BHCTI - FAQs

FAQs

What are the purposes of B. H. Carroll Theological Institute?

B. H. Carroll Theological Institute provides theological education in innovative, creative ways that make ministerial training more relevant, practical, effective, as well as affordable and accessible to students and all Christian workers. Using a nexus of scholars, teaching churches, and learning centers, Carroll Institute mobilizes the Body of Christ to minister and serve an increasingly lost and needy world. With a focus on the Great Commission, this approach commits a maximum of resources to intellectual capital and learning technologies. The faculty is now comprised of 4 senior fellows, 8 fellows, 22 distinguished fellows, and 85 resident fellows located in 25 teaching churches in both national and international sites. BHCTI uses a broad range of media to connect with the churches and students and provides theological education that is biblically based and practically oriented.

What is the vision of B. H. Carroll Theological Institute?

Through an integrated network of scholar-mentors and teaching churches, B. H. Carroll Theological Institute mobilizes the priesthood of believers for service in every sector of society. It provides, through a wide array of technology and media, theological education that is both biblically-based and praxis-oriented. B. H. Carroll Theological Institute develops Christ-centered leaders who are committed to academic excellence, lifelong learning, and transformational ministry.

With whom and where did B. H. Carroll Theological Institute begin?

Actually the institute was created from the vision and words of the great Baptist leader, B. H. Carroll, in the 1890s. The specific concepts behind the Institute have been years in the making. The most recent impetus for B. H. Carroll Theological Institute began in 2004 with a small group of Baptist educators.

Why is it named B. H. Carroll Theological Institute?

It is named for B. H. Carroll, whose vision was to make theological education and the teaching of the Bible available, accessible and affordable to all Christian men and women, in order to mobilize them all for ministry within and through the churches.

What is the confessional position of B. H. Carroll Theological Institute?

The sole authority for faith, practice, and teaching in B. H. Carroll Theological Institute is Jesus Christ, whose will is revealed in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. The confessional position of B. H. Carroll Theological Institute is the consensus of opinion concerning those articles of the Christian faith and practice that have been most surely held and expressed in historic Baptist principles and practices.

Why must B. H. Carroll Theological Institute exist?

B. H. Carroll Theological Institute was formed in January, 2004 by a group of Southern Baptists who observed three key problems confronting Christian churches, particularly in Baptist life, as they try to meet the challenges of a radically changing world: (1) a decrease in the proportion of ministers trained to serve in the churches; (2) a decline in the effectiveness and relevance of ministerial training; (3) and a diminishing commitment by church members to prepare and mobilize for Christian ministry. Recognizing at the same time that ample technological and human resources are available to meet the challenges, these Southern Baptists decided to re-invent theological education in an innovative and creative way that will make it more relevant, practical, affordable, accessible, and effective.

Is B. H. Carroll Theological Institute really needed? Are there not already enough Southern Baptist seminaries?

The six seminaries of the SBC and the other twelve graduate-level institutions supporting Southern Baptists are not keeping pace with the need to provide trained ministers for their churches. In the past twenty years, the number of Southern Baptist churches has grown by 17%, but the number of ministers has grown only 10%; the number of SBC seminary graduates per church has declined 30%; the number of SBC seminary graduates per member of SBC churches has decline 45%.

Is B. H. Carroll Theological Institute a reaction to some other seminary?

No. B. H. Carroll Theological Institute is not a reaction to anyone or to any group. B. H. Carroll Theological Institute is a response to a pressing and growing need for a more effective, efficient, and appropriate way of providing theological education in a radically changing world.

Will B. H. Carroll Theological Institute recruit Southwestern seminary students?

No. Students will not be recruited from any seminary. We will respond to and consider for admission all qualified prospective students.

Will B. H. Carroll Theological Institute compete directly with other residential seminaries for students?

