minary W orld Class Seminary - Bethel Seminary - Bethel University

Bethel Seminary is associated withBethel University, a leading resource forChristian higher education with studentsfrom around the world enrolledin the seminary as well as the university’sCollege of Arts & Sciences, Collegeof Adult & Professional Studies, andGraduate School.AccreditationBethel Seminary is accredited by the Associationof Theological Schools, whichis the national accrediting agency fortheological schools in the United Statesand Canada, and by the Higher LearningCommission of the North CentralAssociation of Colleges and Schools.Bethel Seminary also has receivedaccreditation to offer the full Master ofDivinity and Master of Arts (TheologicalStudies) at all four Bethel Seminaryof the East sites: Philadelphia, NewEngland, New York City, and MetropolitanWashington, D.C. This accreditationis granted both by the Associationof Theological Schools and by theHigher Learning Commission of theNorth Central Association of Collegesand Schools. The Philadelphia and NewEngland Centers of Bethel Seminary ofthe East are approved for Veterans Education.Bethel Seminary of the East is anAssociate Member of the ConservativeBaptist Higher Education Council.AlumniGraduates of the seminary now numbermore than 3,600. Those in activeservice are filling important ministryroles as missionaries, pastors, teachers,administrators, chaplains, denominationalservants, and directors of Christianeducation and youth ministriesaround the world.Seminary alumni are members of theBethel Alumni Association, whichincludes graduates of all schools ofBethel University and many formerstudents who completed less than afull program. This association providessignificant support for the school.Women and MenBethel Seminary affirms that both womenand men are created in the image ofGod, that they are equally recipients ofthe redemptive grace of God, and thatthe Spirit of God is conferred upon menand women alike. It also observes thatthe listings of spiritual gifts in Scripturemake no restrictions of gender regardingrecipients of those gifts.The seminary further recognizes thatthere are both women and men whosense a divine calling to professionalministry. Because the seminary is nota church, it does not ordain or makethe decision of who shall be ordained.In the Baptist denomination of whichBethel Seminary is a ministry, suchdecisions and actions are functions of thelocal church. Students come to us froma variety of churches, some that ordainwomen and some that do not.All academic programs at BethelSeminary will continue, as in the past,to be open to all who meet the academic,moral, and spiritual requirements foradmission. No person should be requiredto justify his or her presence inthe seminary in terms of race, gender,or age. While within evangelical Christianity,within local churches, and onthe Bethel Seminary faculty, differencesof opinion exist regarding the relativeroles of men and women, discussionsof such topics should be conductedopenly and sensitively; with Christianrespect for the person and convictionsof others; and with primary considerationgiven to the teachings of theBible, our supreme authority in mattersof faith and practice.Bethel Profile11