By Rick Cherok
Multnomah University was founded in 1936 as Multnomah School of the Bible, a private evangelical Bible college in Portland, OR. They were renamed Multnomah Bible College in 1993 and became Multnomah University in 2008. In 1986, the Multnomah Graduate School of Ministry (later renamed Multnomah Biblical Seminary) was formed as a graduate division for the college. By 2023, however, declining enrollment numbers forced the school’s trustees and president, Dr. Jessica Lynn Taylor, to announce that the university would close its doors in May 2024.
Upon learning about the intended closure of Multnomah University, Dr. John Jackson, President of Jessup University in Rocklin, CA, engaged in discussions with Dr. Taylor and other leaders at Multnomah about a possible merger of the two schools. The outcome of these discussions was that Multnomah officially ceased operations on May 1, 2024, and Jessup University assumed control of the institution, making it their Portland campus. By early May 2025, however, Jessup University’s leadership announced that the undergraduate division of Multnomah would cease to operate, but a newly imagined and redesigned Multnomah Biblical Seminary would be relaunched as Jessup University’s seminary.
The freshly conceived Multnomah Biblical Seminary will offer five graduate-level degrees that are accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and delivered as seven-week classes in completely digital/online formats. In addition to offering three Master of Arts degrees (in Leadership, Global Development and Justice, and Biblical Studies), MBS will offer a Master of Divinity degree and a Doctor of Ministry degree. To gain additional details about the MBS degrees, visit the seminary’s website.
Dr. David Timms, Dean of the Multnomah Biblical Seminary, explained that the academic programs offered at MBS have been “rebuilt from the ground up” and he describes the new MBS educational model as “relational learning” rather than “transactional learning.” In other words, MBS seeks the development of learning communities rather than the mere dispensing of information.
“Our faculty aren’t just scholars—they’re mentors, pastors, and practitioners who walk alongside students on their personal journeys,” said Timms. Through an innovate and interactive approach to distance learning that goes beyond mere online prompts and discussion boards, Timms explained, MBS students “will gain practical tools that are biblically grounded and are aimed to help better equip them to become leaders in their respective communities.”
President Jackson of Jessup University also added, “We’re incredibly excited about the future of Multnomah Biblical Seminary. It represents everything Jessup stands for: academic excellence, deep spiritual formation, and cultural engagement. This seminary represents a renewed vision for theological education and cultural engagement. It’s a dynamic, transformative space for leaders who want to live out their faith boldly and wisely.”
Jessup University was founded as San Jose Bible College in 1939. In 2003 the institution’s name was changed to Jessup University, in honor of the school’s founder, William Jessup, and his son, Dr. Bryce Jessup, who served as the college’s fifth president. In 2004, Jessup University relocated to its current campus in Rocklin, CA.
Rick Cherok serves as Managing Editor of Christian Standard, Executive Director of Celtic Christian Mission, and Director of Men’s Services at Kentucky Christian University.
I’m just wondering if Jessup U has any connection to the Restoration Movement and to churches of the RM?