The Washington Baptist Theological Seminary was founded in 1926 by the late Dr. W. H. Jernigan, the President of the General Baptist Convention of the District of Columbia, for the purpose of training Christian ministers and religious workers. It was stated at the time of founding: “They must be taught the history and doctrines of our denomination.” On October 5, 1926, the school began in the Second Baptist Church, Third Street, between H and I Streets, N.W., and for thirteen years, classes were held there and at the Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, Third and Eye Streets, N. W.,Washington, D.C.

On January 1, 1940, the school moved to 1600 13th Street, N.W. where classes were held for seventy-four years.  Due to the increase in enrollment, the school moved to its new location at 4603 Eastern Avenue, Mount Rainier, Maryland.  Classes are temporarily being held via a virtual platform. In the near future, the seminary will resume a hybrid learning method.

The Washington Baptist Theological Seminary has been serving the churches of the Nation’s Capitol and mission fields across this country and around the world since 1926. It has produced some of the finest pastors, ministers and mission workers over the past decades. The school’s founder, Dr. W.H. Jernagin, was a national leader, having worked with several American Presidents to improve the plight of the poor and dispossessed of this country. In the first 77 years of its history the Washington Baptist Seminary had two presidents, Dr. J.L.S. Holloman (1926-1970) and Dr. Andrew Fowler (1970-2003). These were two of the most accomplished men of their day. After the death of Dr. Andrew Fowler the Trustees elected Dr. John L. McCoy, a 1983 graduate of the seminary and Howard University, to serve as its third president.

The Alumni Association was founded with the purpose of offering assistance to the institution and its students.