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ATU Brochure
ATU Application Form

The ATESEA Theological Union (ATU), originally the South East Asia Graduate School of Theology (SEAGST)  administers its D.Theol program in any of the following Centers for Theological Excellence (CTE) recognized by ATESEA:

1. Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies (Silang, Cavite, Philippines)
2. Divinity School of Chung Chi College (Hong Kong)
3. Duta Wacana Christian University (Yogyakarta, Indonesia)
4. Lutheran Theological Seminary (Hong Kong)
5. Myanmar Institute of Theology (Insein, Myanmar)
6. Sabah Theological Seminary (Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia)
7. Satya Wacana Christian University (Salatiga, Indonesia)
8. Sekolah Tinggi Teologi Jakarta (Jakarta, Indonesia)
9. Seminari Teoloji Malaysia (Seremban, Malaysia)
10. Tainan Theological College and Seminary (Taiwan
11. The Divinity School – Silliman University (Dumaguete City, Philippines)
12. Trinity Theological College (Singapore)

The aims of the Association for Theological Education in South East Asia are as follows:

1. To promote creative relationship among institutions and agencies engaged in theological education and the churches in the region.
2. To facilitate regional efforts in theological education in the service of the churches in South East Asia
3. To set guidelines and standards of theological education and to provide accreditation services to member – institutions and to others requesting it.
4. To work for the improvement and renewal of theological education in the region in such ways as it may deem appropriate.

1. Membership in the assosiation is open to institutions regularly engaged in training for Christian ministry in South East Asia and those institutions involved in theological education in South East Asia such as research and study center, lay training institutes, and theological education by extension centers.
2. Regular membership is open to aforementioned institution which are located within the South East Asia Region and participate actively in the programs of the association.Associate membership is open to institutions regularly engaged in training for Christian ministry outside of the South East Asia region which actively seek the help, and may contribute to the work of the association.Affiliate membership is open to institution regular engaged in training for Christian Ministry outside of the South East Asia region who porposely seek membership for fellowship with the member schools of the Assosiation without being committed to participating actively in its programs.
3. Application for membership is made to the Executive Director who will submit to the Membership Commission will shall act on such application subject to the confirmation of the Executive Committee or the General Assembly.
4. Each member shall pay annual dues as prescribed by the General Assembly, attend the sessions of the General Assembly, and paticipate in regional, sub-regional, area, or national consultations when invited.

1. The Association for Theological Education in South East Asia shall meet regularly in a general Assembly once every four years.
2. Ad hoc sessions of the General Assembly may be called by the Executive Committee of the association to consider such business as specified by the request for the meeting.
3. The general assembly is composed of the following:3.1 Heads of member-institutions or their delegated representatives (Regular and affiliate members are entitled to one official representation per institution).3.2 Representatives of churches in the region whose number and designation shall be determined by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Executive Committee.

   3.3 Guests and consultants whose number and designation shall be determined by the General Assembly or the Executive Committee.

4. Voting privileges shall be restricted to member institutions and representatives of churches (IV.3 (a) and (b) above).
5. The function of the General Assembly are as follows:5.1 To review the state of theological education in the region.5.2 To set policies, program-directions, and establish relationships in accordance with the aims of the Association.

   5.3 To authorize the establishment of long term theological education programs (such as the South East Asia Graduate School of Theology) and to provide for their operations.

   5.4 To authorize the establishment and composition of standing Commissions and Committees such as the Accreditation Commissions, etc. as it deems necessary to carry forward the aims of the Association. Where necessary church people or representatives from churches in the region may be included in the membership of these standing commission or committees.

1. The Resource Commission is an organ of the Association for Theological Education in South East Asia composed of representatives of Executive Committee, Churches, Fund Risers and representatives of Ecumenical Partners as consultants.
2. Purpose and Function:2.1 The purpose of the Resource Commission is to be an instrument of ATESEA in involving the churches to participate more deeply in the support of theological education and in coordinating the requests for and use of resources and funds.2.2 The function of the Resource Commission is to process and recommend funding requests from the Executive Committee of ATESEA and its member-institutions as well as from other institutions and agencies engaged in theological education in South East Asia.

