Ph.D., The University of Wales; M.Div., Knox Theological Seminary; B.A., Mid-America Nazarene University; Dipl., The Defense Language Institute
Dr. Michael A. Milton accepted the call to become the third President and Professor of Practical Theology of Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte on November 1, 2007. His service of investiture was held on Sunday, September 21, 2008. Dr. Milton previously served as the 12th Senior Pastor in 173 years at the historic First Presbyterian Church of Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Prior to answering the call to ministry, Dr. Milton served 16 years in the business world (Dow Chemical and Ashland Chemical) and was also a top secret Navy linguist (Albanian). He interned under The Rev. Robert E. Baxter in Olathe, Kansas, and under the late Dr. D. James Kennedy at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church. After seminary he planted two churches: Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Overland Park, Kansas; and Kirk O’ the Isles Church in Savannah, Georgia. He founded Westminster Academy Christian School in Overland Park and served as the interim president and adjunct professor in practical theology at Knox Theological Seminary. Dr. Milton’s personal story of moving from orphan and prodigal son to understanding God’s grace and receiving his adoption through Jesus Christ is sometimes used in offering Christ’s healing to a broken generation. Often his sermons are illustrated with songs that he writes, sings, and performs with guitar or piano. His recording, He Shall Restore, was released in 2006 under the label Music for Missions and is distributed through iTunes. He released his second album, Follow Your Call in 2008.
Dr. Milton’s sermons are produced and broadcast on select stations in the U.S., on ITunes University, (click here) and other Internet locations. Resources are also available (here).
In addition to his civilian ministry, Dr. Milton holds a commission in the U.S. Army Reserves as a chaplain, a ministry that he continues. His military career has taken him from battalion chaplaincy positions in Kansas to Brigade level chaplaincy positions, service in the Office of the Chief of Chaplains, overseas Reserve missions, teaching preaching at the U.S. Army Chaplain School, and to serving currently as the Deputy Command Chaplain of the 108th Training Command, U.S. Army Reserves. Serving on several boards and active in a number of civic organizations, he maintains a full schedule of preaching and teaching in churches and seminaries and at conferences.
Dr. and Mrs. (Mae) Milton and their son reside in the Charlotte area.
Selected Publications:
Small Things, Big Things: Inspiring Stories of God’s Grace (P&R Publishing), to be released November, 2009
What God Starts, God Completes: Help and Hope for Hurting People (Christian Focus Publications)
What is the Perseverance of the Saints (P&R Publishing)
Leaving a Career to Follow a Call: A Vocational Guide to the Ordained Ministry (Wipf and Stock Publishers)
Hit by Friendly Fire (Wipf and Stock Publishers)
Cooperation without Compromise: Faithful Gospel Witness in a Pluralistic Setting (Wipf and Stock Publishers)
Following Ben: Expository Preaching for Frail Followers of Pulpit Giants (Wipf and Stock Publishers)
Giving as an Act of Worship (Wipf and Stock Publishers)
Authentic Christianity and the Life of Freedom (Wipf and Stock Publishers)
The Demands of Discipleship: Expositions from Daniel (Wipf and Stock Publishers)
Dr. Milton has appeared on national television and radio networks and his works have been sited in nationally syndicated columns, books, and articles in religion and American culture. His sermons and books are being used by the military and other ministries. He has written numerous popular and academic articles and is published in such periodicals as Preaching Magazine, World Magazine, and The Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society.
