Lausanne World Pulse – Asia Theological Association

July 2007

By Brian Wintle

Who Is the ATA?
The Asia Theological Association (ATA) is a body of theological institutions, committed to the evangelical faith and scholarship, and networking together to serve the Church in equipping God’s people for the mission of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The ATA was established in 1970 as a direct response to the need expressed at several Asia-wide conferences and consultations. Since then, it has grown into a movement committed to serving its members in the development of evangelical biblical theology by strengthening interaction, enhancing scholarship, promoting academic excellence, fostering spiritual and ministerial formation and mobilizing resources to fulfil God’s global mission within diverse Asian cultures. ATA seeks to:

  • Strengthen interaction through inter-institutional fellowship and programs, regional and continental activities and faculty and student exchange programs.
  • Enhance scholarship through consultations, workshops, seminars, publications and research fellowships.
  • Promote academic excellence through accreditation standards, faculty and curriculum development.
  • Foster spiritual and ministerial formation by providing mentor models and encouraging the development of ministerial skills and a Christian ethos.
  • Mobilize resources through library development, information technology and infra-structural development.

Evaluation and Accreditation Services
The ATA is primarily a regional accrediting agency and a member of the International Council for Evangelical Theological Education. The ATA seeks to facilitate the improvement of the quality of educational programs of its members through accreditation of programs, including those that are residential, extension or a combination of systems.

Brian Wintle is regional secretary of India and acting general secretary of the Asia Theological Association. Previously he served for eighteen years in the biblical studies department at Union Biblical Seminary in Pune, India. He lives in Bangalore.