 The seminary was founded in 1965 as an freestanding institution, though closely related to Milligan College, but became one of the graduate schools of the college in July 2015.It was founded by church leaders and scholars within the Christian churches and churches of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) who recognized the need for a seminary rooted in the heritage of the Stone-Campbell wing of the Reformed tradition while still engaging in theological preparation for ministers.The seminary's campus is located on a hill overlooking the Appalachian Mountains of northeast Tennessee.