Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary (APNTS) is a graduate-level theological institution located near Metro Manila in the Philippines. APNTS is a seminary in the Wesleyan theological tradition and affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene through its Division of World Mission. Its mission is to prepare "men and women for Christ-like leadership and excellence in ministries." Its institutional vision is: "Bridging cultures for Christ, APNTS equips each new generation of leaders to disseminate the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout Asia, the Pacific, and the world.
Academics Accreditation and validation Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary is accredited by the Asia Theological Association (ATA) until 2011, the Philippine Association of Bible and Theological Schools (PABATS), and the Association for Theological Education in South East Asia (ATESEA). APNTS (04005 PS) is recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd), Republic of the Philippines to offer the following degrees: Master of Science in theology (048.1988), Master of Arts in Religious Education (048.1988), Master of Divinity (048.1988), Bachelor of Theology (048.1988) and Master of Arts in Christian Communication (030.1997). The Commission of Immigration and Deportation, Ministry of Justice, Republic of the Philippines, has approved APNTS as an educational institution for non-immigrant students.
Since 1984 APNTS has been a partner in the Asia Graduate School of Theology (AGST), Philippines, which offers Master of Theology (Th. M.), Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.), Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Doctor of Missiology (D.Miss.), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) programs. APNTS is a member of the Philippine Association of Graduate Education. APNTS is a member of the International Association of Methodist-related Schools, Colleges, and Universities (IAMSCU).semm-z.html e International Association of Methodist-related Schools, Colleges, and Universities gbhem.org
APNTS also participates with other institutions of the Church of the Nazarene through the International Board of Education (IBOE) in a validation program for preparation for ordination in the Church of the Nazarene.Validation apnts.org
Degrees offered APNTS welcomes students from a variety of denominational backgrounds and affiliations. The Seminary actively aims to foster a holistic faith community where diversity of cultures is celebrated, and gender equality in leadership and opportunity is embraced.
APNTS offers a broad selection of degree programs. At Masters level, the Seminary offers:
Master of Arts in Religious Education Master of Science in Theology Master of Arts in Christian Communication Master of Divinity Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies
At doctoral level, the Seminary offers:
Doctor of Ministry in Transformational Ministry PhD in Holistic Child Development PhD in Transformational Learning PhD in Transformational Development
Student awards and prizes The Frederick Buechner prizes for Excellence in Preaching and Excellence in Writing are awarded annually to students who have demonstrated merit in these two particular areas. The awards are named in honor of the acclaimed American theologian and author, Frederick Buechner.
Governance and administration Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary is incorporated legally as a corporation in the Republic of the Philippines. Governance of APNTS is tasked by the articles of incorporation to the board of trustees who are elected usually every four years by members of the Church of the Nazarene in the Asia-Pacific Region. Ex-officio members are the APNTS President, Regional Director of the Asia-Pacific Region of the Church of the Nazarene, and the Regional Director of the Eurasia Region of the Church of the Nazarene. Members from each of the following fields of the Church of the Nazarene are elected to represent their geographic areas: Australia-New Zealand, Chinese Ministries, Japan, Korea, Melanesia (including Papua New Guinea), the Philippines, Sealands, South Asia, South East Asia, and South Pacific. The board of trustees meets annually in Manila, usually prior to the annual graduation ceremony in late March or early April, and elects from within its own group a chairperson, vice-chairperson, secretary and treasurer (the latter two being citizens of the Philippines as required by Philippine law). Administration of APNTS is tasked by the articles of incorporation to the President of APNTS, who is a member of the Church of the Nazarene, and the administrative council. The president is a member of the Church of the Nazarene elected by the board of trustees usually for a four-year term. The administrative council is nominated by the president and approved by the board of trustees. Dr Floyd T. Cunningham served as interim president of APNTS since 29 October 2007, but was elected unanimously as the fifth president in June 2008.
History Foundation and presidency of Donald D. Owens (1977–1984) As early as 1948 (three years after the establishment of Nazarene Theological Seminary (NTS) in Kansas City, Missouri), there was a suggestion to establish a Nazarene seminary in Asia. In the mid-1970s, General Superintendent Eugene Stowe and Director of the World Mission Department of the Church of the Nazarene Jerald Johnson articulated the need for a graduate-level theological seminary for the denomination in Asia. On 19 January 1977 the General Board of the Church of the Nazarene approved a plan to establish a Far Eastern Nazarene Theological Semiinary (subsequently called Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary) to serve the Asia and Pacific regions of the church because of the particular needs of the church in that part of the world. Donald Owens, Professor of Missions at Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City and formerly a missionary to Korea, was elected to head the new seminary, which would become the first master's-level theological institution of the Church of the Nazarene located outside the United States.