B. H. Carroll Theological Institute will not be aimed at recruiting students who desire to attend one of the residential seminaries already in existence. The focus of the Institute will be to recruit students who desire to continue ministering in their own local congregations while pursuing theological education at a Teaching Church very near their home base supplemented by online classes.

What will be the relationships of B. H. Carroll Theological Institute to the SBC, CBF, and to state conventions?

B. H. Carroll Theological Institute seeks to build collaborative and collegial relationships with all Southern Baptists, with the Southern Baptist denomination as a whole, with state conventions, and with its local churches in order to provide trained leaders for any Southern Baptist church, the convention, or other agency within Southern Baptist life. The Institute seeks to be free standing and independently funded by all Southern Baptists (and other like-minded Christians?) who have a common vision for Christ and His church.

Where is B. H. Carroll Theological Institute located?

The administrative hub of the B. H. Carroll Theological Institute is located at 301 S. Center St., Suite 100, Arlington, Texas 76010. BHCTI has Teaching Churches in several locations across the state of Texas, one in Arkansas, and three in international locations.

Is B. H. Carroll Theological Institute incorporated?

B. H. Carroll Theological Institute was incorporated as a non-profit corporation in the State of Texas on 1 May 2003.

Does B. H. Carroll Theological Institute have tax exempt status?

BHCTI has had 501(c)(3) status with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service since 2004.

How is B. H. Carroll Theological Institute governed?

The B. H. Carroll Theological Institute is governed by a self-perpetuating Board of Governors -- up to fifteen in number.

What is the composition of the governing board?

One-third of the Board are patrons or donors to B. H. Carroll Theological Institute; one-third of the Board have educational or corporate experience; and one-third of the Board are from church constituency or cooperative groups.

Is BHCTI certified by the State of Texas?

BHCTI achieved certification by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board on February 1, 2007. BHCTI is now exempt of certification in the state of Texas because of our status as a religious degree-granting institution.

Is BHCTI accredited?

BHCTI has made application to the Association of Biblical Higher Education (ABHE) for accreditation. This process is well under way and we anticipate "candidacy status" possibly as early as the spring of 2011. An application for accreditation has been turned in, and a pre-accreditation visit has been completed. BHCTI received very high marks.

The final report will go to ABHE on November 1, 2010, ABHE will vote on the report in February 2011, and a site visit will follow sometime in the spring.

ABHE is an officially recognized "national accrediting association" by both the Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. These are the two oversight organizations that accredit all of the regional accreditation councils (SACS, NACS, etc.) Actually ABHE is the oldest accreditation council for higher education in the United States, celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2007. ABHE is also part of a global network that relates to regional or continental higher educational agencies through the International Council for Evangelical Theological Education.

What are the master's degrees that B. H. Carroll Theological Institute offers?

BCHTI offers seven professional master degrees: Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Christian Education, Master of Arts in Counseling, Master of Arts in Theology, Master of Arts in Religion, Master of Church Music, and Master of Arts in Worship. Also, BHCTI is proposing a Master of Divinity for Chaplains. BHCTI is currently in the Application Stage for accreditation by the Association of Biblical Higher Education in Canada and the U. S. (ABHE). ABHE is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) which accredits all regional accrediting agencies of higher education. This accreditation will allow Master of Arts in Counseling students to apply for licensure with the Texas State Board of Examiners along with many other states. An institution or program which holds candidacy status or accreditation from ABHE which is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) can qualify students for the Texas Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Students could also be eligible for Texas Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT).

Does B. H. Carroll Theological Institute offer doctoral degrees?

