Holy Light Theological Seminary


Holy Light Theological Seminary is a private theological institution located in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Its theological education originates from the Kaifeng Bible School established by the Methodist Church in Kaifeng, Henan, China in 1910. Due to the Sino-Japanese War, the school was closed, and re-established in Fengxiang, Shaanxi in February 1941, under the name of "Northwest Bible Institute". Following the China civil war, a group of foreign missionaries and some Methodist brothers arrived in Taiwan, and establishing Holy Light Bible Seminary in Kaohsiung on September 5, 1955. The name was officially changed to "Holy Light Theological Seminary" in 1969.
The seminary offers both doctoral and master programs and is active in international academic exchange.
WWW holylight.org.twYT holylight1955

School History

Late Qing Dynasty and Early Republican Period

In 1904, the Free Methodist Church of North America officially sent missionaries Rev. C. Floyd Appleton and Rev. Edwin P. Ashcroft to China to preach the gospel.
In 1910, the Kai-Feng Bible School was established in Kaifeng, Henan by the Methodist Church.
In 1920, Hudson Taylor II took over the presidency of the Kai-Feng Bible School. Later the school experienced wars such as the Central Plains War and the Japanese occupation of Kaifeng.
In March 1940, due to the expulsion of foreign missionaries by the Japanese army, Rev. Hudson Taylor II left with the school's books and supplies and went to Fengxiang, Shaanxi Province in the northwest. Northwest Bible College was established in Fengxiang with the cooperation of the China Inland Mission.
In 1942, Vice President Mark Ma established the "Back to Jerusalem" evangelistic team at the college. With the financial and human resources of the churches in the northwest, the ministry reached the southwest of Xinjiang and the border between Kashmir and Afghanistan.
In 1948, due to the war, the college moved to Sichuan.
In 1951, the college was suspended and all foreign missionaries retreated to Hong Kong.

Kaohsiung Period

In 1954, the Chinese Methodist Church was established at No. 1, Heping Lane, in front of the Kaohsiung Train Station. Pastors Hudson Taylor II, Wang Yangwu, and Brother Shi Shengsan convened the first Taiwan Annual Conference.
In 1955, Holy Light Bible College was established at the same address, with Hudson Taylor II as president.
In 1960, Taylor III, son of Taylor II, took over as head of the seminary.
In 1969, with the approval of the United States General Mission and the vote of the Board of Directors, the school was officially renamed "Holy Light Theological Seminary".
In October 1988, an eight-story building plus a full basement was formally opened.
In 1989, the school joined the Asia Theological Association and passed its accreditation.
In 1999, the three degree programs, Bachelor of Divinity, Master of Divinity, and Master of Ministry, passed accreditation by the Asia Theological Association. The school became a full member.
In 2010, the school was registered as the "Holy Light Theological Foundation of the Chinese Methodist Church".
In 2012, a M.Div. program in China was established.
The seminary has produced more than a thousand graduates who are serving in Taiwan, Mainland China, Hong Kong and other regions.

Campus

Kaohsiung Campus
In 1953, missionary Mary Geneva Sayre began purchasing land and dormitories near the Kaohsiung Railway and Bus Stations.
In 1966, the school was expanded into a three-story building.
In 1988, the school was renovated into an eight-story modern building, with a total floor space of about 79,000 square feet.

Presidents

The presidents in the school history are as follows

Kaohsiung Period

TermNameTerm of OfficeRemarks
1Taylor II1955-1960Holy Light Bible College
2Taylor III1961-1968
3William H.Bicksler1968-1970Acting President
4Harry Winslow1970-1976Holy Light Theological Seminary
5Tian Yangwu 1976-1980
6Peng Chao 1980-1992
7Lv Ronghui 1992-2000
8Chen Jisong 2000-2008
9Zhou Xuexin 2008-2011Seconded
10Chen Jisong 2011-2019
11Gu Kezhong 2019-2021
12Chen Jisong 2021-

Academic programs

Holy Light Theological Seminary offers the following programs.

Post-graduate programs

  • Master of Divinity
  • Master of Arts in Biblical Studies -Day
  • Master of Arts in Biblical Studies -Evening
  • Master of Arts in Christian Studies -Main Campus: Day
  • Master of Arts in Christian Studies - Main Campus: Evening
  • Doctor of Ministry

Certificate of Completion

  • Certificate of Believers' Theological Education

Academic Exchange

External Alliance
Publications from Holy Light Theological Seminary are kept by international libraries.