The General Synod of the Reformed Churches in South Africa gave a clear task to the Curators of the Theological School in 2023
- Develop the GTA (Reformed Theological Academy) to its full potential
- The RTA must develop and accredit qualification types and programs necessary for the training needs of the GKSA and RTA.
The RTA is indeed still in its infancy and is experiencing a growth phase that will last for some time. There exists excellent expertise in the RTA’s management and staff, ensuring that the RTA is institutionally and functionally built with integrity.
This is necessary so that the situation can be managed when the agreement with the NWU ends in 2026.
Challenges with accreditation
Accreditation enables students to obtain a degree that recognises the quality and integrity of their studies and provides access to postgraduate studies.
Initially, the plan was to register and accredit with the South African education authorities. However, the possibilities and desirability of doing so have been compromised for several reasons. A proposed amendment to the education structures published in the Government Gazette sets requirements that, among other things, mean the RTA will not be able to award degrees indefinitely.
To avoid government interference and regulation, an investigation is currently being conducted into the desirability of seeking accreditation from the government or rather obtaining accreditation from international academic governing bodies.
Ultimately, a unique opportunity presented itself. An agreement of Academic Cooperation between the RTA and a theological seminary in America, namely the Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary (PRTS), offers our students the possibility of obtaining their accredited degree in Reformed theology.
In America and Canada (as in many other countries), the state does not accredit church theological education. The ATS, as an independent and recognized accrediting agency, does this.
Currently, there are 270 theological training institutions affiliated with the ATS. Each institution that affiliates with the ATS must have its programs meet the accreditation requirements of the Commission on Accrediting. The academic standards applied are equivalent to those of the state. PRTS is committed to maintaining the rigorous standards and integrity of its ATS-accredited programs.
The degrees awarded by PRTS are internationally recognized: in the USA, in Canada, in Europe (for example, the Theological University of Apeldoorn, the Protestant Theological University), Asia, Australia, South America, Africa, and also in South Africa.
The RTA’s agreement with PRTS stipulates that qualifying RTA students can enroll in the MA program. This means that PRTS, based on the standards maintained by the RTA, provides sufficient recognition to the non-accredited church-specific theological education offered by the RTA, allowing our students to be admitted to the PRTS MA program. After a minimum of five years of study, our students will thus graduate with an MA degree awarded by PRTS.
The degrees offered by PRTS, including MAR, MDiv, ThM and PhD, are accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) in the United States and Canada. This accreditation ensures that the programs meet rigorous academic and theological standards
This partnership enables the RTA to develop its academic program and utilize the content and offerings of PRTS within the framework of this program.
It also creates space for the RTA to fully develop its own program and eventually obtain international or local accreditation.
Why PRTS?
Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary is a Reformed seminary located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It was founded in 1995 by the Heritage Reformed Congregations. Its mission is to prepare students to serve Christ and His church through biblical, spiritual, and practical training.
PRTS and its staff endorse the Three Forms of Unity and the Westminster Confession of Faith. Since 1998, the Free Reformed Churches of North America (FRCNA) have sent their theological students to PRTS. In its MDiv program, the institution also trains future ministers for churches belonging to the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council. The MDiv program was developed specifically for this purpose. The ThM and PhD programs are fully academically oriented, with strict admission requirements. The MAR is designed to provide more students access to postgraduate studies and thus also accommodates the admission of international students with non-accredited church-specific training. The MAR also includes language studies (Greek and Hebrew). Currently, PRTS has more than 500 students enrolled in all its programs.
INTERNATIONAL NETWORK
PRTS decided several years ago to build a network of partners worldwide. Already, 27 Reformed theological training institutions in 25 countries have been connected. The network creates the opportunity for shared learning that is cost-effective and sustainable, without compromising the Reformed foundation of the institutions or PRTS in any way.
PRTS does not impose its curriculum on its partners, but rather gives them the opportunity to compile their own curriculum that meets their requirements and context, and evaluates it together with its partners to ultimately provide recognition within its accreditation conditions.
Several additional benefits that arise from this partnership are as follows:
- RTA students gain access to PRTS’s online library with 300,000 books and 400,000 articles in their database.
- The RTA becomes part of a network of 27 Reformed training institutions worldwide.
- Our lecturers can also teach internationally through the PRTS network.
The curriculum in our own hands.
The Curators have supported and empowered the RTA with good decisions that made the development of structures and academic programs possible.
The RTA has compiled a curriculum that meets the training requirements of the GKSA and has been approved by the curators
This curriculum is developed within a framework of short courses that are structured to also meet the requirements set for PRTS’s accreditation.
The program belongs entirely to the RTA. PRTS also does not approve our content. However, they evaluate the academic quality together with us and then provide recognition for it.
The RTA’s program is composed of a first year of study that addresses specific needs as determined by the curators. This first-year program consists of short learning units or courses that are also made accessible and available to church members and others who wish to deepen and enrich themselves biblically and ecclesiastically. The Prospectus is available on the RTA’s website.
This is followed by a four-year program in which theological subjects are packaged within a framework. In this framework, we utilize offerings from PRTS and our doctors and experts. All these courses are recognized by PRTS.
At the end of the fifth year of study, PRTS awards a Master of Arts degree to successful students, and the RTA recognizes the successful completion of the program by awarding a Licentiate in Theology. The sixth and final year of training is a church year for which the Candidate Certificate is awarded by the Theological School.
Currently, temporary lecturers from the GKSA are being used because the professors who were called, due to their contractual obligations with the NWU, could not obtain permission to undertake this teaching work.
The development of the courses takes place in collaboration with the Theological School and the Curators.
The temporary lecturers are appointed from a list approved by the Curators and they link up with the Theological School. The GKSA students who study theology at the RTA are also reviewed by the curators and also register with the Theological School.
The RTA officially began training its first-year theological students on February 3rd. Ten students were reviewed by the Curators and sent to the RTA for training.
In addition, 46 students, mostly from the GKSA, have enrolled in some of our courses. Currently, all our theological students are in full-time professions, and all classes are offered online.
However, our campus is in Potchefstroom, and classes are expected to be offered and facilitated there in the future.
The development of the RTA is an ongoing process, and every year the student numbers, and with them the capacity (including part-time, temporary, and permanent lecturers and staff), should grow and the course content should be developed.
Rev CA Jansen and Dr D Lartz
Chairman of the RTA Board and Chairman of the Curators
