The Biola University Board of Trustees unanimously approved a plan to acquire the donated assets of Phoenix Seminary and bring it into Talbot School of Theology, strengthening the future of evangelical theological education in Arizona and across the Southwest. This acquisition also elevates Talbot’s status as the second-largest nondenominational seminary in the country.

Pending all necessary authorizations, Phoenix Seminary will become Talbot Seminary Phoenix, an Arizona campus of Biola University’s Talbot School of Theology. With a campus in greater Phoenix, in addition to its campus in greater Los Angeles, Talbot will be a leading presence for theological education in the two largest metropolitan areas west of the Rocky Mountains.

“This decision reflects a shared commitment to preserve and strengthen the legacy of biblically faithful theological education that Phoenix Seminary has cultivated for nearly four decades,” said Michael Maples, who chaired the Biola University Board of Trustees during the process of acquisition. “We are deeply grateful for Phoenix Seminary’s longstanding service to the church and believe this path, first proposed by Phoenix Seminary’s Board of Directors and now affirmed by Biola’s Board of Trustees, creates an opportunity to build upon that foundation for future generations of pastors, ministry leaders and Christian scholars.”

“The board has worked diligently to ensure that faithful theological education not only continues in Phoenix but grows stronger for future generations of pastors and ministry leaders,” said Ron Ogan, chair of the Phoenix Seminary Board of Directors. “As we have prayerfully considered the future of the seminary, we believe this step reflects God’s plan and guidance. We are grateful that the seminary’s legacy will not only continue but be strengthened with this union.”

Founded in 1988, Phoenix Seminary has faithfully prepared students through biblically grounded, Christ-centered theological education to become pastors, ministry leaders and Bible scholars. Under the leadership of longtime president and current chancellor, Dr. Darryl DelHousaye, Phoenix Seminary has played a significant role in establishing and strengthening churches throughout the world and especially in Phoenix, one of the fastest-growing regions in America and home to over 5.2 million people.

“For over 35 years, Phoenix Seminary has played an integral role in developing men and women in Phoenix for a lifetime of faithful ministry,” said DelHousaye. “It’s been my privilege to walk alongside hundreds of the students, praying for and equipping them for ministry in the Southwest and beyond. With graduates serving across the globe, God has been faithful to the students that have passed through Phoenix Seminary’s doors.”

For more than 70 years, Talbot School of Theology has been a school within Biola University, expanding its reach while remaining faithful to its founding mission of preparing biblically grounded ministry leaders to serve the church in an increasingly complex world. Funded by a recent $10 million Lilly Grant, Talbot is launching its newest initiative, Talbot Embedded, through modular hybrid teaching locations throughout the United States, including in San Diego, Hawaii, Seattle and Las Vegas.

Pending regulatory approval, Talbot Seminary Phoenix will serve as a new regional campus — with local faculty and staff on site — supporting expanded theological education initiatives, underscoring Talbot’s investment in the future while staying grounded in its theological roots. Phoenix Seminary’s longstanding emphasis on “scholarship with a shepherd’s heart” reflects a shared vision between the two institutions, both of which are committed to providing students with rigorous, accredited theological education and pastoral formation.

“The shared commitment between Biola University and Phoenix Seminary to serve churches through strengthening evangelical theological education in the Valley and the Southwest makes this agreement especially meaningful,” said Barry H. Corey, president of Biola University. “For more than a century, Biola University has prepared students to be a faithful and influential witness in the world for the cause of Christ. Through this acquisition, Biola University and Talbot School of Theology seek to honor and carry forward Phoenix Seminary’s deep-rooted heritage while investing in its future for generations to come.”

While building on the fruits of Phoenix Seminary's education, the agreement honors both institutions’ longstanding commitment to the centrality of the Bible and the preparation of ministry leaders to serve in local and global churches, a purpose of growth underscored by Dr. Ed Stetzer, dean of Talbot School of Theology.

“Phoenix Seminary has built a remarkable legacy of faithful theological education in the Southwest,” said Stetzer. “Together, Talbot School of Theology and Phoenix Seminary share a deep commitment to the inerrancy and authority of Scripture, the spiritual formation of students and the preparation of leaders to serve the church and impact the world for the Lord Jesus Christ, a mission only strengthened by this acquisition.”

Talbot Seminary Phoenix represents a significant investment in the next generation of ministry leaders and in the continued flourishing of evangelical theological education across the Southwest, a goal long shared by both its current and former institutions. “As a Talbot graduate myself,” said DelHousaye, “I am incredibly excited for the future of Phoenix Seminary as a dual site for Biola’s Talbot School of Theology.”

Dr. Matthew Bingham, current vice president of academic affairs at Phoenix Seminary, added, “We have been faithful to our roots for over 35 years, and I trust we will remain faithful under Biola University’s Talbot School of Theology.”

Students at both Talbot School of Theology and Talbot Seminary Phoenix are trained and transformed to follow Christ’s calling on their lives. Apply now and become part of the growing Biola community.

For more information, please contact media.relations@biola.edu or call (562) 906-4524.