Instituto Biblico Project
Strengthening Bible Institutes and Church Leadership: A Partnership to Develop a Viable Certification Process
Commission’s main purpose: to develop standards, curriculum recommendations and processes for bible institute certification in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada.
Overall goal: to align AETH certification requirements with ATS/COA (COA stands for Committee On Accreditation) such that graduates wishing to continue their education beyond bible institutes are prepared for and ensured a pathway to seminary enrollment, through a substantive discussion between AETH and ATS/COA and their mutual desire to enhance the caliber, theological foundation and preparation of future church leaders.
About AETH:
Founded in 1991 by Latino theologians interested in empowering and improving ministry training within and for the Latino community, AETH exists to stimulate dialogue and collaboration among theological educators, administrators of institutions for ministerial formation, and Christian ministerial students in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada. AETH provides pastoral and community leadership development and training to a diverse constituency through national and regional conferences, seminars and retreats; through targeted pastoral and lay programs; and through the publication and distribution of resources covering a range of biblical, theological, programmatic, liturgical, cultural and issue-oriented topics. AETH has an international presence that includes nearly 100 affiliated institutions and more than 1,200 individual members. Critically, AETH’s geographically, politically, culturally and educationally diverse membership represents and supports the full spectrum of churches, denominations and education institutions.
In 2010, AETH completed the final stages of a comprehensive yearlong planning process to clarify its vision and goals, and to solidify a sustainable business model for the organization to maximize its programmatic potential and reach. Extensive research conducted through the planning process confirmed that the organization’s distinct positioning, reputation, intellectual resources and breadth of reach were vitally needed within the Latino church and community, and that AETH’s potential contribution to the development of church leadership was significant and as yet unrealized.
AETH leadership responded to that challenge with an ambitious organizational goal to serve as the centralized repository and capacity builder for Latino church leadership development and for resources and dialogue in Latino/Hispanic theology—a goal to be realized through the Justo L. González Center on Latino/a Ministries. Among the priorities of the recently announced virtual center are leadership development, sustaining pastoral excellence and intensified efforts to meet the educational needs of Latino ministries. The proposed certification process for bible institutes is a well-aligned component of these plans, and responds directly to an urgent need for access by Latino church leadership to high quality, theologically-grounded academic and pastoral preparation.
About ATS:
ATS is a membership organization of more than 250 graduate schools in the U.S. and Canada that conduct post-baccalaureate professional and academic degree programs to educate persons for the practice of ministry and for teaching and research in the theological disciplines. Accredited institutions include Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Orthodox graduate schools of theology that reflect a broad spectrum of doctrinal, ecclesiastical and theological perspectives. The ATS/COA accredits institutions and approves degree programs offered by accredited schools.
The Association began in 1918 as a conference of theological schools that met biennially to consider issues of common interest and concern. From its beginning, ATS has been representative in membership of both the U.S. and Canada. It became an Association in 1936, adopted standards for judging quality, and in 1938 established a list of accredited schools. In 1956 it incorporated and secured a full-time staff. In 1996 the Association adopted redeveloped accrediting standards, and in 2005, it separately incorporated ATS/COA.
The mission of ATS is to promote the improvement and enhancement of theological schools to the benefit of communities of faith and the broader public. The Association seeks to fulfill this mission with commitment to four core values: diversity, quality and improvement, collegiality and leadership. Core areas of work include leadership education for seminary administration and faculty through topical conferences, seminars, grant programs, workshops and specialized supports; practical research and dialogue about critical issues facing theological education; and development, publication and dissemination of information relevant to theological education, the theological disciplines and scholarly study of these topics.
As the accrediting body for seminaries in the U.S. and Canada, ATS/COA is particularly engaged in understanding and seeking viable solutions for seminaries facing institutional and financial stress in response to evolving demographics and emerging trends in pastoral training, and in ensuring high standards of quality in theological education. The proposed project offers an opportunity to align ATS/COA standards with those of certified bible institutes, and to develop new pipelines for seminary enrollment that are responsive to and reflective of a changing, pluralistic society.
Proposed Process:
The process to move toward bible institute certification will include defining institutional and student standards, developing a curriculum model, and formalizing a process through which bible institute certification will be awarded, including the resources to be provided to encourage and support bible institutes in attaining certification. As a result of the certification process and preparation received, bible institute graduates wishing to continue in post-secondary education will be assured a pathway to ATS-accredited seminary enrollment. Key goals include:
· Bible institute certification, standards, process and supports offered via AETH
· Theologically-grounded bible institute graduates prepared to excel as leaders of the Latino church
· Articulation of student standards with academic requirements for seminary enrollment (e.g., B.A. level work)
· ATS recognition of students completing certified bible institute programs as eligible for enrollment outside of the current 10 percent special student admission category
Work of Commission and subcommittees
The commission and subcommittees will come together for a series of in-person facilitated working sessions and up to 12 virtual meetings over a 24-month period. Subcommittee areas of focus will be defined so as to achieve the desired outcomes and timing, and structured to support work to be conducted both concurrently and sequentially, as needed. AETH and ATS/COA have identified the following as the likely subcommittee areas of focus:
1. Certification standards and process
2. Curriculum design
3. Defining supports needed to build the capacity of bible institutes
4. Identifying contents of a “model library”
Specific tasks of each subcommittee will be defined in early planning stages by the commission. Throughout the process, the commission will be engaged in ongoing oversight of subcommittee activities and progress, with structures built in to ensure feedback and necessary decision-making.
The final phase of work will include consolidating the commission’s recommendations into a final report. This document will serve as a guide for AETH as it moves into a development/start-up period following the commission’s work.
Expected outcomes and deliverables:
The following are the anticipated and desired outcomes and deliverables from the commission’s work:
1. Standards for AETH certification of bible institutes
2. Outline for model curriculum to ensure academic rigor and meet seminary entrance criteria
3. Certification procedure and approval process and timeline
4. Definition of support to be provided to build bible institute capacity to attain AETH certification,
including recommendations related to:
a. Institutional capacity
b. Financial capacity/sustainability
c. Program/academics
d. Student support and resources
e. Essential contents and services of libraries
5. Articulated recruitment/enrollment process to support bible institute graduates in seminary entrance
6. Recommendations for roll-out and ongoing management, including governance, infrastructure and resource requirements.