Full-Time Faculty

Richard C. Gamble: Professor of Systematic Theology since 2005.

Teaching with the kind of passion that students have said resembles the delivery of black Baptist preaching, Dr. Gamble explains, “When a student comes into a systematic theology class, he comes into holy ground. As Moses took off his sandals, so should we. It’s heavy and weighty, yet sweet and the stuff of life. While I do not give a sermon for my lectures, my hope is that the lectures will ‘preach.’”

Dr. Gamble is an internationally renowned Calvin scholar who wrote and lectured for Calvin 500, an organization coordinating the 2009 Quincentenary celebration of the birth of John Calvin.

With both seminarians and laymen in mind, Dr. Gamble is also working with P&R Publishing on his three-volume systematic theology book entitled The Whole Counsel of God, the scope of which has been said to be incomparable to anything attempted in Reformed circles for more than 100 years. The work explores the relationships between exegesis and hermeneutics, and between Biblical, systematic, and historical theology. The first volume, God’s Mighty Acts in the Old Testament, was released in June 2009.

Dr. Gamble also serves as Senior Pastor of College Hill RPC in Beaver Falls, Pa. Previously, he taught for Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Fla., Calvin College and Seminary, and Westminster Theological Seminary.

Jerry F. O’Neill: Professor of Pastoral Theology since 1995.

When Dr. O’Neill was asked to leave his beloved pastorate to serve as the next president for RPTS, he answered the call with much trepidation. Raised on a Kansas farm, he loved the Midwest and loved the Indiana congregation for which he had been the first pastor. He fully expected to remain there for many years. But shepherding students at the Seminary turned out to be a perfect match for him. He says, “From day one, I loved working with students, and it continues to be exhilarating to help them explore and prepare for their calling.”

The Lord used Dr. O’Neill’s previous experience as dean of student development for Sterling College in Kansas to prepare him for RPTS. His 14 years of pastoral experience also serves him well teaching various pastoral theology courses, such as spiritual development and evangelism, and in counseling students.

President O’Neill is the author of How Should I Remember the Sabbath? and co-author of Abundant Life in Christ. His representative Reformed Presbyterian Witness articles are: “How the Lord Leads,” “Rethinking Our Recreation,” and “Pastors Preparing Pastors.” 
 Dennis J. Prutow: Professor of Homiletics and Pastoral Theology since 2001.

Converted to faith in Jesus Christ through the ministry of an army chaplain during his service in Korea, he later ministered as chaplain with U.S. Special Forces and a mechanized infantry battalion in Vietnam (both following seminary training).

Dr. Prutow authored In Response, a monthly expository newsletter, prior to coming to the seminary. He continues the Word for the Week, a weekly devotional newspaper column available in over 800 newspapers. He is also working on a book on preaching, entitled So Pastor, What’s Your Point? slated to be released by the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals this year.

A prolific preacher, Dr. Prutow’s www.SermonAudio.com page has well over 100,000 downloads of his more than 900 posted sermons. He also has over two decades of pastoral experience. Before joining the RPTS faculty, he served Sterling RPC in Kansas from 1988–2001.

Thomas G. Reid, Jr.**: Librarian and Registrar since 1996.** 
Along with his pastoral experience, Pastor Reid brought a wealth of expertise to the professional development of the seminary library. Prior to coming to RPTS, he was assistant to the librarian at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pa., librarian for the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Hall in Belfast, Ireland, and head librarian at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Miss.

Professor Reid shares his advanced research knowledge with degree students by teaching theological research and writing, and he also is responsible for North American church history. He contributed to Worship in the Presence of God and The Role and Service of Women.

Professor Reid also served as Pastor of Creevagh Reformed Presbyterian Church in Ballybay, Republic of Ireland, Quinter RPC in Quinter, Kan., and Presbyterian Reformed Church of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Clayton J. (C.J.) Williams: Professor of Old Testament Studies, since 2005.

Affectionately referred to as “rabbi” by students, Pastor Williams has an incredible grasp of the Old Testament language, able to effortlessly translate as he reads from his Hebrew Bible. He has a passion to fill the great need in the Church for interpreting and applying the Old Testament in the New Testament.

“The Old Testament itself constitutes over three-quarters of the Bible, making it an essential part of the faith and life of believers. In 2 Timothy 3:16, Paul writes that all Scripture is useful for equipping the man of God. What Paul had immediately in mind was what we call the Old Testament, so it is a central part of preparing men for ministry.”

Having first served as pastor of Providence RPC in Pittsburgh, Pa., he designs his courses with ministry in mind, saying, “I teach with an eye toward preparing men to preach and teach in a local church on a weekly basis.”

In the fall of 2005, at age 34, Professor Williams became the second youngest full-time faculty member in RPTS history when he assumed the role of professor of Old Testament studies. He earned an M.Div. from RPTS, an M.A. from Siegal College of Jewish Studies, and has recently turned in his Ph.D. dissertation at Baltimore Hebrew University.

Adjunct Faculty

The seminary also is well served by myriad adjunct faculty who bring a wealth of expertise and a breadth of ministry experiences and background to share with the students.

Rick Anderson, Adjunct Professor of Homiletics (RPTS 2009). Rick is also pastor of Tri-State Community Church (Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church), in Chester, W.V.

Bruce R. Backensto, Adjunct Professor of Theological and Historical Studies and pastor of First RPC in Beaver Falls, Pa. (RPTS 1972).

Kevin M. Backus, Visiting Professor of Pastoral Theology and pastor of Bible Presbyterian Church of Grand Island, N.Y.

John R. Bower, Adjunct Professor of Church History (RPTS 2004; M.Th. from Westminster Theological Seminary, London). John serves as an elder at Covenant RPC in Aurora, Ohio.

Andrew R. Cooper, Adjunct Professor of Church History and Church & Student Relations Specialist for the seminary (RPTS 2006).

Rutledge E. Etheridge, Adjunct Professor of Systematic Theology (RPTS 2006). Rut is the pastor of Providence RPC in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Mark A. Garcia, Visiting Professor of Systematic Theology and pastor of Immanuel Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Oakdale, Pa.

William R. Glaze, Adjunct Professor of Church History and pastor of Bethany Baptist Church, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Jack D. Kinneer, Adjunct Professor of Biblical Studies and Director of the D.Min. Program. Jack has also served as a pastor in the Presbyterian Church in America.

Steven F. Miller, Adjunct Professor of Missions and pastor of Nashua Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Edinburg, Pa.

George C. Scipione, Director of the Biblical Counseling Institute and Adjunct Professor of Pastoral Theology. George is also a church planter of Covenant Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Kenneth G. Smith, Adjunct Professor of Pastoral Theology and former pastor (RPTS 1952).

Wayne R. Spear, Professor Emeritus of Systematic Theology (RPTS 1960) and former pastor.

Jeffrey A. Stivason, Adjunct Professor of Pastoral Theology and pastor of Grace RPC in Gibsonia, Pa. (RPTS 1999).

Calvin L. Troup, Adjunct Professor of Speech, and clerk of session of Grace (Gibsonia, Pa.) RPC.

Jonathan M. Watt, Adjunct Professor of Biblical Studies and Professor of Bible at Geneva College and a former pastor.

—Grant Van Leuven

Grant is director of development for the RP Seminary. He also is an M.Div. student graduating this year.