CLEN Accreditation

Emerge partners with the New Horizon Bible School to supply each of the 10 3-credit courses students will take during the Emerge program. These courses are supplied in partnership with the Christian Life Educator’s Network (CLEN) and the Christian Life School of Theology (CLST). Anyone is welcome to take these classes, but they are also included as a part of the Emerge program. (To learn more about taking classes apart from the Emerge program, click here.)

(The following is taken from the CLST Global website, accessible here.) Christian Life School of Theology Global (CLST Global) is known worldwide for its excellence as a School of Theology! CLST Global’s academic credibility and institutional validation are distinguished through its acceptance, accreditation and membership in the following quality-assurance organizations. CLST Global is associated with such agencies as the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (NPEC) and the International Association of Bible Colleges and Seminaries (IABCS).

International Association of Bible Colleges and Schools (IABCS).  The IABCS oversees and requires its member institutions to maintain the highest standards of academic excellence while providing certification for Bible colleges and Seminaries similar to that of other national and regional agencies.

The Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), the largest private educational governing organization in the world, has strict membership qualifications and guidelines. We are an official CEU Provider for ACSI.

The Association of Christian Distance Education (ACCESS).  Access provides its members leadership and cutting-edge resources unique to the field of Christian distance education.

The Academic Council for Educational Accountability (ACEA). ACEA provides credibility and accountability to members outside.  It is a network of diverse seasoned educators from Universities, Colleges, Ministry Schools and Training Centers from around the world.

CLEN is a membership network of independent schools, faculty, and students partnering together to equip and train effective servant leaders for the Kingdom of God. CLEN offers education consulting, and a standardized curriculum for Christian education and ministry training. CLEN sets academic standards for course delivery and completion. Members agree to abide by these common standards. CLEN course work, then, can be transferred between member schools, and is transferrable into the Christian Life School of Theology (CLST Global) in Columbus, Georgia.

Christian Life School of Theology Global (CLST Global) has met the requirements for exemption from applicable Georgia law as a religious institution under the provision of the Post-secondary Educational Authorization Act, Georgia Code 20-3-100 et seq. As a result, CLST Global is authorized to award a variety of Ministry Certificates, Diplomas and Degrees ranging from an Associate of Theology through a Doctor of Theology.

CLST Global is a member of the International Association of Bible Colleges and Seminaries. The IABCS is a standards-based certification association registered as an accreditation body. The IABCS provides certification that CLST Global adheres to standardized operating requirements in keeping with, and acceptable to, other institutions of higher education. Membership allows CLST Global to maintain its evangelical integrity, while operating according to the highest academic standards.

Questions about CLST Global and accreditation come up frequently and we are very knowledgeable with the subject.  It can be quite difficult to explain all the nuances of accreditation, so here is the “Readers Digest” overview:

Accreditation is all about accountability to educational standards and criterion in the context of peer institutions. There are several kinds of accreditation but they can be summarized under two headings: (1) Governmental Accreditation, and (2) Non-Governmental Accreditation. The US Department of Education itself accredits certain agencies, regional, national and professional.

CLST Global is an NGA, a non-governmental accredited educational institution. Although Governmental accreditation would enable us to offer professional degrees and student financial aid, neither of those two benefits serve our mission. Instead, we are associated with such agencies as the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (NPEC) and the International Association of Bible Colleges and Seminaries (IABCS). We also maintain professional associations with organizations such as the Association of Christians Schools International, the Academic Council for Educational Accountability, and the Association of Christian Distance Education. The articulation agreement we have with a regionally accredited University shows our course offerings and academic programs to be the very best – in fact, a world leader in Christian higher education programs and resources.

The bottom line is that NOT all education is equal, Government accredited or Non-Government accredited.  We are proud that CLST Global upholds the highest standards and practices of academic integrity and accountability.  You can be very proud of your educational accomplishments through CLST Global and the Christian Life Educators Network.

Existing and potential students often contact CLST Global asking about its accreditation. What they often mean, however, is whether or not CLST Global completion units are transferable. There is a difference with an entity that abides by a set of standards: i.e. accreditation, and transferability of completed course work.

CLST Global students have successfully transferred CLST Global completion units to many schools around the country, either by means of an assessment of prior learning or a specific articulation agreement. Every transfer, however, is at the full discretion of the receiving school. They decide if and how CLST Global completion units will contribute to the goal(s) of their program. It is important to remember that CLST Global completion units represent theological training and ministerial preparation. Not all schools are theologically friendly. A college of business, nursing, or education may not find that theological coursework will complement or transfer into their program. For this reason, it is very important that students begin with the end in mind. However, Christian universities often have a required “Bible core” for all majors. CLST Global completion units may transfer into that “core.” CLST Global is committed to the ongoing development of relationships with the top Christian universities in the world.