Student Groups

Organizations
New Brunswick Theological Seminary (NBTS) has a number of student organizations, with the Student Society of Inquiry and Ministry (SSIM) serving as the umbrella organization. SSIM is a multi-cultural student governing body for all students on both campuses of NBTS. Other groups include the Association of Black Seminarians (AOBS), the Global Student Organization (GLOSAN), and the Association of Hispanic Kingdom Builders (AHKB).  Student organizations work together to support and promote growth in each other and to celebrate the diversity of the entire student body.

SSIM
The Student Society of Inquiry and Ministry (SSIM) is dedicated to serving the needs of the seminarians at New Brunswick Theological Seminary (NBTS). SSIM is an organization that provides a caring and loving environment in which students are encouraged and nurtured to develop as spiritual leaders. The mission is to act as the student governing body and initiate means and ways of expressing religious, cultural, educational, and individual faith and to grow in our Christian understanding and practice. SSIM’s scope of activities includes: initiation of forums of inquiry, planning social activities for the seminary community, and supporting the corporate voice of students by encouraging active communication, both inside the student body and with other external student groups. SSIM seeks out opportunities for service in the surrounding community. SSIM officially represents the student body to the Administrative and Faculty Councils.

AOBS
The Association of Black Seminarians (AOBS) at New Brunswick Theological Seminary is an ecumenical and interdenominational student body that is comprised of seminarians from the African Diaspora. The primary goal is to: provide a ministerial empowerment support network to each other during the matriculation stage; collaborate with other seminaries and seminarians on various issues of race and ethnicity; design and present both relevant and engaging programs and events that will improve the quality of life for black seminarians, theologically, culturally, academically, spiritually, politically, and socially in- and outside of the seminary community; and present contemporary issues impacting humanity and the world.  AOBS advocates around concerns of students of African descent.

GLOSAN
The Global Student Association (GLOSAN) is established to  help provide support, networking, and resources for the welfare of local and global students enrolled in the Seminary.   GLOSAN students are encouraged to participate in group activities for spiritual, social, and academic support as well as to serve the communities to which they belong. GLOSAN provides a culturally sensitive fellowship and support system to students from around the globe.  GLOSAN conducts events that reflect and celebrate the Seminary’s rich cultural diversity; facilitates opportunities for understanding and appreciation of cultural differences within the Seminary community; and collaborates with other seminarians, faculty, and administration to enable opportunities for dialog and interaction for students from around the world.

AHKB
The Association of Hispanic Kingdom Builders (AHKB) is an organization of Hispanic and Afro- Latino students who together learn from the Hispanic and Afro-Latino perspectives while also learning how to address the issues of injustice, racism, oppression, and gender inequality in our culture, communities, and society as a whole. AHKB reaches beyond the walls of the seminary and into the community through: outreach opportunities, recruitment to increase the Hispanic and Afro-Latino student population, alumni participation, and partnership with viable student-based Hispanic and Afro-Latino organizations, local and corporate stakeholders, and other Hispanic and Afro-Latino institutions throughout the country and abroad.

Contact Joan Marshall, Director of Student Care and Outreach at jmarshall@nbts.edu or call 732-247-5241, x 1720.