Flourishing Congregations, Our Life in Common Series, and technology-themed courses for ongoing professional development of clergy and laity.
• Certificate Programs Post-baccalaureate certificate programs offering specialized training such as the Compelling Preaching Initiative.
• Testify! Your Art Is Your Witness Four-part framework initiative reviving testimony traditions in Black churches through partnerships with up to 250 churches, toolkit resources, documentary series, collaboration retreats, city-wide events, and social media campaigns.
• Growing in God's Word Initiative Two-year cohort-based learning project empowering faith leaders in biblical storytelling for children through residential workshops, ministry projects with seed funding, and mentoring future leaders.
• Compelling Preaching Initiative 18-month certificate program for Exemplar preachers engaging in cohort learning about the theology and pedagogy of preaching while developing their own preaching method.
• Mixed Methods Preaching Conference Annual conference designed to help preachers improve their craft through lectures, homiletical instruction, and preaching labs.
• Spirituality and Psychotherapy Conference Annual two-day conference exploring the intersection of psychology and spirituality in therapeutic practice, serving counseling professionals and the wider community since 1996.
• Encounter: A Journal of Theological Scholarship Peer-reviewed theological journal published three times yearly since 1940, featuring scholarly articles, sermons, and book reviews in theological studies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Celebrated 100 years of operation in 2024-2025 academic year
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Julian Davis ReidcoreOthers · 12 December 2025Artist-theologian Julian Davis Reid serves as Artistic Director for the Testify! initiative, leading collaborative testimony art for events and documentary series.
• Green Seminary Initiative and GreenFaithcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint certification program recognizing CTS as a Green Seminary demonstrating eco-justice commitment and environmental stewardship practices.
• IYG (Indiana Youth Group)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith & Action Project grantee serving LGBTQ+ youth ages 12-24 across 5 Indiana locations. IYG received grant funding and participates in Faith & Action conferences. In 2025, served over 900 youth in Indianapolis with 88% visit increase.
• We Bloom Center for GrowthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith & Action Project grantee operating Recovery Café model for people in recovery. Offers Youth Café program and trauma-informed care services. Receives funding through Faith & Action grant program.
• IU Health Congregational Care NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership connecting IU Health patients over 50 with church congregations for ongoing social support and care. CTS DMin student Rev. Notoshia Howard serves as Staff Chaplain for the program.
• Dr. Frank A. Thomas Legacy InitiativescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Thomas established four initiatives at CTS: African American Preaching and Sacred Rhetoric PhD Program, Mixed Methods Preaching Conference, Legacy Preaching Series, and Compelling Preaching Initiative.
• Butler UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCTS is affiliated with Butler University and operates on its campus in Indianapolis. The Butler School of Religion opened in 1924 and later became CTS.
• Dr. Chanequa Walker-BarnesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKeynote speaker for 2026 Faith & Action Spring Conference presenting on trauma to transformation and healing pathways.
• Rev. Brandan RobertsonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured speaker for CTS Talks series presenting on queerness and faith. Pastor of Sunnyside Reformed Church and founder of The Devout Foundation.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Brite Divinity School: TCU-affiliated progressive mainline (Disciples) seminary offering MDiv, MTS, and DMin programs; closest peer in theological posture, progressive stance, and Disciples heritage.
• Eden Theological Seminary: Midwest-based UCC/Disciples-affiliated seminary offering MDiv and DMin programs. Direct peer given overlapping Disciples of Christ heritage and similar regional mainline positioning.
• Lexington Theological Seminary: Disciples of Christ theological seminary in Kentucky offering graduate theology degrees, a direct denominational peer to CTS within the same Christian Church tradition.
• Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary: Mid-sized mainline (PCUSA) seminary offering MDiv, MAMFT, and DMin programs including a marriage and family therapy track, closely paralleling CTS's dual theology/counseling model.
• Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary: Northwestern University-affiliated United Methodist seminary offering MDiv and doctoral theology programs with a progressive/Social Gospel orientation, making it the closest ecumenical-evangelical counterpoint to CTS's progressive mainline identity.
• Iliff School of Theology: United Methodist-affiliated progressive seminary in Denver offering MDiv, MTS, and doctoral programs with a strong social-justice orientation aligned to CTS's mission.

Broad incumbents

• Fuller Theological Seminary: Large multi-school evangelical seminary in Pasadena offering theology, psychology, and intercultural studies degrees, including an online PhD in Preaching — a broader-scale competitor to CTS's preaching and counseling programs.
• Emory Candler School of Theology: Major United Methodist seminary at Emory University offering MDiv, MTS, and doctoral programs with strong social-justice engagement, comparable in theological posture but at significantly larger scale.
• Princeton Theological Seminary: Large Presbyterian-affiliated mainline seminary offering the full suite of MDiv, MTS, ThM, and PhD programs. Established incumbent peer at greater scale with broader research reputation.

Regional players

• Andover Newton Seminary at Yale Divinity School: Historic progressive mainline seminary now housed within Yale Divinity School; similar progressive theological posture and historic United Church of Christ roots, serving a New England rather than Midwest constituency.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CTStweets
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CTSPresents
• Facebookfacebook.com/122307944473139
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/christian-theological-seminary
• Instagraminstagram.com/cts_indy/?hl=en

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments5 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Christian Theological Seminary