Urshan Graduate School of Theology (UGST) is affiliated with the United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI) and was opened in 2001 as a Oneness Pentecostal seminary. UGST is the only Apostolic Pentecostal graduate institution in North America to have accreditation. As such, it is the only one listed by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) and the only one to award its own accredited master’s degrees
Mission
"The mission of the Urshan Graduate School of Theology shall be to provide training, development, advanced studies, and a research center for men and women of the Apostolic faith worldwide to further them for Christian service."
Students
As of Fall 2011, 46 students were enrolled in UGST's three programs. Students are not required to be members of the United Pentecostal Church International, but it is loyal to the teachings of that organization. Faculty and staff must subscribe to the biblical doctrines outlined in the Articles of Faith for the UPCI.
History
Urshan Graduate School of Theology is named for Andrew Urshan and the legacy of the Oneness doctrine and visionary teaching that he handed down through his son, Nathaniel. In April 1998, Timothy Dugas, pastor of The Sanctuary in Missouri, formed an ad hoc committee to study the feasibility of the graduate school. Between April 1998 and the October 1998 meeting of the UPCI General Board, the ad hoc committee developed a proposal for the General Board.
In October 1998, the UPCI General Board, augmented with additional personnel, creating a steering committee under the auspices of Arless Glass, superintendent of the Division of Education. In January 1999, a second proposal was made to the UPCI General Board to determine if the project should go forward. In the summer of 1999, the steering committee chose its chairperson to be Jesse Williams, who has served as chairperson from that time to 2007. Under Jesse Williams's direction a resolution was made to the October 1999 UPCI General Conference in session at Nashville, Tennessee. After relevant debate the gathered ministers of the United Pentecostal Church voted to found the Urshan Graduate School of Theology.
In 2000, at a meeting in St. Louis, Chairperson Williams continued to lead the Board of Trustees, which was formed at that time. Some significant events took place at the January meeting. The board selected David Bernard as its first president and Nathaniel Urshan as the chancellor of what would be called the Urshan Graduate School of Theology. These officers were installed at the October conference. The board hired James Littles, Jr. as vice president; he did considerable organizational work to ready the graduate school to open its doors. The board of trustees and the president officially installed the founding faculty (James A. Littles, Jr., David S. Norris, Raymond Crownover and Gerald L. Truman) at the convocation on August 29, 2001.
In 2009, President David Bernard was elected General Superintendent of the United Pentecostal Church International.
In 2010, Urshan Graduate School of Theology received full accreditation from the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) for the maximum initial period of five years.
In the summer of 2011, Gateway College of Evangelism (Gateway) offered for Urshan Graduate School of Theology (UGST) to acquire Gateway in order to start a new undergraduate program. At the 2011 United Pentecostal Church General Conference, the General Board accepted the proposal for UGST to absorb Gateway. On November 23, 2011 the new institution's name Urshan College was announced. As a Christian college, rather than offering degrees solely in theology (like a Bible College), Urshan College offers the Bachelor of Arts degree in several majors. As part of UGST, it is owned and operated by the United Pentecostal Church International and has a Oneness Pentecostal identity.
Academics
UGST offers three degrees: Master of Divinity, Master of Christian Ministry (which has elective tracks in the fields of Counseling and Missiology) and Master of Theological Studies.
Accreditation
In 2010, Urshan Graduate School of Theology received full accreditation from the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) for the maximum initial period of five years. ATS is the primary accrediting agency for graduate theological education recognized by the U.S. Government. Its accreditation is equal to that of the secular regional accrediting associations. Some schools offer credits through a contractual arrangement with secular or other Christian colleges that are accredited, but do not have their own accreditation.
An important consideration for those in theological education is that: "Several of the national accreditation agencies, such as the Association for Biblical Higher Education, Association of Theological Schools, and Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools, accredit faith-based schools. This is important, as the more religious national accreditation agencies are able to appeal to institutions that believe that accreditation from a secular organization would lead to unacceptable compromises in their religious teachings."
Center for the Study of Oneness Pentecostalism
The Center for the Study of Oneness Pentecostalism contains the archives for the United Pentecostal Church International and the curator, Robin Johnston, is a member of the adjunct faculty.
See also
- Urshan College
- Gateway College of Evangelism
- United Pentecostal Church International
- Urshan Gateway Library
References
External links
- Urshan Graduate School of Theology: Home Page
- United Pentecostal Church International
- Center for the Study of Oneness Pentecostalism
- Association of Theological Schools