Notable Alumni of Chicago Theological Seminary

Jesse Jackson 1941–2026

Civil rights leader and Baptist minister

Also attended: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, North Carolina A&T State University

Child: Jesse Jackson Jr. (Chicago Theological Seminary, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

Child: Jonathan Jackson (Northwestern University, North Carolina A&T State University)

Jesse Jackson Jr. 1965–

Former US Congressman from Illinois

Master of Arts · Class of 1989

Also attended: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, North Carolina A&T State University

Spouse: Sandi Jackson (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Bowling Green State University-Main Campus)

Father: Jesse Jackson (Chicago Theological Seminary, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

Kathy Kelly 1952–

Peace activist and Voices in the Wilderness co-founder

Also attended: Loyola University Chicago

Robert Oliphant 1956–

Canadian Liberal Member of Parliament

Michael C. Murphy 1952–2014

Michigan pastor and former state representative

Also attended: DePaul University, Michigan State University

James Henry Breasted 1865–1935

American archaeologist, Egyptologist and historian

Also attended: Yale University, North Central College

George Latimer Bates 1863–1940

Naturalist who collected specimens in central Africa

Also attended: Knox College

Mercy Oduyoye 1934–

Ghanaian Methodist theologian of African women's theologies

William L. Rowe 1931–2015

Purdue philosophy professor specializing in philosophy of religion

Also attended: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Wayne State University

John W. de Gruchy 1939–

Christian theologian who resisted apartheid

Tasuku Harada 1863–1940

Japanese pastor and president of Doshisha University

Also attended: Yale University

Donald G. Bloesch 1928–2010

Evangelical theologian and writer

Also attended: University of Chicago, Elmhurst University

John M. Gillette 1866–1949

Rural sociologist and 18th president of the ASA

Doctor of Philosophy · Class of 1898

Also attended: University of Chicago

Wilhelm Pauck 1901–1981

German-American church historian and theologian

C. Michael Smith 1950–

Clinical psychologist studying healing systems across cultures

Also attended: University of Chicago

Adam Kotsko 1980–

Theologian, culture critic and translator

Also attended: Olivet Nazarene University

Jeremiah Wright 1941–

Pastor emeritus of Trinity United Church of Christ

Also attended: Howard University, University of Chicago, Valparaiso University

Richard A. Jensen 1934–2014

Lutheran theologian, professor at Lutheran School of Theology

Also attended: Wartburg Theological Seminary, Aquinas Institute of Theology

Gunnar Vingren 1879–1933

Swedish Pentecostal missionary in Brazil

Alden E. Matthews 1921–2014

Congregationalist missionary to China and Japan

Also attended: Grinnell College, Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York

Everett Parker 1913–2015

Media activist and United Church of Christ minister

Also attended: University of Chicago

Philo Carpenter 1805–1886

Chicago's first pharmacist and abolitionist

Daniel Crosby Greene 1843–1913

Missionary and teacher in Japan

Also attended: Dartmouth College

Child: Evarts Boutell Greene (Harvard University)

Child: Jerome Davis Greene (Harvard University)

G. Campbell Morgan 1863–1945

British evangelist, preacher and Bible teacher