WESTMONT, IL-InterVarsity Press (IVP) is pleased to announce the general-market release of Seminary Now (www.seminarynow.com), a new subscription-based online educational platform that gives pastors and lay church leaders access to on-demand video courses and certification programs from leading teachers and seminaries. IVP is the premier publishing partner for the platform, which launched in beta this spring and is now available for wide release.
“I continue to be deeply grateful for the chance to partner with the team at Seminary Now as together and in concert with other like-minded organizations we create and deliver thoughtful Christian content to pastors, students, and others who want to deepen their understanding of theology, ecclesiology, biblical studies, social justice, spiritual formation, and many other disciplines,” Jeff Crosby, IVP’s publisher, said. “The courses are exceptional in content and creative expression. I’m delighted to see the messages of so many of our authors given fresh life and realizing an expanded reach through the Seminary Now platform.”
“Our vision for Seminary Now began after church and denominational leaders expressed the need for on-demand training for pastors and church leaders unable to attend seminary,” says William Shiell, president of Northern Seminary, the primary institution underwriting the new endeavor. “We created Seminary Now in partnership with InterVarsity Press to benefit theological education as a whole. . . . We value IVP’s partnership because of our mutual commitment to women in leadership, multiethnic ministries, academic training, and biblical justice.”
IVP books are featured in a significant number of the initial course offerings. Key authors and courses available in July 2020 include:
- Roger E. Olson, professor of theology at Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary (The Mosaic of Christian Belief)
- Ruth Haley Barton, founding president, Transforming Center (Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership)
- John H. Walton, professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College (The Lost World of Genesis One)
- Brenda Salter McNeil, pastor and professor of reconciliation studies at Seattle Pacific University (Roadmap to Reconciliation)
- Tremper Longman III, professor of biblical studies at Westmont College (Old Testament Essentials)
- Tara Beth Leach, senior pastor of the First Nazarene Church in Pasadena, CA (Empowering Women in Ministry)
- David E. Fitch, B. R. Lindner Chair of Evangelical Theology at Northern Seminary, Lisle, IL (Faithful Presence)
- Sandra Van Opstal, pastor of Grace and Peace Community in Chicago, IL (The Next Worship)
- James Choung, vice president of strategy and innovation at InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (Evangelism: Sharing the Big Story)
- Dominique Gilliard, director of racial righteousness, Evangelical Covenant Church (Rethinking Incarceration)
- Mary Hulst, chaplain of Calvin College (Ten Practical Ways to a Better Sermon)
- Jonathan Brooks, pastor of Canaan Community Church in Chicago, IL (Church Forsaken)
- Matthew Stanford, CEO of the Hope and Healing Center in Houston, TX (A Clinical and Biblical Perspective on Mental Illness)
- Sarah Shin, PhD candidate, St. Andrews (Beyond Colorblind)
- David Swanson, pastor of New Community Covenant Church in Bronzeville, Chicago, IL (Rediscipling the White Church)
- Antipas Harris, president and dean of Jakes Divinity School (Is Christianity the White Man’s Religion?)
Jason Gile, the executive director of Seminary Now, added, “On-demand video courses present a unique opportunity for seminaries, publishers, and other organizations to collaborate in the shared mission to equip Christian leaders. By providing accessible and relevant theological teaching to Christians across the world, we believe Seminary Now has the potential for great impact on the church.”
In addition to partnering with IVP, Seminary Now is developing relationships with a wide range of seminaries and organizations with similar theological convictions that will provide content and access to potential consumers of the platform, such as Missio Alliance and the Christian Community Development Association.
Helen Lee, associate director of strategic partnerships and initiatives at IVP, serves as the main liaison between Seminary Now and IVP. “We have always considered the church to be a key audience for us to reach, and our involvement with Seminary Now will give us another channel to serve pastors, lay leaders, and ministry professionals with our high-quality, thoughtful, and compelling content,” Lee said. “I have appreciated the strong working relationship we have developed with Bill Shiell and Jason Gile on this project, and I look forward to seeing how the audiences respond to this new platform.”
Early users have already begun to share their praises for the relevance and value of Seminary Now’s content. David John Hailey, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Oak Park (Oak Park, IL), began using the Roadmap to Reconciliation course at his church in the wake of recent continued acts of police violence against Black men and women. “As the pastor of a multiracial church devasted by the ‘catalytic event’ of the George Floyd murder, I needed a guide to steer our conversations,” he said. “Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil’s course forced us to grapple with the roadblocks in our personal lives and our congregation that keep us from seeking justice and reconciliation.”
Promotional efforts for the platform will begin the week of July 20 from all Seminary Now partners, including IVP. To view all available courses and see what offerings are coming in the future, visit www.seminarynow.com or follow @SeminaryNow on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. For more information regarding the program, please contact Jason Gile (director@seminarynow.com; ph: 630-620-2105) or Helen Lee (hlee@ivpress.com; ph: 630-734-4038).
