About the School

When Jesse Mercer founded Mercer University in 1833, he and other Georgia Baptist leaders envisioned an institution that would provide students with a classical and theological education. Their concern was for young preachers and for members of area Baptist churches. Mercer knew these churches desperately needed pastor-leaders who understood scripture and could clearly articulate their Christian beliefs.

Over the intervening years the institution begun by Jesse Mercer has developed into a university of far-reaching influence that is now the second-largest Baptist institution in the United States. Today it serves approximately 7,000 students in Atlanta and Macon with Colleges of Liberal Arts and Nursing and schools of Education, Engineering, Business and Economics, Pharmacy, Law, Medicine, and Theology.

"Lord, save us from an ignorant ministry."
-Jesse Mercer, 1833

In recent years, both pastors and students who seriously examined the opportunities for seminary-level training expressed a need for new educational alternatives within the Baptist tradition. After careful consideration of the issues and after an extensive feasibility study, the University’s Board of Trustees in June of 1994 voted to establish a School of Theology.

The McAfee School of Theology partners with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and attracts students who have looked critically at the options and who seek a theological education that will best prepare them for ministry in the next century.

Nondiscrimination Policy

Mercer University is committed to providing equal educational programs or activities, and equal employment opportunities to all qualified students, employees, and applicants without discrimination on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, disability, veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, age, or religion, as a matter of University policy and as required by applicable state and federal laws, including Title IX.  Inquiries concerning this policy may be directed to the Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Officer/Title IX Coordinator, Human Resources Office, 1400 Coleman Avenue, Macon, Georgia 31207, phone 478-301-2788 or contact baca_dh@mercer.edu, or in cases of Title IX concerns, these concerns may be referred to the Office of Civil Rights.