The following update is from Russell Duke, the president of Grace Communion Seminary (GCS).
Hallelujah! I am thrilled to announce that Grace Communion Seminary has been accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). Here is the first paragraph from the letter we received from DETC President Michael P. Lambert:
The Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council met June 15, 2012, and it is a pleasure to advise that the Commission granted accreditation to Grace Communion Seminary for a period of three years. We extend warm congratulations to you and your staff on this initial grant of accreditation.
This accredited status is effective immediately, and applies to all courses offered by GCS. The Accrediting Commission of DETC is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency. The Commission is also a recognized member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The DETC report listing Grace Communion Seminary (under “One Institution Gains Accreditation”), can be viewed by clicking here. The DETC report states that GCS was founded in 1947. This is due to the fact that Grace Communion Seminary is a business name of Ambassador College.
This outside accreditation helps to assure quality of education by establishing minimum standards for education that must be adhered to by all its approved institutions. It provides a venue for peer accountability among online educational institutions and public accountability for consumer protection. It also provides greater opportunity for transfer of credit from GCS into other accredited institutions (though please note that it is the student’s responsibility to seek approval for transfer from the receiving institution if they want to transfer units, as is the case for students from all educational institutions).
We pray that accreditation will prove to be a valuable step forward for the church and for GCS, as we seek to promote Trinitarian theology and better prepare lay persons and pastors for ministry. The DETC letter closed with the following welcome:
Again, congratulations to you and your staff on the accreditation of Grace Communion Seminary. We look forward to a long and beneficial relationship with you and your colleagues in the years ahead.
We thank God for his favor and celebrate his blessing and the gift of his Spirit to participate in the life of Jesus Christ. Thanks for the direction given by Dr. Tkach and the Board, the hard work of our Dean Dr. Michael Morrison, the entire faculty, our Registrar Susan Earle, and the GCI support staff for their contributions on the journey. And thanks to all the students who have been such a great support through this process of accreditation for Grace Communion Seminary.
Hello team,
This is great news! I praise God for the work that He is doing in you and through those who are involved in Grace Communion Seminary. This accreditation process meant much work. We know that every step was worth it.. This is a great blessing to our denomination!
More blessings!
Eugene
Congratulations to all involved with GCS! May this help provide a new generation of leaership for GCI as many of us present ministers are aging and retiring.
Dear Russell and Mike,
Please accept my congratulations as well! This is great news indeed! Perhaps my faith is weak [thankfully, I don’t have to depend on my faith, but His] but I continue to be amazed at the dynamic way God’s hands lead GCI. I have always believed that there was a special place in the Body of Christ for the RCG, then WCG and now finally GCI. It has been a “long and winding road” but praise God, his love and patience endures forever! Congratulations again and KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!
This is wonderful news! Please let me know if this accredation applies to the ACCM program as well. If not, will the ACCM program be intergrated as a component of the GCI Seminary Program? Thank you.
Thanks for your comment Ada. The accreditation of Grace Communion Seminary (GCS) does NOT apply in any way to Ambassador College of Christian Ministry (ACCM). ACCM in non-accredited and has no direct tie-in with GCS. Taking ACCM classes, while helpful for ministry preparation, does not provide academic credits that fulfill GCS acceptance requirements. Please see the GCS website to learn about such requirements.
Congratulations! We celebrate with you. Thanks God!