Graduate Bible Program gets ATS associate membership
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Mike Moss |
The Lipscomb program was elected to the new status by other ATS member institutions during their biennial meeting in Los Angeles on Sunday, said Dr. Michael Moss, associate dean of the College of Bible and Ministry at Lipscomb and director of the Graduate Bible Program.
Election to associate member status begins a process toward full professional accreditation by ATS, which officials hope to achieve as early as 2006, Moss said.
"ATS accreditation is really a stamp of approval on a graduate theological program. It says, 'This program is at a special level,'" Moss said.
Moss said he expects ATS membership to have an impact on student recruitment and retention. Master's degree graduates of ATS-member institutions may choose from wider array of doctoral programs than those from non-ATS programs. Membership also opens the door to a variety of grants for faculty, students and the program at large.
Dr. Charles Willard, director of accreditation and institutional evaluation for ATS, noted in a staff report that Lipscomb's program "meets the constitutional criteria for membership."
Lipscomb "has demonstrated, in the areas of faculty, students, range of courses, openness to the community of theological education, and quality, stability and permanence, that it is making an effective contribution to the community of faith in its metropolitan area through the provision of a sound theological education to women and to men," Willard said.
Lipscomb's program was also recommended for membership by six peer institutions: Abilene (Texas) Christian University, Harding Graduate School of Religion, Memphis; Southern Christian University, Montgomery, Ala.; Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville; Emmanuel Theological Seminary, Johnson City, Tenn.; and Cincinnati Bible Seminary.
Willard noted the quality of Lipscomb's Beaman Library for theological studies, but encouraged the university to pursue making the library's resources available via the Internet.
Other improvements that Lipscomb should pursue as it works toward full professional accreditation include adding of a course to the master of arts program developing a coordinated evaluation process, improved faculty diversity, and construction of a planned Bible building, Willard said.
The new building, a 75,000 square foot, $9.5 million facility, is a central component of Lipscomb's $150 million Lighting the Way: Igniting the Future Campaign. Fund raising has already begun, and university officials hope to break ground on the facility next spring.
"Everyone recognizes the need for improved space for the College of Bible and Ministry, including the Graduate Bible faculty," Willard said.
Lipscomb offers two theology-related master's degrees - the master of arts in biblical studies and the master of divinity. Of universities associated with the churches of Christ, Lipscomb is the only university whose full-time faculty members all hold doctorates, Moss said.
For full information about the program, contact Moss at 615.279.6051 or via e-mail at Michael.Moss [at] lipscomb.edu.