BHCTI offers both the Doctor of Ministry (DMin) and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
The Doctor of Ministry (DMin) degree is a professional program intended for persons who are in full-time vocational Christian ministry, such as pastors, associate pastors, Christian educators, ministers of worship, missionaries, workers in denominational or parachurch organizations, evangelists, etc., both domestic and international.
The PhD degree in Research is designed to equip persons for vocations of research and teaching in theological schools, colleges, universities, and teaching churches, or for scholarly enhancement of ministerial practice. It also enables students to develop a sense of and a commitment to the vocation of theological scholarship in teaching, learning, and research. Admission to this program is extended only to persons who have demonstrated the intellectual ability, preparation, and motivation for a scholarly vocation. Successful completion of this course of study requires the student to demonstrate: a comprehensive knowledge of a selected discipline of religious study; the capacity for critical thinking and evaluation; competence to engage in original research and writing that advances theological understanding for the sake of church, academy, and society; and a breadth of knowledge in associated theological and religious studies and in other related academic disciplines.

Does B. H. Carroll Theological Institute offer bachelor degrees?

No.

B. H. Carroll Theological Institute offers the Diploma and the Advanced Diploma in Christian Ministry. It also confers certificates for “Readers” in the lay theological training program (4-Mat).

How is the curriculum base design of BHCTI configured?

There are four learning clusters in the curriculum design: (1) Scripture and Witness, (2) Faith and Heritage, (3) Ministry and Formation, and (4) Worship and Mission. The traditional, classical theological disciplines are offered within this new configuration.

Who can be admitted as a student of B. H. Carroll Theological Institute?

Students will be expected to be active members of Christian churches; persons of genuine Christian character, attitude, and behavior; have sufficient academic qualifications; and exhibit a call to serve Christ in the diverse and global ministries of His church, or who are committed to preparing and mobilizing as disciples for more effective ministry through His church. Students will include lay persons seeking academic and spiritual enrichment. B. H. Carroll Theological Institute will encourage diversity in race, ethnicity, national origin, and gender and will be open to persons from any Great Commission church.

What is the cost of tuition?

For a master-level course, the cost per credit unit is $175, so a typical two-hour course would be $350. BHCTI also charges a Technology Fee of $75 for each term of enrollment. Doctoral fees are paid by semester: DMin is $1000/semester and the PhD is $1500/semester. Doctoral students also pay a $150 Technology per semester.

Do non-Southern Baptist students pay a different tuition rate than Southern Baptist students?

No. Non-Southern Baptist students will pay the same tuition rate as Southern Baptist students.

What is the Technology Fee and what does it cover?

The Technology Fee provides resources to cover the cost for the online learning system (NexLearn), the online library subscriptions (like Questia) and resources, and the cost of the Logos Bible Software.

What is Quesia?

Questia is the world's largest online Library of books and is the first online library that provides 24/7 access to the world's largest online collection of books and journal articles in the humanities and social sciences, plus magazine and newspaper articles. You can search each and every word of all of the books and journal articles in the collection. You can read every title cover to cover. This rich, scholarly content -- selected by professional collection development librarians -- is not available elsewhere on the Internet. Undergraduate, high school, graduate students, and Internet users of all ages have found Questia to be an invaluable online resource. Anyone doing research or just interested in topics that touch on the humanities and social sciences will find titles of interest in Questia.

To complement the library, Questia offers a range of search, note-taking, and writing tools. These tools help students locate the most relevant information on their topics quickly, quote and cite correctly, and create properly formatted footnotes and bibliographies automatically. Questia provides a comprehensive research environment to meet students' academic needs.

A subscription to Questia is provided for every BHCTI student. A student who studies at Carroll for at least 4 years will end up with a lifetime subscription to Questia.

Graduates of BHCTI will have free, lifetime access to all other NexLearn online learning resources.

What is the Logos Bible software and what does the Logos Fee cover?

The Logos Bible Software (LBS) is an extensive electronic library of biblical and theological resources including books, texts, and tools designed to meet the needs of seminary students and ministers. Beginning in 2010, all new students are required to have LBS to use in their coursework. BHCTI has made arrangements with the Logos Bible Software company to help students purchase the software packages at a greatly reduced price and to pay for the software through fees paid to the Institute. Students pay a one-time Logos Bible Software Fee that covers the initial payment for the software. Then, over the next two years, the student will pay the remaining balance though the Technology Fees paid to BHCTI. At the end of two years, the software belongs to the student. If during the first two years a student were to drop out of BHCTI and cease paying the Technology Fee, the student would be required to pay the remaining balance directly to the Logos Bible Software company in order to continue using the software. Diploma and master’s students receive the Scholar’s Library, a collection of almost 475 books and commentaries. Doctoral students receive the Scholar’s Library Gold Edition that contains over 875 books, commentaries, and tools.