   2.3 The Resource Commission shall fulfill its purpose and carry out its function in the light of the policies and directions of the General Assembly, and the program priorities an projects of the Executive Committee of ATESEA. (Note: see by-laws of Resource Commission for further details about its structure and operations).

1. The officers of the Association for the Theological Education in South East Asia shall be a Chairperson, a vice-Chairperson, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. They are to be elected by the General Assembly upon nomination of the Executive Committee. Should a vacancy occur in any of the offices between sessions of the General Assembly, the Executive Committee shall appoint a substitute who will serve until the next election. The Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson shall normally be heads of member-institutions or church people who are members of the General Assembly with experience in theological education.
2. The duties of the Officers are as follows:2.1 The Chairperson shall preside at sessions of the General Assembly and the Executive Committee and carry on interim business between meetings as may be appropriate and necessary.2.2 The Vice-Chairperson shall preside in the absence of Chairperson and assist in interim business meetings as may be appropriate and necessary.

   2.3 The Secretary shall take minutes of meetings of the Executive Committee and of the General Assembly and shall assist in interim business between meetings the financial matters as may be appropriate and necessary.

   2.4 The Treasurer shall be the Chairperson of the Finance Committee and assist in the finance matters.

3. There shall be an Executive Director appointed by the General Assembly upon nomination of the Executive Committee. He/She shall be the chief executive officer of the Association for Theological Education in South East Asia and he/she shall be accountable to the same.
4. The duties to the Executive Director include the following:4.1 He/She shall report to the Association in its General Assembly and annual meeting Executive Committee meetings.4.2 He/She will propose and implement plans and programes and promotes relationships approved by the Association through its General Executive and Commissions meetings.

   4.3 He/She shall be the Dean of the South East Asia Graduate School of Theology.

   4.4 He/She shall organize the General and Executive meetings of the Association and prepare the agenda for these meetings.

   4.5 He/She shall be responsible for carrying out duties assigned to him/her by the General Assembly and Executive Committee meetings.

5. The terms of office of the officers shall be four years between regular sessions of the General Assembly.
6. The term of the Executive Director shall normally be four years between regular sessions of the General Assembly or Executive Committee. (Note: The term of office of the executive director may be extended up to six months following the General Assembly session at which his/her term of office normally ends.)

1. There shall be an Executive Committee of the Association for Theological Education in South East Asia.
2. The composition of the Executive Committee shall be as follows:2.1 Four officers (the Chairperson, Vice-chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer).2.2 Three Members-at-large, one of whom shall be a church person.

   2.3 Such others as may be designated by the General Assembly or the Executive Committee (such as the Chairperson of the Resource Commission).

   2.4 The Executive Director as ex-officio.

3. The duties of the Executive Committee include the following: 3.1 To carry on interim business for the Association between sessions of the General Assembly.3.2 To receive reports from Executive Director.3.3 To approve or authorize programs or projects in accordance with the aims of the Association and policies established by the General Assembly.

   3.4 To authorize funding requests for the work of the Association through the Resource Commission.

   3.5 To review the financial situation of the Association and approve its annual budget.

   3.6 To nominate the Executive Director of the Association.

   3.7 To be the Board of Governors of the South East Asia Graduate School of Theology.

   3.8 To perform such other duties as may be assigned to it by the General Assembly.

4. The tenure of office of the Executive committee members shall be four years covering the period between regular sessions of the General Assembly.
5. The executive Committee shall normally meet annually and special meeting may be called.

1. Gambling or any kind, whether for stakes or not, is forbidden on the Association’s premises. The introduction of materials for gambling or drug taking and of bad characters into the premises is prohibited.
2. The funds of the Association shall not be used to pay the fines of members who have been convicted in Court.
3. The Association shall not attempt to restrict or in any other manner interfere with trade or prices or engage in any Trade Union activity.
4. The Association shall not hold any lottery, whether confined to its members or not, in the name of society or its office-bearers, Committee or members.
5. The Association shall not indulge in any political activity or allow its funds and/or premises to be used for political purposes.

1. The Association shall not be dissolved, except with the consent of not less than 3/5 of the members of the Association eligible to vote, either in person or by proxy at a General Assembly convened for the purpose.
2. In the event of the Association being dissolved as provided above., all debts and liabilities legally incurred on behalf of the Association shall be fully discharged, and the remaining funds will be given to member-institutions.