Asian Seminary of Christian Ministries is regional theological education and ministry training institution of the Church of God World Missions (COGWM) and a religious higher education institution recognized by the Philippine government.
History
The Asian Seminary of Christian Ministries (ASCM) establishment had links to the Church of God Bible Academy (COGBA) which was established in 1973 by Arthur W. Pettyjohn. A concept of a theological education institution of the Church of God in Asia and Oceania was made by Gerald Holloway, a Church of God missionary to the Philippines who worked with the Church of God in Asia and more particularly with the COGBA. Through Galloway's efforts the Asian School of Christian Ministries (ASCM) was founded in 1980. By then offering typical four year undergraduate theological education programs such as the Bachelor of Theology (B.Th) and Bachelor of Christian Education (B.Ce).
The Church of God World Mission garnered support for the ASCM in the United States which led to the intervention of the Church of God YWEA stepped in which launched a four-storey building project in Makati, Metro Manila in 1981 that would permanently house the Asian Seminary of Christian Ministries. Aside from Filipinos, students from Tuvalu, Kiribati, and Fiji of Oceania, as well as those from India, China, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Mongolia were sent to ACSM.
In 1995 the Philippine government through its
Department of Education granted permission and recognition to all of ASCM's undergraduate and graduate programs. The same year the Asia Theological Association (ATA) and the Association of Theological Education Institutions in South East Asia (ATESEA) gave accreditation status to ASCM. With the accreditation status ASCM became eligible to offer doctoral level programs. The Master of Social Work program producing government licensed Church workers in the Church was opened in 2010.
Academic programs
The seminary offers
Master of Arts
A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...
(MA),
Master of Divinity
For graduate-level theological institutions, the Master of Divinity (MDiv, ''magister divinitatis'' in Latin) is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America. It is the most common academic degree in seminaries and divi ...
(M.Div.),
Master of Social Work (MSW), and
Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) graduate degrees. Also,
Bachelor of Arts in Theology (BA) and
Bachelor of Education
A Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) is an undergraduate professional degree which prepares students for work as a teacher in schools. In some countries such as Tanzania and Kenya, additional tasks like field work and research are required in order for ...
(Ed.B.).
Accreditations
*
Commission on Higher Education
*
Association for Theological Education in South East Asia (ATESEA),
*
Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS)
*
American Theological Library Association
The American Theological Library Association (Atla) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3), professional association, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Atla's member libraries and librarians provide resources for scholarly research to tens o ...
(ATLA)
*
(BTESS) in India.
*
Asia Theological Association (ATA), Philippine Association of Bible and Theological Schools (PABATS)
*
Asia Graduate School of Theology (AGST) consortium.
References
External links
Asian Seminary of Christian MinistresChurch of God InternationalAsia Graduate School of Theology
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Universities and colleges affiliated with the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)
Seminaries and theological colleges in the Philippines
Educational institutions established in 1973
1973 establishments in the Philippines
Educational institutions established in 1980
1980 establishments in the Philippines
Education in Makati