Draft:Forge Theological Seminary

Forge Theological Seminary (FTS) is a theological seminary in the Reformed and Evangelical theological traditions. FTS situates its theological traditions by affirming multiple doctrines, including: The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy, The Nashville Statement, The Danvers Statement, The Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel, The Five Solas of the Protestant Reformation, The Apostles', Nicene, Chalcedonian, and Athanasian Creeds, and The Confessional Statement of the Biblical Counseling Coalition. The institution was founded in 2015 and delivers its degree programs primarily through distance learning.

Leadership

FTS is governed by an all male board of trustees exercising oversight through its administration. In addition to participating in regular meetings, trustees oversee the seminary's educational programs, staff and faculty, and financial dealings. Michael Burgos is the FTS President.

Academics

FTS is a non-profit corporation registered in the state of South Carolina under its higher education religious exemption. The programs of study are offered courses are delivered via a learning management system and involve completing readings, watching lectures, writing assignments, and often completing a research paper while under the oversight of a member of our faculty. Student tuition is paid through a subscription-based financial model, resulting in students who complete coursework faster to pay lower fees over time.

Accreditation

FTS is not accredited through any regional or faith-based accreditation bodies. The institution acknowledges the lack of accreditation is due to several reasons: a belief that theological education belongs to the church and not the state, assurances students do not have to take on debt, and not equating recognized accreditation with either legitimacy or faithfulness to Christ.

FTS is a Certified Training Center with the International Association of Biblical Counselors.

While FTS is unaccredited, student credit transfers as possible. The seminary has entered into an articulation agreement with Master's International University of Divinity (MIUD) which affords FTS students and graduates transferability and a significant discount for MIUD's courses and programs.

Programs of Study

FTS's institutional focus is training students, particularly within the Reformed tradition, to become pastors, missionaries, educators, and Christian counselors. FTS offers a range of degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels, as well as certificate programs. Through its online program of study, FTS offers an Associate of Theology (Th.A.) degree and a Bachelor of Theology (Th.B.) degree at the undergraduate level. At the graduate level, FTS offers a Master of Theology (M.Th.) degree, a Master of Christian Studies (M.C.S.) degree, a Master of Theological Studies in Biblical Counseling (M.T.S.) degree, a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree, and a Doctor of Theology (Th.D.) degree. FTS also offers a Certificate in Biblical Counseling (CBC) that leads to certification with the International Association of Biblical Counselors (IABC). All programs of study can be completed entirely online.

Faculty

The faculty at FTS is composed of men who serve as ministers, academics, apologists, biblical counselors, and Christian educators. The faculty includes Michael Burgos, Ph.D., D.Min. (Cand.), Michael Beck, Ph.D., D.Min., Russell Threet, D.Pth., Th.D. (Cand.), Steven Mathews, Ph.D., D.Min., Clark Bates, Ph.D., Kevin Hay, D.Min., Christopher Johnson, Ph.D. (Cand.), Anthony Jolly, D.Ed.Min (Cand.), Michael Shultz, D.Min., Chris Chumita, M.A., Daniel Ruben, Th.M. (Cand.), Jeremy Dennis, M.Div., Steven Veach, Th.D., Noah King, M.A., and Lucas Vieira, M.L.S.