Citation and Formatting Guide

For all assignments, you are required to cite any source you consult. To not cite a consulted source constitutes plagiarism.


Westminster's Citation & Formatting Guide (4th Edition, 2015) (or 'CFG') provides a quick reference on how to properly format your papers and cite your sources.

Note that the CFG includes two different styles, which are particularly useful for Westminster assignments: Turabian and SBL. Please note that Turabian and SBL (Society of Biblical Literature) are the only accepted citation styles (e.g., APA will not be accepted).


Most useful pages

  • For proper formatting of footnotes and bibliographies, see pages 7 and 8.
  • For a sample course paper (including title page), see page 55.

When to use Turabian or SBL

  • Use Turabian for most courses, unless directed otherwise by your instructor.
  • Use SBL for biblical studies courses taught in the MDiv/MAR programs (e.g., NT 223, OT 323).

Services from the Center for Theological Writing ('CTW'):

  • Make a Drop-In Appointment - Schedule a 30-minute appointment to review your writing or ask questions about formatting guidelines at WTS.
  • Schedule a Paid Consultation - You can engage the professional consultation services from the CTW by using this link. This is a paid consultation. If you are a student with general inquiries, then please use the Drop-In Appointment link to schedule an appointment.

Helpful Links:

  • Center for Theological Writing - The Center for Theological Writing exists to equip you with online resources and in-person tutoring to help you write, revise, and edit works of theological writing with confidence, clarity, and excellence.
  • Plagiarism Overview - This overview clearly defines plagiarism, identifies how it happens, and provides advice on how you can avoid it.
  • Course & Program Specific Writing Samples - For writing samples, please refer to this Canvas course.