The Bible Seminary (TBS) is celebrating the achievement of Accredited Status by the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS) granted on October 26, 2020.
“Accreditation marks an important milestone in the development of The Bible Seminary as one of the top theological schools in the United States,” says Dr. Scott Stripling, Provost. “Our students and supporters have long been aware of our educational excellence, and we rejoice in formal recognition by TRACS.”
Dr. Stripling is a prominent archaeologist who serves as Director of Excavations for the Associates for Biblical Research (ABR) at ancient Shiloh and as Vice-President of the Board of Directors of the Near East Archaeological Society. He has published widely in peer-reviewed journals, popular magazines, and books and appeared in numerous articles and television programs including Fox News, The 700 Club, The New York Times, TBN, History Channel, and Discovery Channel.
According to TBS President, Dr. K. Lynn Lewis, the seminary offers training for laity and vocational ministry professionals and aspires to nurture a biblically literate populace via comprehensive Bible-based training. “Faculty seek to integrate studies of the Bible with instruction in historical, theological, and practical disciplines critical to developing professional skills for life and ministry,” he explains. “Experiential education occurs through classroom instruction, community-based training with ministry professionals, hands-on ministry training, and Holy Land study tours.”
TBS degree programs include a Master of Divinity (84 credit hours) and four Master of Arts: Biblical History and Archaeology (60 credit hours); Biblical Languages and Culture (54 credit hours); Biblical Studies (60 credit hours); and Church History and Theology (48 credit hours). TBS also offers a Dual Degree Completion program in which enrolled students take graduate courses and earn a 120-credit hour Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies (BACS) along with either a companion Master of Arts or Master of Divinity program. The BACS degree is conferred when the student graduates with the chosen companion program. Additionally, TBS offers non-degree Bible Certificate and Vocational Ministry Certificate programs.
The seminary is an independent, non-denominational, 501(c)(3) charitable institution of higher education incorporated in Texas in 2010. The first graduate courses were held in September 2012 and the first graduating class received degrees in May 2015. TBS alumni and students serve in hundreds of businesses, ministries, non-profits, and schools throughout metro-Houston areas and beyond as pastors, staff, missionaries, educators, administrators, first responders, health-care providers, business owners, community leaders, and more.
In addition to Dr. Lewis and Dr. Stripling, faculty include Dr. Doug Petrovich, Dean of the Graduate Programs; numerous adjunct faculty, including Dr. Rich Cozart (professionally certified biblical counselor and Professor at the College of Biblical Studies), Dr. Craig Evans (prolific author, New Testament scholar, and John Bisagno Distinguished Professor of Christian Origins at Houston Baptist University), Dr. Israel Loken (Department Chair at the College of Biblical Studies), Dr. Ryan Lokkesmoe (Pastor of Real Hope Community Church in Richmond, Texas), Dr. J. Paul Nyquist (former President of Moody Bible Institute and current Vice-President of Discipleship at the College of Biblical Studies), and others; as well as numerous ministry professionals and mentors who serve as part of the teaching team.
“We congratulate TBS, its administration, faculty, and staff on its efforts and for its dedication and commitment to quality Christian higher education,” says Dr. Timothy Eaton, TRACS President.
Currently serving over 80 schools in 21 states along with six overseas locations, TRACS is recognized by both the United States Department of Education (USDOE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) as a national institutional accrediting agency for Christian post-secondary institutions, colleges, universities, and seminaries. TRACS is also a member of the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE) and the American Council on Education (ACE). For more information, contact TRACS at 15935 Forest Road, Forest, VA 24551; 434-525-9539; info@tracs.org; or TRACS.org.
For more information about The Bible Seminary, contact TBS at 2655 S Mason Rd, Katy, TX 77450; 281-646-1109; info@TheBibleSeminary.edu; or TheBibleSeminary.edu.