Protestant Theological University

{{Short description|Theological university with locations in the Dutch city of Utrecht}} {{distinguish|Theological University of the Reformed Churches}} [[Image:Janskerkhof12.jpg|right|thumb|Protestant Theological University]] '''Protestant Theological University''' (abbreviated as ''PThU''; {{langx|nl|Protestantse Theologische Universiteit}}) is a [[theology|theological]] [[university]] with locations in the [[Netherlands|Dutch]] [[city]] of Utrecht. The Protestant Theological University primarily caters for ministerial education and as such is one of three institutes recognised by the PKN, but it is also possible to study general ([[Calvinism|Calvinist]]) theology without wishing to become a minister.

==History== The university was founded in 1854 as the Theological School ("Theologische School") by the [[Christian Reformed Churches|Christian Reformed Church in the Netherlands]], a church resulting from a [[schism (religion)|schism]] in 1834, to provide for theological education for its [[religious minister|ministers]]. The name was changed to Theological College ("Theologische Hogeschool") in 1939 and finally to Theological University in 1986, after a reform in the Dutch university/[[institute of technology#Belgium and the Netherlands|polytechnic]] system.

In 1892, a large part of the Christian Reformed Church in the Netherlands merged with another group split from the mainstream [[Dutch Reformed Church]] to form the [[Reformed Churches in the Netherlands]], which founded a new [[Calvinism|Calvinist]] university in [[Amsterdam]]: the [[Vrije Universiteit|Free University]]. This university also has a theological [[faculty (division)|faculty]], but the college at Kampen remained a separate institution.

In 1944, another schism within the Reformed Church in the Netherlands occurred, called the Liberation ("Vrijmaking"), which resulted in the [[Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Liberated)]]. This new church also had a need for its own ministerial education institute, and so a new university was founded from parts of the Theological University: [[Kampen Theological University of the Reformed Church (Liberated)]].

In 2010, the PThU moved from Kampen to Amsterdam and Groningen. In 2025, the university moved to a single central location in Utrecht.

After the Reformed Church in the Netherlands merged with the Dutch Reformed Church and the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Kingdom of the Netherlands|Evangelical Lutheran Church]] in 2004 to form the [[Protestant Church in the Netherlands]] (PKN), the Protestant Theological University became part of the PKN. It is run on its behalf by a board of curators.

On 13 April 2022 the PThU announced its intention to move the university to Utrecht.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pthu.nl/en/news-and-events/news/2022/04/pthu-announces-intention-to-choose-utrecht-as-new-location/ | title=PThU announces intention to choose Utrecht as new location - Protestant Theological University }}</ref> On 21 April 2022, the general synod of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (PKN) confirmed that decision.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://protestantsekerk.nl/nieuws/pthu-verhuist-van-amsterdam-naar-utrecht/ | title=PThU verhuist van Amsterdam naar Utrecht | date=21 April 2022 }}</ref> The move was finalized in February 2025.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.pthu.nl www.pthu.nl]

[[Category:Protestant Theological University]] [[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1854]] [[Category:1854 establishments in the Netherlands]] [[Category:Education in Overijssel]] [[Category:Kampen, Overijssel]] [[Category:Protestant universities and colleges in Europe]] [[Category:Seminaries and theological colleges in the Netherlands]] [[Category:Universities in the Netherlands]]