The History of MIT

The Myanmar Institute of Theology, originally known as the Willis and Orlinda Pierce Divinity School, was founded in June 1927, on Seminary Hill, Insein. With only four students to begin with the school used the facilities of the Karen Theological Seminary now the Kayin Baptist Theological Seminary. The first president was Dr. W.E. Wiatt, an American missionary who served from 1927 to 1939. Shortly after its opening the school became affiliated with the Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illinois. This affiliation lasted until the Second World War. The second President of the school was Dr. C.F. Chaney who served from 1939 to 1941 when the Japanese came in to occupy Burma.

In 1948 the school reopened with Thra Chit Maung as Chairperson of the Curriculum Committee. In 1952 with the arrival of Dr. Paul D. Clasper, Thra Chit Maung was made President and Dr. Clasper, Vice-President. The school was renamed The Burma Divinity School. In 1955 the school became affiliated with Central Baptist Theological Seminary of Kansas City, Kansas. This affiliation lasted until 1960 when the school became an accredited member of the Association of Theological Schools in South East Asia. Since 1960 the school has been conferring degrees on its graduates.

Since 1966, with the departure of American Baptist missionaries from Myanmar, the school has been entirely staffed by nationals. The Seminary has faithfully carried out its educational mission, adapting and responding to the challenges of the new day.

In 1976 the name of the school was again changed to Burma Institute of Theology as deemed more appropriate to the situation in Burma. In 1977, on Dr. Chit Maung’s retirement, Thramu Esther Lwin was made Acting-President and then President from June 1978 to the end of 1983. In January 1984, Rev. Victor San Lone who had been serving as General Secretary of the Burma Baptist Convention became President and served in that capacity until his sudden death in 1987. Thramu Eh Wah, the Vice-President, was made Acting-President until March 1988 when she was officially appointed President. The Seminary’s name was changed to Myanmar Institute of Theology in 1989 when the country changed its name to Myanmar. Dr. Eh Wah retired in 1998 and the Vice-Principal Dr. Anna May Say Pa was elected the new Principal of the Myanmar Institute of Theology.

Throughout its history, the school has served as an Institution of Higher Theological Education in Myanmar. More then ten ethnic groups and six denominations are represented each year in the student body. Until 1962, only the B.Th. program was offered, but that year the Bachelor of Religious Education program was introduced and in 1976, the B.D. program was initiated. In 1996 no new B.Th. applicants were accepted for the B.Th. program as the Board of Trustees had decided that the Seminary would offer only graduate programs. In 1997 the MIT started the M.Div. and MTS. Degree programs and replaced the BD. program.

March 1999 saw the last B.Th. graduates and the first MTS. graduates and March 2000 marked the graduation of the 1st the Master of Divinity class. Year 2000 is also a milestone for launching new programs such as Summer Language School, Summer Seminar and Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies program. In 2003, the BRE program was replaced with the Master of Arts in Christian Studies.

Accreditation:

Myanmar Institute of Theology is accredited by the Association for Theological Education in South East Asia.

Library:

The present library was erected in 1977 to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the seminary and was extended in 1997. There are 25,000 useable volumes and 30 periodical subscriptions. The air-conditioned reference room, stack room, audio-visual room and well-ventilated reading room with carrels provide a quiet atmosphere for study.

The Library

Buildings:

The Mahasaung Building is the main seminary building. In 1938 Mr. and Mrs. Willis Pierce made available funds for the erecting of a school building. In 1959 both west wing and east wing were added for library, hostel for men students and dining purposes. In 1992 the west wing was renovated. Ann Judson Villa was built in 1957 as the women’s dormitory. The four-story Diamond Jubilee is a multipurpose building that accommodates the ever expanding programs of the MIT.

Mahasaung Building

Diamond Jubilee Building