Nazarene Theological Seminary received monies from the estate of Ralph Wynkoop and his wife, Mildred Bangs Wynkoop, who predeceased him. The seminary administration discussed the gift and determined that appropriate use of the funds would be to benefit women in ministry. On October 7, 2002, the Board of Trustees of Nazarene Theological Seminary approved the establishment of the Wynkoop Center for Women in Ministry with the funds from the estate of Ralph and Mildred Wynkoop.

As you will see in the biographical sketch of Mildred Wynkoop , she served the Church as a preacher, educator, theologian and writer. God endowed her with great gifts and she faithfully offered herself to God’s service. R alph Wynkoop not only served as a pastor and evangelist, but he encouraged his wife’s stewardship of her gifts. His life provides a positive example through the supportive role he played in his wife’s ministry.

Ralph Wynkoop married Mildred Bangs on December 27, 1928, in Seattle, Washington. Theirs was the first wedding held at the Central Church of the Nazarene (now the Aurora Church of the Nazarene). Several ministers officiated at the wedding, including Rev. Alpin Bowes, pastor of the church, and Rev. Elsie Wallace, the first woman ordained by Phineas Bresee in the Church of the Nazarene.

Their first home was Pasadena, California, where they were students at Pasadena College (now Point Loma Nazarene University). During this time Ralph and Mildred were co-pastors of the Glassell Park Church of the Nazarene in Los Angeles. For about 20 years, until they decided that Mildred would begin graduate studies, Ralph and Mildred served together as co-pastors or full-time itinerant evangelists.

Mildred was ordained in 1934 as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ by John W. Goodwin, General Superintendent in the Church of the Nazarene. Ralph was ordained in 1935 by Roy T. Williams.