When MISSIO Seminary changed its name in October 2018 (from Biblical Theological Seminary), we had long conversations about how best to convey our identity in symbolic form. Unlike many other seminaries that are named after a person or a locale, we wanted a name that reflected our core missional identity hence the M in our logo. But even more important than our name was the representation of our deep commitment to the central truth of Christianity, that redemption is accomplished through the death of Christ on the cross. Our research revealed that the early church employed various symbols for the cross. Perhaps the most recognizable is the Latin cross † , in which the vertical beam above the crossbeam with the three upper arms either equally long, and always with a longer bottom stem. We chose an ancient version of the cross called a saltire or crux decussate which is a diagonal cross, like the shape of the letter X in Roman type. According to tradition, the apostle Andrew was crucified on a diagonal cross. We have superimposed the M over the diagonal cross X to express our missional identity which is inextricably bound up with the redemption that comes through the cross of Christ.
In some versions of our logo we include the Greek phrase: “πιστευθῆναι τὸ εὐαγγέλιον” (entrusted with the Gospel) which is taken from I Thessalonians 2:4.
