Missio Seminary was founded in 1971 as the Biblical School of Theology by
Jack W. Murray, president of Bible Evangelism, Inc., and founder of the now-closed
Clearwater Christian College, and
Allan A. MacRae, a former president of
Faith Theological Seminary, who served as the seminary's first president. The former E.B. Laudenslager public school in
Hatfield, Pennsylvania, was renovated to house the new school. In 1978, the name was changed to Biblical Theological Seminary.
Frank A. James III was inaugurated as Biblical's fourth president in 2013. James previously served as provost of
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and president of
Reformed Theological Seminary. In October 2018, the seminary announced that it would rename itself from Biblical Theological Seminary to Missio Seminary. In 2019, the seminary moved from its location in
Hatfield to
Center City, Philadelphia. The move was complete by 2020. In February 2023, the college announced a potential partnership with Kairos University. In July 2023, James retired from his role as President. The board appointed Clarence E. Wright to serve as the seminary's fifth president and first African-American president. ==Academics==