This is an Association of men and women nationwide, conceived and founded by some notable theologians, but registered and recognized by the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a learned and professional body for theological and biblical experts. The Association unites those with and interested in biblical and theological education and also in the application of biblical and theological knowledge to develop individuals and Nigeria.
The vision of having a regulatory body for theologians in Nigeria came to Prof. Augustus Olakunle Macaulay, a Bible teacher and theologian who realized that there are many Bible Colleges and Christian Universities in Nigeria but a non-existence of a professional and accredited body for theologians in early 1998. He therefore shared the vision with some reputable theologians who agreed to have a body capable of recognizing the importance of theology and theologians in Nigeria and developing theology for Nigeria.
The first meeting was held in Ibadan, Oyo State in 1998 with only twelve theologians in attendance. Two other meetings held in Lagos after the first one constituted the body.
In 1998, the trustees and executives were empowered to register the Association with the Federal Republic of Nigeria for recognition and acceptability. The trustees and the executives prayerfully presented the Constitution of the Association to the Federal Republic of Nigeria for approval and registration.
In April 2002, the Association of Christian Theologians (ACTS) was eventually registered and a Certificate of Registration No. 14,511 was issued. The Association of Christian Theologians (ACTS) therefore became an incorporated body.
Objectives
(a) To give recognition to men and women who are qualified theologians.
(b) To establish and promote a forum for the development of theology in Nigeria.
(c) To maintain the highest standard of biblical discipline among members.
(d) To maintain a register of members in good standing.
(e) To advise the government on matters concerning political, social, economic and moral matters and maintain a high level of co-operation with governments.
(f) To provide a common forum for all qualified theologians throughout Nigeria by such means as Seminars, Conferences and Meetings, the reading of papers and promotion of academic research.
(g) To foster and encourage members to undertake voluntary work for the purpose of furthering the objects of the Association.
(h) To collaborate with appropriate government agencies and other training/educational bodies in Nigeria or elsewhere in effecting the objects of the Association.
Organization
The Association has a Governing Council, a Board of Trustees and different working committees.
The Annual General Meeting is where each member has an equal opportunity and right to shape the Association’s future.
Membership Category
The Association has two categories of members, viz:
(a) Individual members.
(b) Corporate members.
Membership is open to all Christian theologians, academics, theological researchers, Christian ministries, Bible and Theological Institutions, Libraries, Publishers, Professional Christian Training Schools i.e. Seminaries and Statutory Regulatory Bodies with a mandate for theological development.
Eligibility
A. FELLOW
(i) He/She has attained the age of not less than 50 years.
(ii) Has 10 years of relevant experience in the office or position as a theologian.
(iii) Is a holder of a recognized certificate or degree from a recognized institution.
(iv) Is considered by the Council to be a fit person to be enrolled.
B. MEMBER
(i) If he/she has attained the age of not less than 40 years.
(ii) Has 5 years of relevant experience in the office or position as a theologian.
(iii) Is a holder of a recognized certificate or degree of the Association’s approved academic or professional qualifications.
(iv) Is considered by the council to be a fit person to be enrolled.
C. ASSOCIATE MEMBER
(i) If he/she has attained the age of not less than 30 years.
(ii) Has 2 years of relevant experience in the office or position as a theologian.
D. GRADUATE MEMBER
(i) He/she is not less than 25 years of age and holds a recognized qualification of an Institute/College recognized by the Association.
(ii) Has no relevant years of experience.
(iii) Is considered a fit and proper person to be enrolled by the Council.
E. CORPORATE MEMBER
Every registered Theological School/Institute shall be eligible to be elected a corporate member as determined by the Council. Such an Institution shall apply for consideration to the Council on duly completed application forms showing details of their particulars. On admission, the Association shall notify the Institution of the admission and the fees shall be paid.
Benefits
Individual Members
Recognition throughout the theological sector worldwide as a qualified and experienced professional.
The opportunity to apply for the Association’s qualification (FACTS, MACTS, AMACTS, GACTS).
Opportunity to serve on the Association’s Council and National Committees.
Nomination as a resource person at Conferences and Seminars.
Immediate access to a national network of contacts.
Local and international consultancy contacts.
A free and personal copy of the quarterly publication “THE THEOLOGIAN”.
Corporate Members
Access to information on local and international theological conferences and educational programmes.
Corporate members’ representatives’ participation at Fora organized by the Association and exercise of voting rights.
Staff nomination to attend the Association’s public lectures, workshops and seminars.
Personal recruitment and training with a reduction in course fees to 50%.
Rebate on Advertisement and publicity in the Association’s publications.
ACCREDITATION OF CHRISTIAN ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES
Every academic programme that is relevant to human growth and life should be evaluated and accredited by a body of experts. Advanced Nations of the world have never neglected this aspect of their responsibility, hence they produce experts that help them scientifically and technologically. One of the major problems of the world today is religion. There are many religions practiced worldwide. People worldwide are free to practice and teach their faith.
