The Asia Graduate School of Theology (AGST) is a consortium of evangelical theological seminaries. It was established by Asia Theological Association in 1984, and consists of three bodies: AGST Japan, AGST Philippines, and AGST Alliance (Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand). AGST's purpose is to enable its member seminaries to offer advanced degrees, especially doctorates, to prepare scholars and leaders for the Church and society in Asia. AGST was self-consciously modelled on the South East Asia Graduate School of Theology, which is operated by the Association for Theological Education in South East Asia. Bong Rin Ro notes that AGST was formed to stop the "brain drain" of Asian Christian workers to the West: "The Asian Church had depended on western seminaries and churches too long, and the time had come for us to be independent from the West in theological education; otherwise, we would not be able to grow ourselves." He goes on to note that one of AGST's objectives was to "encourage cultural adaptation of theological education. Asian students needed to study theological training within their cultural contexts of poverty, suffering, injustice, non-Christian religions, and communism." AGST's original plan was to have a consortium in Korea, but as Bong Rin Ro notes, "the AGST in Korea did not succeed due to the lack of cooperation among the evangelical seminaries in Korea."

AGST Japan

AGST Japan has five member institutions.Ro, " History of Evangelical Theological Education in Asia," 42.

Member institutions

Tokyo Christian University is a private university in Inzai, Chiba, Japan, offering an undergraduate liberal arts degree in both Japanese and English. TCU is the only evangelical university fully accredited by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science ...

* Tokyo Biblical Seminary * Kobe Lutheran Seminary * Osaka Christian College and Seminary * Immanuel Bible College

AGST Philippines

AGST Philippines is recognised by the Commission on Higher Education in the Philippines. It publishes its own journal, the ''Journal of Asian Mission''. ''JAM'' has been used as a "venue through which to explore the socio-missiological implications of Flilipino Pentecostalism."

Member institutions

* Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary *

Asia Pacific Theological Seminary Asia Pacific Theological Seminary (APTS) is a theological seminary in Baguio, the Philippines, operated by the Assemblies of God. APTS is part of Asia Graduate School of Theology The Asia Graduate School of Theology (AGST) is a consortium of ev ...

* Asian Seminary of Christian Ministries * Asian Theological Seminary * Biblical Seminary of the Philippines * International Graduate School of Leadership * Koinonia Theological Seminary Foundation, Inc. * PTS College & Advanced Studies

Degrees offered

AGST Philippines offers the following degrees: * Doctor of Education in Christian Counseling *

Doctor of Philosophy A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, Ph.D., or DPhil; Latin: or ') is the most common Academic degree, degree at the highest academic level awarded following a course of study. PhDs are awarded for programs across the whole breadth of academic fields ...

in Transformational Development * Doctor of Philosophy in Transformational Learning * Master of Theology / Doctor of Philosophy in Biblical Studies * Master of Theology / Doctor of Philosophy in Theological Studies & Church History * Master of Theology / Doctor of Philosophy in Peace Studies * Doctor of Philosophy in Holistic Child Development *

Doctor of Missiology The Doctor of Missiology (abbreviated DMiss or D.Miss.) is a doctoral degree in the field of missiology. North America The Doctor of Missiology (DMiss) is an advanced theological degree offered by a number of universities, divinity schools, and s ...

/ Doctor of Philosophy in Intercultural Studies * Doctor of Ministry in Peace Studies * Master of Theology / Doctor of Philosophy in Orality Studies

AGST Alliance

AGST Alliance was established in 2004 as the AGST (Malaysia/Singapore) consortium.

Member institutions

Malaysia

Bible College of Malaysia Bible College of Malaysia (BCM) is a denominational seminary affiliated with the Assemblies of God of Malaysia. It is located in the city of Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. Established in 1960, BCM is accredited by the Asia Theological Associati ...

* Malaysia Baptist Theological Seminary *

Malaysia Bible Seminary Malaysia Bible Seminary (MBS) is an interdenominational evangelical seminary located in the town of Kuang, Gombak District, Selangor, Malaysia to train local Christians preparing for ministry. The seminary was established in 1978, originally loca ...

Myanmar

* Myanmar Evangelical Graduate School of Theology

Singapore

East Asia School of Theology East Asia School of Theology (EAST; ) is a theological school established in Singapore by Campus Crusade for Christ International as a legal division of Cru Asia Ltd. in 1992, with the stated purpose of developing and equipping Christian leaders ...

Thailand

* Bangkok Bible Seminary * Thailand Pentecostal Seminary Additionally, Chiang Mai Theological Seminary (Thailand), Malaysia Evangelical College (Sarawak), and Phnom Penh Bible School (Cambodia) are associate members.

Degrees offered

AGST Alliance offers the following degrees: * Master of Theology (Th.M.) * Master of Theology (Biblical Studies) * Master of Theology (Education) in Spiritual Formation and Discipleship * Master of Transformational Development *

in Education (Ph.D.) * Doctor of Philosophy in Theology * Doctor of Philosophy in Biblical Studies * Doctor of Education in Child & Family Development (Ed.D.) * Doctor of Ministry in Leadership (D.Min.)

References

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External links

AGST Alliance

AGST Philippines
Evangelical seminaries and theological colleges Educational institutions established in 1984 College and university associations and consortia in Asia