Veritas

Veritas Bible College & Theological Seminary (VBCTS) is a ministry of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Heber Springs, Arkansas.  Through a combination of traditional classroom learning, independent study, and church-based pastoral mentoring, VBCTS provides a theologically sound, affordable, and family-friendly option for ministry preparation. 

 

 

It is the firm conviction of the VBCTS board of directors that preparation for ministry to the church should be supported by the church and conducted in a way that keeps the candidate in the church.  To that end, VBCTS offers the following degree programs:

 

·         Bible College

o   Associate of Christian Studies (A.C.S.)

o   Bachelor of Christian Studies (B.C.S.)

 

·         Theological Seminary

o   Master of Ministry (M.Min.)

o   Master of Divinity (M.Div.)

o   Master of Theology (Th.M.)

o   Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.)

o   Doctor of Theology (Th.D.)

           

     All VBCTS degree programs are taught from a historically Reformed perspective, emphasizing what are commonly called the Five Solas of the Protestant Reformation: Sola Scriptura, Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, Solus Christus, and Soli Deo Gloria.  These Latin phrases are best summarized as teaching that, based on the Scripture Alone as our ultimate authority in life and practice, we believe that salvation is by Grace Alone through Faith Alone in Christ Alone to the Glory of God Alone.

           

Each VBCTS degree program is designed to cultivate the ideal of a pastor-scholar, one who is competent in both the soft and hard skills of ministry.  Such men must be trained in nurturing a congregation as a shepherd and handling the Word of God as an able expositor and teacher.  With this goal in mind, the following components define each degree program:

 

1.      Monthly Seminars: Each seminar consists of five interactive lectures on a topic of pastoral concern, as well as worship and preaching labs where students receive hands-on instruction and constructive input.

 

2.      Independent Reading and Lecture: Through appropriate mini-courses involving reading key books and listening to lectures by other pastor-scholars, students receive instruction in the following core ministry areas:

a.       Scripture Survey

b.      Systematic Theology

c.       Historical Theology

d.      Biblical Theology

e.       Church History

f.       Biblical Languages

g.      Hermeneutics

h.      Homiletics

i.        Liturgics

j.        Biblical Counseling

k.      Ethics

l.        Apologetics

m.    Evangelism

n.      Spiritual Formation

o.      Church Administration

 

3.      Ministry Practicum: Through the venue of their local church, students apply what they are learning in a supervised, practical manner.

 

4.      Ministry Project (M.Min., M.Div., and D.Min. only): For those with a ministry emphasis in their program, the project provides the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to prepare and present ministry-related materials for their home congregation.

 

5.      Thesis or Dissertation (Th.M. and Th.D. only): For those with a research emphasis in their program, the thesis or dissertation provides the opportunity to demonstrate the ability to make an original contribution to the theological field.