Asia Graduate School of Theology explained

Asia Graduate School of Theology should not be confused with South East Asia Graduate School of Theology.

The Asia Graduate School of Theology (AGST) is a consortium of evangelical theological seminaries. It was established by Asia Theological Association in 1984, and consists of three bodies: AGST Japan, AGST Philippines, and AGST Alliance (Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand).[1]

AGST's purpose is to enable its member seminaries to offer advanced degrees, especially doctorates, to prepare scholars and leaders for the Church and society in Asia. AGST was self-consciously modelled on the South East Asia Graduate School of Theology, which is operated by the Association for Theological Education in South East Asia.

Bong Rin Ro notes that AGST was formed to stop the "brain drain" of Asian Christian workers to the West: "The Asian Church had depended on western seminaries and churches too long, and the time had come for us to be independent from the West in theological education; otherwise, we would not be able to grow ourselves."[2] He goes on to note that one of AGST's objectives was to "encourage cultural adaptation of theological education. Asian students needed to study theological training within their cultural contexts of poverty, suffering, injustice, non-Christian religions, and communism."[3]

AGST's original plan was to have a consortium in Korea, but as Bong Rin Ro notes, "the AGST in Korea did not succeed due to the lack of cooperation among the evangelical seminaries in Korea."

AGST Japan

AGST Japan has five member institutions.[4]

Member institutions

AGST Philippines

AGST Philippines
Dean:Romerlito C. Macalinao

AGST Philippines is recognised by the Commission on Higher Education in the Philippines.[5] It publishes its own journal, the Journal of Asian Mission.[6] JAM has been used as a "venue through which to explore the socio-missiological implications of Flilipino Pentecostalism."[7]

Member institutions

Degrees offered

AGST Philippines offers the following degrees:[8]

AGST Alliance

AGST Alliance
Established:2004
Dean:Allan Harkness

AGST Alliance was established in 2004 as the AGST (Malaysia/Singapore) consortium.[9]

Member institutions

Malaysia

Myanmar

Singapore

Thailand

Additionally, Chiang Mai Theological Seminary (Thailand), Malaysia Evangelical College (Sarawak), and Phnom Penh Bible School (Cambodia) are associate members.[10]

Degrees offered

AGST Alliance offers the following degrees:

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Asia Graduate School of Theology. Asia Theological Association. 15 November 2015.
  2. Ro. Bong Rin. A History of Evangelical Theological Education in Asia (ATA): 1970–1990. Torch Trinity Journal. 2008. 11. 1. 39. 15 November 2015.
  3. Ro, " History of Evangelical Theological Education in Asia," 40.
  4. Ro, " History of Evangelical Theological Education in Asia," 42.
  5. Web site: Accreditations and Partnerships. AGST Philippines. 15 November 2015.
  6. Web site: Journal of Asian Mission (JAM). AGST Philippines. 15 November 2015.
  7. Book: Tizon. Al. Transformation After Lausanne: Radical Evangelical Mission in Global-Local Perspective. 2008. Oxford Centre for Mission Studies. 187. 15 November 2015. 9781870345682.
  8. Web site: AGST Philippines. AGST Philippines. 15 November 2015.
  9. Web site: Our history. AGST Alliance. 15 November 2015.
  10. Web site: Member seminaries . 8 September 2023 . AGST Alliance.

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