Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary
MottoInformed Scholarship, Pastoral Heart.
TypePrivate seminary
Established2005; 19 years ago (2005)
Religious affiliation
Mid-America Reformed Baptist Association of Churches
PresidentSam Waldron
Students~400[1]
Location
Owensboro
,
Kentucky
,
United States
CampusSuburban
AffiliationsAssociation of Reformed Theological Seminaries
Websitecbtseminary.org

The Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary (CBTS) is an accredited, reformed Baptist seminary in Owensboro, Kentucky, on the premises of Grace Reformed Baptist Church and led by President Sam Waldron. CBTS trains people who hold to the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith to lead churches, domestically and internationally.

History

The Seminary was originally founded in 2005 as the Midwest Center for Theological Studies by Ted Christman, then pastor of Heritage Baptist Church in Owensboro, Kentucky.[2][3][4] The seminary began with one faculty member, Sam Waldron, using a single classroom at Heritage Christian School.[5] In August 2007 the seminary expanded temporarily to two rooms of a local law office, while the church made plans to build a $5.5 million, 38,000-square-foot addition to Heritage School.[6] At that time, thirty to thirty-five students were taught by three faculty, including Waldron, with three adjunct professors.[7]

In 2015 the board of directors adopted the name Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary "in order to more clearly to indicate both the mission of the Seminary and its theological viewpoint".[8] The seminary was recognized by the Association of Reformed Theological Seminaries in 2019, and started offering the Master of Divinity (M. Div), a standard theological degree.[9]

In June 2023 the Seminary moved into the newly renovated property of Grace Reformed Church of Owensboro giving it greater capacity for enrollment.[10]

Academics

The Seminary's academic offerings include the Master of Divinity (MDiv), Master of Arts in Theological Studies (MATS), Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies (MAPS), Master of Theology (ThM), and Master of Reformed Baptist Studies (MARBS) degrees.[11]

Accreditation

CBTS states that it is an "accredited member of the Association of Reformed Theological Seminaries."[12] However, ARTS is not recognized by the United States Department of Education as an institutional or programmatic accreditor, and the seminary holds no standing in any such recognized agency.

Non-profit status

According to Charity Navigator, "Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary is a 501(c)(3) organization, with an IRS ruling year of 2020".[13]

References

  1. ^ Bigham, Brice (13 December 2023). "2023 in Review". Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  2. ^ "About". Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  3. ^ "Heritage Baptist Church History". Heritage Baptist Church. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  4. ^ "Pastor Ted Christman". Messenger-Inquirer. 2019-02-07. p. B2. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
  5. ^ "Reformed Baptists start local seminary". Messenger-Inquirer. 2005-08-14. p. 15. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
  6. ^ "Seminary to borrow space at law office". Messenger-Inquirer. 2007-08-12. p. 13. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
  7. ^ "Space: Seminary's sponsor helps with cost (cont. from page 1C)". Messenger-Inquirer. 2007-08-12. p. 15. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
  8. ^ "Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary Constitution & By-Laws" (PDF). CBTS. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  9. ^ "ARTS Partners". Association of Reformed Theological Seminaries. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  10. ^ "Dual Purpose: Grace Reformed Baptist opens new church building with seminary wing". Messenger-Inquirer. 2023-06-03. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  11. ^ "CBTS Degree Programs". CBTS Degree Programs. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  12. ^ "Accreditation - Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary". Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  13. ^ "Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary | Charity Navigator Profile". www.charitynavigator.org. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
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