The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and is a member of the Washington Theological Consortium. The Lutheran Theological Seminary is America's oldest Lutheran Seminary. As early as 1818, the Pennsylvania Ministerium named a committee of Rev. John George Schmucker, D.D., Conrad Jaeger and H. A. Muhlenberg to plan a seminary for the reformed branch of Protestantism. However, the institution was actually founded in 1826 by Samuel Simon Schmucker, a leading Pennsylvania anti-slavery advocate and the son of former committee member, Rev. John George Schmucker, D.D. The younger Rev. Samuel Simon Schmucker became its first professor. Born on February 28, 1799, Schmucker received his theological training at Princeton Seminary, one of the few theological schools at the time. This young professor, was, at this point in his life, the best educated and likely the most influential Lutheran leader in America. When compared to others of his day, Rev. Schmucker stood out among his peers as an outspoken advocate for unity among American Christian traditions.