Ethos & Mission
Edinburgh Theological Seminary is where the past meets the present, where rigorous theology meets modern world views and where the timeless message of the gospel meets unchanging human need.
In a largely secular age it might be tempting for churches to become less specific about what they believe and teach; and in a world where so much focus is on the future, what happened in the past might appear less and less relevant. We believe the opposite. If ever the world needed to hear the message of the gospel in all its depth and abiding validity it is now. We believe that the inner longing of modern humanity can only be satisfied as age old questions are asked about who we are, where we came from and what God has done in Jesus Christ.
In today’s largely irreligious world the God Question won’t go away because humanity’s basic God-instinct won’t go away.
At Edinburgh Theological Seminary, students are uncompromisingly rooted in scriptural doctrine. At the same time, they learn how to engage at the interface between antiquity and modernity. ETS stands unashamedly in Scotland’s greatest tradition. I invite you to train with us, support our vision and join our student body.
IVER MARTIN
PRINCIPAL
Our Ethos
-
AVOWEDLY CONFESSIONAL - Sharing the teaching of the Reformation
- ACADEMICALLY VALIDATED - Training valued by the universities
- BIBLICALLY REFORMED - Teaching shaped by the word of God
- PASSIONATELY VOCATIONAL - Preparing God’s people for service
- ENTHUSIASTICALLY MISSIONAL - Reaching the nations with the Gospel
- A WARM LEARNING COMMUNITY - Fostering friendships for the future

In this video, students, staff and ETS alumni explain more about the seminary and its place in the wider world.
Our Mission
While ETS has grown considerably, it is important that the Seminary continues to consider how it can further develop and use its resources to help the Church in its mission to the world.
- To provide effective theological education and vocational training towards ministry, mission and evangelism in the 21st century.
- To facilitate – in conjunction with local churches – the development of ministry skills and Christian character, crucial for both men and women as they engage in a variety of ministries.
- To share our Scottish theological heritage with students from other cultures, and at the same time, gain enrichment from their backgrounds.
- To provide postgraduate research facilities and supervision for the development of advanced theological study.
- To provide postgraduate research facilities in a variety of Biblical, historical and missional disciplines.
- To provide part-time learning opportunities in Theology and Biblical Studies.