In Nigeria, there are two major religions: Christianity and Islam. These two major religions have established schools to teach their adherents and assess their performance and grade them accordingly.
Bible teaching has been the responsibility of the church since the beginning of Christianity. Many nations have accepted Christianity and its teaching because this has helped to improve the morals of the nations. It has also helped to improve education and eradicate superstition. Christian education no doubt has blessed many nations of the world.
The modern church finds it necessary to develop Christian leaders and teachers academically and classify them by awarding certificates, diplomas and degrees accordingly. These awards are meant for the church to recognize the level of academic achievement of church workers concerned and employ them for the improvement of the teaching of the church and betterment of the members of the church.
National governments of many nations set up accrediting commissions to accredit courses in Primary Schools, Secondary Colleges and Universities. These courses are mostly humanistic and necessary for the economic, social and scientific development of the nations. The members of the commissions are always reputable people, experts and scholars in different disciplines.
In Nigeria, the government is secular, meaning that the government is not interested in religion.
The law of the country does not state how religious academic programmes should be accredited, but some non-religious scholars believe that human scholarship should be placed over against faith; they therefore arrogate to themselves the right to determine what religious faith should teach. They oppose anything spiritual in the name of higher human knowledge and scholarship. Christianity is not a pressure group that will subject the State to the will of God. The problem is that the majority of the people in humanistic political environments (those who have the power in the State) are not willing to subject themselves to the rule of the church.
Of recent, there was a threat to Christian education in Nigeria and some people believe that Christian Courses should be accredited. Some Christian school proprietors are worried about this and are confused about what to do. The question is who should accredit Christian religious academic programmes? A secular accrediting or Christian accrediting body?
The government of any nation has a leading role to provide political, economic and social stability for people to operate freely, while the church is the custodian of the word of God and therefore has the responsibility of building, shaping and maintaining morality and biblical principles. Christianity is a practical and workable religion that reforms and transforms life. Its education provides factual knowledge. Biblical and theological teaching is not the teaching of new facts or knowledge but confirming the revealed facts and helping people to apply the facts acquired for a better life.
The revelation of God in history. In the past, God spoke to his people through the prophets, but today he speaks through Jesus, the Bible and the Holy Spirit. He manifests to them the mystery of his nature which he wants them to share with him.
WHAT IS ACCREDITATION?
Accreditation is the act of confirming that an educational institution maintains suitable standards. It is the approval of an institution of learning by a recognized accrediting body after the institution must have met certain requirements.
HOW IS A SCHOOL ACCREDITED?
The method of accreditation differs from one commission to another, but the principles of accreditation expect the school to be accredited to be sure of its operations and then submit all the information required by the accrediting body, including its instructional materials, which will be thoroughly reviewed by competent subject-matter specialists. Accreditation is to ensure that a college is offering a quality programme or course.
Accreditation is a tool for monitoring the academic quality, integrity and standard of schools.
The philosophy of secular humanism has never agreed with Christian teaching, especially of the incarnation, birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, neither has it accepted the presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of the church. Secular accrediting agencies can neither understand nor accept the theological and philosophical contents of a bible-based curriculum and teaching method.
Most Bible Colleges in Nigeria are not recognized by the Federal or State Department of Education. Secular accreditation generally hinders more than helps Christian Colleges from accomplishing the purpose for which they are called by God. It should be noted that the secular accrediting commission will force its candidates to conform to predetermined academic conditions.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION IS A GODLY EDUCATION
The primary objective of a biblical and theological education is to transform life by the revelation truths that are revealed in the Bible and by the Holy Spirit. Biblical theology is biblically the science of knowing the truths in the bible and how to apply them to life. The Christian religion is a matter of living, not of mere intellectual knowledge.
God is the creator of heavens and earth Genesis 1:1, Psalms 24:1. He is Lord over all He created; family, church, society, government, law are under his absolute sovereignty. Proverbs 22:6, Deuteronomy 6:6-9.
God requires that Christians should be given distinctively Christian education. Every subject studied in Bible College should reveal the plan of God and discover God-given message for every generation.
Christian education is not after traditions of man and principles of this world but after Christ in whom all the treasures and knowledge are hidden Colossians 1:28. The educational theory, methods and practice of any Bible College are to prove that there is only one God, one Christ and only one truth. The bible therefore becomes the foundational handbook for Christian and theological education.
We should not forget that the beginning of wisdom is the fear of God. A Christian curriculum must derive its fundamental principles from God’s Holy Word.
Bible study in any Bible College is not the mere study of historical events or characters in the Bible but to understand the biblical system of truth. The Bible is the mind of God revealed to man. It is in it that we learn that God created the heavens and earth, that man fell and that God provided a gracious plan of redemption. This knowledge helps man to think and act according to the will of God for him.
