BMA SEMINARY: What about Accreditation?

By Dr. Philip Attebery, President • BMA Theological Seminary

Not long after realizing I needed to gain a seminary education, I began considering which school to attend. Since my home church is affiliated with the Baptist Missionary Association, the BMA Seminary seemed like an obvious choice. So, I leaned heavily toward attending the BMA Seminary. However, before making the final commitment, I wanted to know the answer to one more question, “Is BMA Seminary accredited?” I felt like an accredited school would help ensure that I received a quality education accepted by those who knew the difference between a genuine degree and a degree in name only.

I called the BMA Seminary and spoke with the school’s chief academic officer, Dr. Wilbur Benningfield. During the conversation, Dr. Benningfield affirmed that BMA Seminary was, indeed, accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), now known as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSOC).

Although that set my mind at ease, I honestly did not know what it meant. After serving nearly 25 years as BMA Seminary’s chief academic officer, I learned that not all accreditors are “recognized” accreditors. Many accrediting entities exist, but not all are recognized. Perhaps the easiest way to determine if an accrediting agency is recognized is to consult the Council for Higher Education Accreditation’s website (www.chea.org). Recognized accreditors will appear in the Directory of Recognized Accrediting Organizations. These include BMA Seminary’s accreditors — SACSCOC and the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS/COA).

Is an accredited seminary education all that important? It can be. Some employers, including churches, expect those they hire to hold earned accredited degrees. Also, most graduate and post-graduate degree programs require accredited degrees as prerequisites to further study at their schools. For example, an accredited master’s degree is usually required as a prerequisite for admission into an accredited doctoral program.

The purpose of accreditation is not for accreditors to tell schools what they can or cannot teach. Instead, the primary purpose is to ensure that a school provides a quality education, handles finances with integrity and communicates accurately with its constituents. Having an accredited degree tells others you have earned a degree that has met the expected standards of quality.

There is benefit from studying God’s Word and work at any level if done correctly. BMA Seminary offers certificates and accredited associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees. These degrees are taught by highly credentialed professors and focus on equipping individuals for Christ-centered service and leadership roles in various church-related ministries. BMA Seminary holds an unwavering commitment to the authority of Scripture and teaches so as to nurture the historical and doctrinal character of churches in the BMA of America.