50th Anniversary Celebration
Missio has reason to celebrate—and celebrate all year long. As of 2021, MISSIO is celebrating 50 years of faithful ministry to the Philadelphia region (1971-2021). The Holy Spirit is alive and well and will not be quarantined.
Our celebration will look back but also look forward. We will recognize the foundation that was laid by our two founders: Dr. Allan MacRae and Dr. Jack Murray—one was a scholar and the other an evangelist.  Together they embodied a spirit that joined serious Bible study a with a missionary’s zeal to share the Gospel—but always with a gracious and respectful understanding of the cultural context—”theirs was a Gospel with legs.”
One of the signs of a healthy organization is growth. I am not talking about numerical growth (although that has happened). I am talking about spiritual growth. We have grown in our self-understanding; we have grown in our understanding of Scripture; and we have grown in compassion, grace, and love of God and neighbor. We have recommitted ourselves to metro Philadelphia—urban and suburban.
Nothing demonstrates that growth better than the missional turn nearly 20 years ago. Dr. David Dunbar led what was then Biblical Seminary to become one of the first seminaries in the US to embrace a full throttled missional theology. It has been my privilege to continue the missional emphasis by changing our name to reflect better our missional commitment and then to move into the city to live out God’s mission. We have tried our best to be strategic, wise, and faithful to the original vision of MacRae and Murray as we seek to serve Philadelphia and the North East corridor from New York City to Washington DC. It has been quite a ride even if it has been bumpy at times. Today, we still stand on the shoulders of remarkable leaders. And we intend to celebrate.
Join me in celebrating God’s blessings upon MISSIO Seminary for the last 50 years with a view to how He will bless in the next 50 years.
Frank A. James III, DPhil, PhD
President and Professor of Historical Theology
Missio Seminary
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Happenings & News
Founders’ Day 2018
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Teaching to Change Lives – 1 Credit Hour Seminar
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October 16 Event: Blood Drive
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October 6 Event: Founders’ Day Celebration & Open House
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June 9 Event: 47th Annual Commencement
Please join us on June 9, 2018 to celebrate our 47th annual commencement!
Newsletter Archive
New Opportunities for the Missio Community: Highlighting Collaboration and Our Commitment to the Church
Missio Seminary has been richly blessed with remarkable opportunities as we follow Jesus into the world, and we are thrilled to share that even more promising possibilities are on the horizon! At its summer meeting, the Board of Trustees of Missio Seminary unanimously voted to deepen our collaboration with Kairos University. Read More.
Spring 2025
Summer 2024
Summer 2023
Winter 2021
- February 22 – Missio Update
- January 25 – 50th Anniversary Announcement
- January 7 – Message from Dr. James
Fall 2020
- December 22 – Missio Update & Christmas Message from Dr. James
- November 24 – Missio Update
- October 22 – Missio Update
- September 2 – Missio Update
Summer 2020
- August 19 – Missio Update
- August 5 – Missio Update
- July 22 – Missio Update
- July 8 – Missio Update
- June 24 – Missio Update and Letter from the President
- June 17 – Missio Update
- June 9 – Missio Update
- June 3 – Missio Update and Letter from the President
Spring 2020
- May 27 – Missio Update
- May 20 – Missio Update
- May 13 – Missio Update
- May 7 – Video Message
- April 29 – Video Message
- April 22 – Video Message and News
- April 21 – COVID-19 Update from Missio
- April 16 – Video Message from President Frank James
- April 8 – Update from Missio
- April 1 – Update from Missio
Blog Landing Page
What's Happening at Missio
Join us as we follow Jesus into the world through the many happenings at Missio as our community of missional leaders bring the Gospel to life. Navigate with the links below and sign up for the convenience of a monthly newsletter to update you by email.
Letter from a Birmingham Jail
On April 3, 1968, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his final and what proved to be a hauntingly prophetic speech. Â
January 23: Connection & Conversation Night
Join Dr. David Lamb, fellow alums, students and friends for some fun, laughter, learning, prayer and light dinner.
Journal of Urban Mission 5:1
Welcome to volume 5, issue 1 of the Journal of Urban Mission, which finds a new institutional home here at Missio Seminary.
First PULPIT Retreat
The Program for Urban Leaders and Pastors in Transition held its first retreat at the Conference Center of Valley Forge.
A True Night of Praise
We did have a BIG party November 21 at our new Callowhill location: over 200 people came to our celebration of praise.
October 24: Connection & Conversation Night
Join Dr. David Lamb, fellow alums, students and friends for some fun, laughter, learning, prayer and light dinner.
November 21: Night of Praise
Drop by for worship and celebration for all that God has done and continues to do at Missio and in the city of Philadelphia and beyond.
Missio Seminary 2018-19 Annual Report
We are happy to present Missio’s 2018-2019 Annual Report; the academic year was filled with excitement and change.
November 14: Engaging the Next Generation
Come hear Dr. Frank James speak on engaging the next generation. He will address questions such as, "Why should we engage?" and "How do we…
September 26: Engaging Post-Christian America
Come hear Dr. Frank James III speak on Engaging Post-Christian America. He will be addressing questions such as: Why engage? How do we…
