Welcome to Schools of Mission

SEATS Grad 2019

Equipping Functional Churches for Effective Ministry

SEATS provides accredited, accessible theological education to develop leaders for the modern church—wherever they are.

[Learn About Our Programs]


Who We Are

South East Asian Theological Schools, Inc. (SEATS) is a pastoral training institution established in 1986 with a clear, powerful vision.

  • Our Vision: SEATS Envisions a global church that is functionally mature, missionally engaged, and practically equipped to overcome evil with good in every context.
  • Our Mission: SEATS’ Mission is to develop functional leaders and churches through contextualized, practical theological education. We serve a global network by being a center for applied theology, equipping the church in Asia and beyond for mission and ministry.
  • Our Core Identity: SEATS operates as a Centre for Applied Theology in Asia, where theology is deeply contextualized to address the unique challenges of the region. Our framework is built on the conviction that all theology must be practical, and all practice must be theological. We develop Asian solutions for Asian challenges, empowering the church to be a functional agent of God’s redemption in its specific cultural and social context.

We were founded to serve churches affiliated with the Baptist Conference of the Philippines and have grown into a global network, welcoming all churches in need of rigorous, missional training. SEATS is a proud member of the International Council for Higher Education.


How We Equip Churches: Schools of Mission (SOM)

The primary vehicle for our mission is our Schools of Mission (SOM). We partner with local churches across South East Asia and the world to bring theological education directly to leaders in their context.

SOMs are designed to be:

  • Collaborative: Held in partnership with local churches.
  • Accessible: Bringing training to leaders where they live and serve.
  • Practical: Focused on real-world application for immediate impact.

Academic Programs for Every Stage of Your Journey

SEATS offers a clear pathway for ministerial education, from foundational training to doctoral studies. All our programs are accredited by the International Council for Higher Education.

Your Starting Point SEATS Program Outcome
No matter your starting point, SEATS has a path for you. If you have some college education or less, our Graduate Diploma of Ministry is designed to help you build a strong, practical foundation for effective ministry.

For those who have already completed an undergraduate degree, our Master of Ministry (M.Min.) in Missional Ecclesiology will help you deepen your theological understanding and enhance your leadership skills for greater impact.

If you hold a Master's degree and are ready to pursue the highest level of practical training, our Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) in Missional Ecclesiology will equip you to become an expert in leading and transforming churches for the future.

[Explore Detailed Program Curriculum & Requirements]


Global Learning, Local Impact

While our roots are in the Philippines, our reach is global.

  • Our Legacy: Pre-COVID, we held on-site classes in the Philippines (Ortigas, Molave, Burias), Thailand, and the USA.
  • Our New Reality: The pandemic propelled us into a new era of digital connectivity. Since May 2020, we have successfully conducted classes via Zoom.
  • Our Expanded Reach: This shift has allowed us to expand our constituency to serve a vibrant, growing community of Filipino church leaders across the Philippines, Thailand, the USA, and Canada.

We are committed to breaking down geographical barriers to provide world-class education.


Ready to Develop Your Ministry?

Take the next step in your calling. SEATS is here to equip you with the knowledge and skills to lead a functional, impactful church.

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WHAT'S NEW

SEATS 2024 Class Schedule

Here is the SEATS 2024 Schedule for interested GradDip, MMin, & DMin in Missional Ecclesiology students.

June 29, Dr. Michael J. Fast's Missional Ecclesiology: Frameworks for Functional Churehes in Society will be held in person in New Westminster, BC, Canada.

July 20, Dr. Michael J. Fast's Missional Ecclesiology: Frameworks for Functional Churches in Society will be
held in person in Winnipeg, MB, Canada.

August 1st & 3rd weeks, Dr. Cesar Punzalan's Theology of Priesthood will be held via Zoom.

SEATS has a New Online Library for Student & Faculty Use

SEATS is happy to announce that we now have online library access thanks to the Global Digital Theological Library. This gives both students and faculty access to 300,000+ books, 15,000,000+ articles, and 11,000+ journals. Contact the Dean to gain access.

For help on using the Global DTL, please see this How to Use the Global DTL page

2 SEATS programs accredited by the International Council for Higher Education!

SEATS is pleased to announce that two of it's programs are now accredited by the International Council for Higher Education. A team from ICHE visited SEATS in Sept 2023 to evaluate SEATS programs for accreditation. Part of their evaluation included talking with stakeholders, leaders, faculty, students, and alumni. In the end, the team recommended provisionary accreditation for two programs: The Master of Ministry in Missional Ecclesiology and the Doctor of Ministry in Missional Ecclesiology.

Students

Here is some essential information and guidelines for SEATS students throughout their academic journey.

1. Introduction to the Institution: See our About SEATS page.

2. Academic Policies: Information about academic regulations, grading systems, credit requirements, and policies related to academic integrity and plagiarism.

3. Degree Requirements and Course Descriptions: See our Academics page.

SEATS Represented at BCP's 1st Pastor's Summit in Lapu-lapu City

SEATS was happy to join in the 1st ever Baptist Conference of the Philippines Pastor's Summit, held Feb 8-9, 2023, in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu. SEATS Chairman and President, Bishop Cesar Punzalan III gave a short history of BCP on the first day. On Day 2, SEATS Academic VP and Dean, Dr. Michael Fast, presented SEATS' two core teachings on Theology of Evil and the Functional Church. If you are joining us from the Summit, please take a look here.

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