The Assemblies of God Theological Seminary (AGTS) officially opened its doors in September 1973. Prior to this, a special summer session was held for foreign missionary candidates of the Assemblies of God during June and July 1973. This opening came after twelve years of preparation, dating back to a founding resolution approved by the denomination in its 1961 General Council session. The Assemblies of God General Superintendent at the time of opening, Dr. Thomas F. Zimmerman, served as the first President, and the Executive Presbytery of the denomination became its Board of Directors, an arrangement which continued through 1990.
The daily administrative oversight of the Seminary was carried out by the Executive Vice-President, Dr. Cordas C. Burnett. When he died in 1975, Dr. Delmer R. Guynes assumed this responsibility until 1979, when Dr. Ronald E. Cottle succeeded him, serving until 1982. He was followed by Dr. James D. Brown, who served until 1986.
In 1985, in response to the concerns of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), Dr. G. Raymond Carlson, then General Superintendent and President of the seminary, recommended to the Board of Directors that a full-time President be appointed. Dr. H. Glynn Hall, Dean of the Seminary, was appointed Interim President in 1986, followed by full appointment in June 1987. In March 1990, Dr. Hall left the presidency to return to full-time teaching. Dr. Del Tarr was appointed to the presidency effective August 30, 1990 and served until June 30, 1999. During his tenure, Dr. Tarr led the Seminary in a successful capital fund campaign and the construction of new facilities in its present location contiguous to Evangel University. The new building, named in honor of Michael Cardone, Sr. and Frances Cardone, was dedicated on September 19, 1997. Following Dr. Tarr’s retirement, Dr. Byron D. Klaus was named to the presidency, effective July 1, 1999. Dr. Klaus resigned from the presidency in 2015, and was succeeded by Dr. Mark Hausfeld, who served until 2017.
AGTS began its ministry under the name, Assemblies of God Graduate School. The present name was adopted in 1984, following a 1982 NCA examiner’s recommendation, in order to clarify the seminary’s mission in the public mind.