Institutional Mission and History
Table of Contents

Mission
The mission of the Association of Reformed Theological Seminaries is to bring glory to God, to contribute to the building up of His Body and the progress of His Kingdom, and to preserve and advance the reformed tradition by providing a context where member institutions can hold one another accountable for fulfilling their individual stated purposes.

This mission is accomplished through accreditation of member institutions and the provision of opportunities and services for mutual edification and encouragement among those schools.

History
The Association of Reformed Theological Seminaries was organized in the fall, 1999, through the cooperation of leaders from seven Reformed theological seminaries. United in their belief that existing accreditation models had not proven effective in helping to sustain a clear mission and high degree of excellence among institutions of higher learning in America, especially among institutions having their roots in the Christian community, and that a specific accreditation model was needed to help preserve and advance Reformed theological education, these leaders committed to study, discuss, and develop a new accrediting institution. Beginning in the summer, 1998 and working steadily through the next fifteen months, they met in plenary sessions and task forces to define the standards, develop the model, and begin the work of implementing the accreditation paradigm for theological seminary education herein described. The first institutions were admitted to Candidacy status in the faIl, 1999.

Members of the Association of Reformed Theological Seminaries nominate representatives to serve in three-year classes as a working guild to preserve and promote the mission of Reformed seminary training and the progress of the Kingdom of God on earth.

The Association is governed by a Board of Directors to which it reports annually.

Chapter 2