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Information About Brethren Seminaries, Bible Colleges, Bible Schools, Missions Institutes, Theological Colleges, Distance Learning

Alternate Titles: Plymouth Brethren Bible Institute; Brethren Assembly Bible College; Christian Brethren Theology School; Brethren Assembly Seminary; Brethren Ministry Training; Missions And Evangelism Training; Missionary Training; Leadership Training; Distance Education In Theology, Apologetics; Free Online Courses; Bible Correspondence Courses

Last Updated: 2008 July 25.

Primacy Of Self-Study, Home Study, And Church Study As Against Full Time Seminary Education, Resident Learning In Bible College

Self-Study - Best Alternative To Full Time 
Seminary Education Or Distance Learning
Bible Study By Every Believer, At Every Home, At Every Local Church - The Biblical Model

Various Options Available For Learning In Theology, Apologetics, Ministry, Evangelism, Missions

Serial Topic Description Status
  Seminary History How learning shifted from the local Churches to Seminaries, and back to the local Churches. Stub
  Seminary Significance Were Seminaries necessary? Are they necessary today? How did the early local Churches produce great theologians and missionaries? Stub
  Seminary Alternatives Considers the advantages and disadvantages of full-time resident education, distance-learning and self-study. Helps you decide which one to choose. Stub
  Full-time Seminaries Discusses the option of full-time seminary learning. Identifies the best Seminaries, Bible Colleges, Bible Schools, Missions Institutes, and Theology Schools from a Conservative, Dispensationalist, Calvinistic, Cessationist, Pre-tribulational, Pre-millennial, and New Testament Pattern standpoint. Stub
  Distance Learning Identifies the options for free or paid distance education and online learning. Lists some of the reputed correspondence schools. Stub
  Self-study Options These entities promote self-assessments and does not require submission of assignments. No degrees, diplomas, doctorates, or certificates are offered. There may even have highly qualified faculties to help the learner for free. Lists some of the self-study options. Stub
  Home Study Options Deuteronomy Chapter 6 is the classic chapter on Bible study at home with family and children. Stub
  Church Study Options In  the New Testament, the Church is the Bible Seminary, Missions School and missionary sending agency. Stub
  Personal Mentoring One eminent brother becomes your partner in an  accountability relationship with you. This is sometimes called one-to-one discipleship. There are mentors who offer support in person, by email, by chat, by phone and so on. Some of them even provide support through 24 X 7 hotlines. Stub
  Accreditation Explains the need, process, and significance of Accreditation. Lists the accreditation bodies. Suggests whether accreditation is mandatory. Stub
  Clarifications There is no single universal accreditation agency. Generally, US seminary education accredited by CHEA is considered to be of good quality. But CHEA is not the only accrediting agency in the world. Neither is it necessary for a non-US seminary to be accredited to CHEA. Also, lack of CHEA accreditation for seminaries outside the US does not always mean inferior quality.

The third world countries have many Bible Schools whose curriculum is far less comprehensive than that of the Dallas Theological Seminary or Moody Bible Institute. Graduates from these third-world seminaries go out, start pioneering work, have souls saved, and plant Churches. Some of them may be comparable with an American Seminary Graduate in terms of skills, some may not be. For example, Indians provide some of the best software services in the world without learning in American colleges. Sadly, many think that any mode of learning that is not approved by government of USA, or by accrediting agencies in the USA are of inferior quality, or illegal and unethical. They forget that even some of the best secular education in the world is not recognized uniformly by all universities, or by other countries including USA.

There are some who cannot even afford to study full-time in these seminaries, nor do have adequate guidance in the local Churches. They turn to distance education, or to Internet based learning schools. Many have their lives transformed, and turn out to be a blessing to their Churches and community. Sadly, some think that to teach theology on the Internet is sin because  they are paper schools and not made of brick and mortar.

In many countries, government, or other agencies are not into the business of approving or recognizing theological education. Government in some countries give religious minorities all the freedom and legitimacy to operate, provide training, and graduate the students. Some people think that anything that is not government recognized is illegal and unethical.

All accrediting agencies and seminaries were start-ups one day with only few students, faculties, and without hardly any reputation. But present day believers run all over many start-up efforts and call them foul.

Many believe that it is alright for a few brethren to run a dozen Pizza Hut outlets, but if they are seminaries it is sin!

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Related Resources

Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS) - One of the most reputed colleges globally. Has Brethren roots. Many great Brethren got educated here.

Moody Bible Institute (MBI) - Great school with emphasis on missions, missiology, and full-time ministry.

The Masters Seminary - Superb school by John F MacArthur with emphasis on Expository Preaching and Pastoral Ministry.

Kawartha Lake Bible College (KLBC) - Reputed Brethren Bible College In Canada.

Talbot School Of Theology - a conservative, evangelical seminary in Southern California.

Emmaus Correspondence School (ECS).

Trinity Graduate School of Apologetics and Theology (TGSAT) - Distance education in theology and apologetics.

World Bible School (WBS) - Free Bible Courses.

Council For Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) - Largest higher education membership organization in the USA.

Association of Theological Schools (ATS) - Membership organization of more than 250 graduate schools in USA and Canada.

World Conference Of Associations Of Theological Institutions (WOCATI).

Australian And New Zealand Association Of Theological Schools (ANZATS).

Association Of Theological Institutions In Southern And Central Africa (ATISCA).

International Council For Accrediting Alternate And Theological Studies (ICAATS).

Transnational Association Of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS).

Asia Theological Association (ATA) - One of the many institutions that accredits theological education in Asia.

Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) - Accredits distance education in the USA.

The Board Of Theological Education Of The Senate Of Serampore College (BTESSC) - Used by denominational Churches in India for accreditation.

American Theological Library Association (ATLA).

The Association For Theological Education By Extension (TAFTEE).

North India Institute Of Post Graduate Theological Studies (NIIPGTS).