Founding

In June 1963, five ministers met in a Memphis hotel room to pray about the need to establish a new seminary. At that time there was no seminary in the southeastern United States holding to Reformed theology and committed to the Bible as God's inerrant Word, the final authority for faith and life. When the meeting ended, the seed that would become Reformed Theological Seminary had been planted.
 

Through the Lord's provision, the original Jackson campus property was acquired. The property consisted of 14 acres on which was located a two story white colonial home used for offices and classrooms in those early years.

In the fall of 1966, RTS opened its doors for resident studies in Jackson, Mississippi. Seventeen students enrolled. On September 6, Dr. C. Darby Fulton, former Executive Secretary of the Board of World Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, delivered the first convocation address entitled "The Relevancy of the Gospel" at the first convocation.

Since that time RTS has grown to five full resident campuses - Jackson, Orlando, Charlotte, Washinton DC and Atlanta, an extension program in Memphis, and a Virtual campus which offers distance education programs that include a Master of Arts in Religion degree. Today more than 2700 students enroll in classes each year. In addition RTS offers classes at more than six international locations in partnership with other ministries and schools.