Government-recognized accreditation is not necessary for the production of church managers, church administrators, prophets, ushers, theologians, Christian teachers, evangelists, Christian counsellors, church pastors, deacons. Manpower for the church can be produced without government-recognized accreditation. Academically trained church workers do not need government-accredited qualifications to work in a spiritually or biblically influenced environment.
Jesus is the head of any Bible College and what is taught is the ability to understand Christian faith and pass this on from one generation to another. The Federal or State Department of Education is not spirit-filled or spirit-controlled and it is not managed by men and women who understand the working principles of the Holy Spirit, who is the director and principal teacher of every born-again Christian. If they do not understand the language of the Bible, which is spiritual and beyond the comprehension of non-spirit-controlled human beings, how can they understand that the manducation of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ in the Lord’s Supper is entirely spiritual and heavenly in nature?
Accreditation of a Christian college should be based on quality, programmes/courses, operations and integrity. The standards and expectations must comply with scriptural principles as applied to education and must align with the vision, mission and calling of the ministry that established the college.
Christian education operators should respect the separation of Church and State because the education of Christian colleges extends beyond national boundaries. They should maintain their God-called vision and respect and submit to Jesus Christ, their Saviour who sent them to go and teach.
Accreditation of a Christian college should be with Christian-focused agencies and not any secular government accrediting commission that cannot effectively monitor spiritually-ordained academic programmes.
Christian experts and scholars should establish more accrediting bodies because the number of Christian schools is growing and there are more unaccredited courses than accredited ones.
Government-accredited courses do not generate high standards. Education in secular institutions is an institutionalized formal learning of an intellectual and social nature. Facts and theories are inserted into the minds of the students but all these never germinate for use.
Secular education is also considered as a process whereby inborn potential is aired, nourished and admired. Students are developed in their capacity for co-operation, self-discipline, imaginative learning, confidence and mutual understanding. This type of education makes a man a thinking animal to develop his physical environment, therefore neglecting his spiritual life and responsibility.
The Trust Book “A Guide to Living” once said, “We believe that the educational needs of a highly technical society do not have to be met at the expense of the more important human characteristics.” The work of secular education is said to be incidental to the prime need of the nation.
Kurt Hahn, a German-born idealist once said, “it is wrong to coerce young people into opinions but it is a duty to impel them into experiences”. Christian faith is experiential. Its education prepares people for individual responsibility and for service to others.
Government-accredited courses are not superior to courses accredited by a Christian religious accredited body.
Government-accredited courses do not promote spiritual and ministerial growth. They are over-intellectualized while they lack Christian spirituality.
Government-accredited courses do not require their students to be:
a. Spirit-filled.
b. To produce life-transformation ability.
Faculty in government-approved courses do not have God’s divine anointing and vision. They are not rooted in the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit.
Note importantly that people seeking employment in Federal or State ministries, like medical doctors, accountants and non-church-related disciplines, will need government-recognized accredited qualifications.
People called to full-time or part-time church work or volunteers in church ministries do not need government-accredited qualifications. It is therefore important that people willing to go to Bible Colleges for degree courses must identify the career God is calling them into. Christian and theological education has direct relevance to the church, Christian ministries and para-church organisations. Enrol in a course that will help you practise the call of God in your life.
CHRISTIAN COLLEGE: A Charity Organisation
A Christian College is the teaching ministry of the church and it is classified as tax-exempt, non-profit status. It is a charity organisation established to teach Christian faith, develop church workers to produce excellence, efficiency and integrity. It is expected to provide the highest standard of educational quality at the lowest possible cost.
It is the responsibility of Christian accrediting bodies and theological education controlling bodies like the Association of Christian Theologians (ACTS) to make sure that the quality of Christian and theological education in Nigeria is improved. They owe it a duty to all Christians to make sure that Christian faith is taught to the full understanding of the beliefs and values of Christianity. Course credits from government-accredited institutions should not be accepted by the church of God that requires spirit-controlled personnel.
Many denominations and some ecumenical groups have of recent criticized some aspects of government policy and their social consequences.
The Nigerian government, which is secular, should concentrate on providing full employment for her numerous unemployed citizens and attack seriously lack of want, sickness, ignorance and idleness. The Secular Government has no right to interfere with religious matters, but the church and religious organisations have the right to call upon the government to set her policy right for the benefit of all.
The government’s attention should not be distracted from her main responsibilities. Allow Christian fathers and church experts to manage the church while Christian experts and scholars evaluate, supervise, control and improve from time to time Christian education.
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A Crash Course in Theology?
No!!!
The teaching and learning must be THOROUGH
Attend only accredited and recognized Bible and Theological Colleges
Planning to study THEOLOGY?
Make the BEST CHOICE
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