Why are there different Logos Bible Software fees for master-level and doctoral students?

Doctoral students need a more extensive Logos Bible Software package than diploma and master-level students. Doctoral students pay a higher one-time fee to compensate for the additional cost of the larger software package.

What type of library does BHCTI have and where will it be?

The Carroll Library is a graduate academic library that exists in several forms, but these forms can be grouped into two major parts; electronic, and print. The Electronic Library is accessed through the NexLearn system, and includes periodical databases (such as ATLAS and ERIC), e-book databases (such as Questia and Books.Logos.com), reference databases (from Oxford and Cambridge), and handpicked websites (such as our Google Book and Online Resources collections). A collection of print resources (including the John Newport Collection) is housed at the Arlington Hub facility. The Library also participates in OCLC Resource Sharing for InterLibrary Loan. You can learn more about the Library by visiting the Carroll Webpage of the Director of Library and Information Resources or by contacting him directly.

How are classes taught, i.e., in what forms/media is course content delivered?

B. H. Carroll Theological Institute organizes and operates at a primary learning site inter-connected with other learning centers at several Teaching Churches under the direction of mentor-teachers. Content is delivered in four ways: (1) traditional classroom settings, with students and professors (or mentor-teachers) meeting face-to-face; (2) instruction by professors (or mentor-teachers) using electronic means (Internet) to interact with classes of students at other locations; (3) on-line classes conducted by professors with classes of students communicating with each other and the professor (or mentor-teacher) over the Internet; and (4) corresponding studies through electronic retrieval of content stored at the main server of B. H. Carroll Theological Institute.

What is NexLearn?

NexLearn is BHCTI’s online learning system. It is a Moodle-based learning environment used to distribute class materials and to facilitating a variety of course activities for both online and face-to-face courses.

Who teaches in B. H. Carroll Theological Institute?

The faculty of B. H. Carroll Theological Institute is made up of persons of genuine Christian character, attitude and behavior who are active members of churches; who demonstrate a call for teaching; who have adequate academic, normally doctoral, preparation and experience in their discipline; who model scholarly excellence and practical ministry; who teach consistently with the Bible and historic Baptist principles; who work collegially together and who are committed to building constructive and collaborative relationships with all constituencies of the Institute, especially local churches. The core faculty members are located at the administrative hub in Arlington, Texas, and mentor-teachers are located near Teaching Church sites, are some online teachers are in remote locations. Click here for a directory of the hub faculty/administrators and the instructional staff (Distinguished and Resident Fellows).

Where are the Teaching Churches located, and how many of them are there?

Most of the teaching churches are in Texas and are located in the Dallas Fort Worth area, Houston, and Bryan/College Station. There are two teaching sites in Arkansas (Arkadelphia and Little rock), and three international sites. The number of churches varies from term to term according to the needs of students and availability of professors. Click here for a listing of Teaching Churches.

Where does the Institute get its funding?

B. H. Carroll Theological Institute is funded by donations from individuals; gifts and offerings from local congregations; development programs of its teaching churches; contributions from Southern Baptist associations and state conventions; grants from foundations; tuition from students; and income from endowments.

What are the funding priorities of B. H. Carroll Theological Institute?

B. H. Carroll Theological Institute invests minimal funds in capital development. Funding priority is given to four areas: (1) intellectual capital; (2) technology--electronic delivery systems; (3) library resources; and (4) curricula--development of content that is competency-based and compatible with electronic delivery.