After considerable discussion, in June 1978 the Board of General Superintendents approved Johnson's recommendation to locate APNTS in Manila, as it was hoped by Johnson that the cosmopolitan setting would provide models for evangelism for the other major cities of Asia and the Pacific. The Church of the Nazarene had directed its attentions to Metro Manila since 1976. Other considerations in favor of Manila were its proximity to an international airport and the possibility of its international students finding opportunities for ministry to their own people in the cosmopolitan area. Johnson and Owens decided to purchase the Children's Garden orphanage run by the Methodist church and formerly owned by the wealthy Tamayo family. The location consisted of 11 acres (4.5 hectares) that included a centrally located chapel, a two-story crafts center, 15 dormitory cottages, a gymnasium, and an office building. The purchase was completed in early 1979. However, changes in administrative responsibilities after the general assembly of June 1980, which resulted in Johnson's election as one of the six general superintendents, and L. Guy Nees being elected as the new director of World Mission, and the subsequent appointment of Owens as director of the Asia Region, caused some reappraisal of the siting of APNTS in Manila. Ultimately, at the instigation of Owens and Johnson, and the recommendation of Nees, it was decided that APNTS would be located in Manila after all.
Beginning in January 1980, extension seminars of two fortnight-long intensive modules were held in January each year, involving several NTS professors as well as Angelito Agbuya, pastor of the Angeles City, Philippines, Church of the Nazarene. Owens and Willard Taylor, dean of NTS, taught the initial two modules, and other NTS professors (including Paul Bassett and Paul Orjala) taught in subsequent years. Students represented various countries in the Asia and South Pacific regions
Owens moved to Manila in 1980 and began arguing that APNTS ought to be a distinct entity, rather than an extension of NTS. As extension classes were held over the next few years, general church leaders decided that the new seminary should become autonomous from NTS, with its own board of trustees and corporate identity. On 22 September 1982, upon the recommendation of Owens, the World Mission Division officially renamed the school Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary.
In preparation for the opening of a residential program, Owens searched for faculty members. Owens saw the necessity of developing a resident and increasingly Asian and Pacific faculty, which could apply the church's theology to the contexts of the students. On 27 September 1982, the Board of General Superintendents approved a faculty nominated by Owens that included two Asians and two Westerners: Ronald Beech, missionary in the Philippines since 1962, who had completed a doctorate at Asia Baptist Graduate Theological Seminary in Baguio; Angelito Agbuya, pastor of the growing Angeles City church, and taking doctoral work in education; Alexander Verughese, a native of India, then teaching at Eastern Nazarene College and completing his doctorate at Drew University in Old Testament; and Floyd Cunningham, a doctoral candidate in history at Johns Hopkins University. Verguhese later withdrew due to his health, and Agbuya decided to remain in Angeles City and teach at APNTS only part-time. Consequently, Beech was responsible for setting up the camps, writing the first catalogue, and establishing a curriculum based on that offered by NTS.
The existing buildings on the campus were renovated for student and faculty living, and a new two-storey administration and classroom building (now named Owens Hall in honour of the founding president) was constructed. The ground-breaking ceremony was held on 6 January 1983. The first Work and Witness team to serve at APNTS came in January 1983 from Australia to renovate one of the wooden cottages to be used as a dormitory for male students, while Agbuya taught in one of the modules.
On 3 August 1983, the Commission on Immigration and Deportation, Department of Justice, Republic of the Philippines, gave its approval for APNTS to begin as an educational institution for non-immigrant students. Floyd Cunningham arrived 5 November 1983, having just completed the defence of his doctoral dissertation and regular classes began on 14 November 1983 with three full-time and 20 part-time students, all from the Philippines. The faculty included Owens, Agbuya, Dr. Ronald and Mrs. Neva Beech (long-time missionaries in the Philippines), and Dr. Floyd Cunningham. The seminary was formally dedicated and the faculty installed on 15 January 1984. Owens chose the motto of the school, "Bridging cultures for Christ," and the school's logo. Mrs Neva Beech suggested the school hymn, "In Christ There is No East or West",Some Reflections apnts.edu.ph which was based on Matthew 8:11. Soon after, Owens resigned as president of APNTS as he felt that maintaining both jobs, regional director of Asia and president of the school, was too much.
Presidency of E. LeBron Fairbanks (1984–1989) In April 1984, E. LeBron Fairbanks, formerly academic dean of European Nazarene Bible College and at the time teaching at Southern Nazarene University, was elected president of the seminary by the Board of General Superintendents. He began serving in the office in July 1984, and he and his wife Anne and son Stephen moved to Manila later that year. Fairnbanks would continue as the second president of APNTS until July 1989, at which time he accepted election as president of Mt Vernon Nazarene College.