Association of Christian Theological Schools

ACTS is an auxiliary of the Kerygma Educational Network that serves Christian institutions delivering competency‑based distance education.

Creedal fidelity

Apostles' & Nicene.

Outcomes first

Competencies over seat‑time.

Faculty + mentors

For contextual learning.

Built for online

And hybrid delivery.

Our Mission

Strengthening schools that form faithful leaders through competency‑based distance education.

Faith & Doctrine

Apostles' and Nicene Creeds anchor biblical teaching and practice.

Competency Frameworks

Transparent outcomes, shared rubrics, and demonstrable mastery.

Student Support

Advising, mentoring, equitable access, and clear grievance paths.

Integrity & Improvement

Financial transparency and cyclical review for genuine quality.

Standards (Eight Areas)

Governance & Mission, Competency Frameworks, Faculty & Mentors, Curriculum & Learning Design, Assessment & Evaluation, Student Support, Financial Integrity, Continuous Improvement.

Governance & Mission

Nonprofit status, board oversight, clear theological mission.

Competency Frameworks

Public outcome maps and published graduate capabilities.

Faculty & Mentors

Qualified faculty and practice mentors with ongoing development.

Curriculum & Delivery

Online‑ready design, structured interaction, contextual ministry work.

Assessment & Evidence

Portfolios, projects, supervised practice, mastery thresholds.

Student Support

Advising, accessibility policies, timely feedback.

Financial Integrity

Clear tuition/fees, no misleading claims, annual budgeting.

Continuous Improvement

3‑year internal reviews, 5‑year external reviews, public reporting.

Membership Pathways

Three ways to participate in the ACTS ecosystem.

Candidate Member

Early‑stage or transitioning institutions; up to three years.

  • Eligibility for peer learning

  • Standards gap analysis

  • Transition support

Accredited Member

Full compliance with ACTS standards; five‑year cycle.

  • Full recognition status

  • Reciprocal agreements

  • Quality assurance

Affiliate Partner

Training centers aligned with values; no degree programs.

  • Network participation

  • Resource sharing

  • Pathway development

Reciprocity

Members agree to recognize competency demonstrations (portfolios, supervised projects) for transfer, admission, or advanced standing across ACTS schools.

Doctrinal Baseline

Apostles' Creed and Nicene Creed as the shared confession.

Accreditation Process

1

Application

Institutional profile, doctrinal statement, competency maps, faculty roster, finances.

2

Candidacy Review

Eligibility check; candidate status if foundational elements are present.

3

Accreditation Review

Documented evidence, portfolio sampling, virtual/on‑site evaluation as needed.

4

Decision

Accredited, Candidate (continued), Probation, or Denial; five‑year cycle for accredited schools.

Fees & Renewal

Application
$300 (non‑refundable)
Annual Membership
$300 (all members)
Accreditation Review
$500 (initial & 5‑year)
Affiliate Partner
$150 (annual)
Reinstatement
$100 (60+ days overdue)

Resources

Download foundational documents and share with your board or faculty.

Articles of Affiliation (PDF)

Constitutional charter and governance.

Standards & Operational Manual (PDF)

Practical procedures, review cycle, fees.

Accreditation Checklist (PDF)

Step-by-step guide for applicants.

Apply for Membership

Start the candidacy review by submitting your institutional profile, doctrinal statement, competency maps, faculty roster, and financials.

  • Download the checklist (PDF)

  • Prepare evidence for each standard

  • Submit via the submission page with application fee

Maximum 600 characters

Accepted: PDF, DOCX, DOC, XLSX, CSV, ZIP (max 25MB each, max 5 files)