{"id":57956,"date":"2023-08-15T15:34:24","date_gmt":"2023-08-15T15:34:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cogic.org\/education\/?p=57956"},"modified":"2023-12-09T05:59:51","modified_gmt":"2023-12-09T05:59:51","slug":"what-you-should-know-about-the-chmts-and-pts-memorandum-of-agreement-signing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cogic.org\/education\/what-you-should-know-about-the-chmts-and-pts-memorandum-of-agreement-signing\/","title":{"rendered":"What you should know about the CHMTS and PTS Memorandum of Agreement Signing"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]August 14th <\/sup>signified a historic moment, with the ceremonial signing of the memorandum of agreement between the Pentecostal Theological Seminary and the Charles Harrison Mason Theological Seminary.\u00a0 The announcement of this event may have come by surprise to many; however, it was a necessary movement in efforts to secure the future of CHMTS and our students, due to recent events within the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC).[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]On April 17, 2023, the Interdenominational Theological Center issued a press release announcing that their Board of Trustees have declared that the school had reached a state of financial exigency [1<\/a>, 2<\/a>] <\/sup>. According to the press release, \u201cFinancial exigency is a term used by institutions to indicate a state of significant financial crisis that requires immediate and significant corrective action to ensure the sustainability of the institution<\/em>.\u201d Although they indicated that ITC was not closing, they would be forced to take immediate action to sustain the institution. Those measures would include suspending courses and not allowing enrollment for the Master’s programs in Fall 2023.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”57983″ img_size=”large”][\/vc_column][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]This sudden announcement created a significant challenge for our current CHMTS students.\u00a0 They would have to decide to make one of the following decisions: 1) pause their academic progress for 12-18 months in hopes that the exigency would get resolved, 2) agree to a proposed teach-out plan developed by ITC with an alternative seminary that contracted with the ITC (these partner institutions were not HBCUs), or 3) find another seminary to attend on their own.\u00a0 ITC presented these options near the end of their spring semester, so they did not have much time to decide.<\/p>\n

As the Presiding Bishop became aware of this situation, he asked the Education Commissioner to develop an exploratory committee that could identify options to keep our students from having any interruption of their educational pursuits.\u00a0 This committee included: Bishop Chadwick Carlton, the Commissioner of the Education Commission, Bishop John Mark Richardson, Bishop David Daniels, Bishop Matthew Brown, Bishop Antoine Shaw, and Dr. Monica Clayton.\u00a0 Over the next several weeks, this team worked tirelessly to research and vet potential options and negotiate concessions that would benefit those who desired to continue their education there.\u00a0 The committee also communicated with the Chairman of the CHMTS Board of Trustees, as the committee deemed appropriate.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”57969″ img_size=”large”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]The committee’s objective was to find a partner institution that would allow the preservation of the CHMTS name and identity, align with our theological values, and support our efforts to become an accredited seminary.\u00a0 Upon review of several seminaries and universities, both HBCUs and non-HBCUs, the Pentecostal Theological Seminary agreed to all of the committee’s requests and offered the best opportunity for CHMTS students.\u00a0 Additionally, students would obtain a high-quality theological education for nearly half the cost of ITC, with additional scholarships also offered.\u00a0 Considering these concessions, the committee unanimously voted to pursue this collaboration.\u00a0 The committee presented its findings and recommendations to the Presiding Bishop and General Board.\u00a0 After the post-presentation remarks, they also found this collaboration to be favorable, and it was approved by a majority vote.\u00a0 Subsequently, an emergency meeting with the CHMTS Board of Trustees was held to discuss the committee’s intention to move forward with the PTS partnership, considering ITC’s current state.\u00a0 The committee then moved swiftly to solidify the agreement between CHMTS and PTS and ensure that the students could secure enrollment for the Fall 2023 semester.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]This collaborative partnership forges an excellent opportunity for the advancement of Global Pentecostalism.\u00a0 The Church of God In Christ and the Church of God have more in common than many may realize.\u00a0 After, the signing ceremony, the Presiding Bishop and delegates were invited to a campus tour.\u00a0 Throughout the tour, the Executive Branch of Bishops pointed out references on their campus that connected to the events of the Azusa Street revival.\u00a0 They also shared how the Founder of their denomination was also present at the Azusa Street revival.\u00a0 The appreciation and respect for Bishop Charles Harrison Mason and his impact was evident from many, even among faculty members, who have authored books dedicated to Bishop C.H. Mason.\u00a0 As the tour continued to the library, we were informed that students also have access to books authored by COGIC writers and scholars.\u00a0 The influence of the Church of God In Christ has been an important component of their library for many years.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”57964″ img_size=”large”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]Current and prospective students now have the opportunity to obtain one of several master’s level graduate programs, two doctorate programs, and an accelerated two-year bachelor\u2019s equivalent certificate program (for those who desire to obtain a master\u2019s degree but do not have an undergraduate degree).<\/p>\n

These programs include:<\/p>\n