Contact: Lyn Perez, RTS Chief Communications Officer, Reformed Theological Seminary, 407-366-9493, lperez@rts.edu

NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2014 /Christian Newswire/ -- Redeemer City to City (CTC) and Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS) are pleased to announce a strategic partnership to provide a seminary education in New York City. This advances the vision of RTS to provide graduate theological education globally and that of Redeemer Presbyterian Church and its founding pastor, Dr. Timothy Keller, who started CTC to prepare ministry leaders, pastors and church planters for New York and cities internationally.

"The Bible calls us to take the gospel to the nations, but the nations of the world are pouring into the cities on a history-changing scale," says Dr. Keller. "This massive migration is both a significant opportunity and challenge. Even in parts of the world where Christianity is growing rapidly, the national churches have difficulty reaching their own greatest urban areas. We are thankful for this new partnership with RTS, through which we hope to prepare leaders for ministry in New York and the other great global cities of the world."

CTC will work with RTS to provide a seminary program in New York City that will prepare ministry leaders "in the city for the city." This Redeemer City Ministry program will involve RTS providing a two-year Master of Arts (Biblical Studies) at a newly approved extension campus in New York City, complemented by a subsequent year of practical training provided by CTC.

"RTS is thrilled to collaborate with Redeemer City to City and with Tim Keller to prepare a new generation of ministry leaders and establish an RTS extension in New York," says Dr. Ligon Duncan, chancellor & CEO of RTS. "I have known and admired Dr. Keller for many years. I count him as a friend and I am deeply grateful for his ministry and vision for planting churches in New York and in other major metropolitan centers around the world. The board of RTS and I are pleased to partner with CTC to offer a rigorous program of graduate theological study in NYC."

You can obtain more information on the Redeemer City Ministry from RTS at rts.edu/seminary/redeemercontactus.aspx and CTC www.redeemercitytocity.com.  Links are available on both websites to receive more information.  Applications for the program will be received by RTS beginning November 1, 2014.  The program startup is scheduled for early fall 2015 in New York City.

Redeemer City to City was started in 2001 by Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan and has helped start over 300 churches in 45 cities. The President of Redeemer City to City is Dr. John Hutchinson.

Reformed Theological Seminary was founded in 1966 and is one of the largest seminaries in the country, with campuses in Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Jackson, Memphis, Orlando and Washington D.C., in addition to RTS Global Education which offers three 100% online MA degrees.