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Our Journey The Asia Baptist Graduate Theological Seminary (ABGTS) began in 1959 under the sponsorship of The Southern Baptist Convention and eight Baptist theological seminaries in Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand. The purpose was to train church leaders for seminary teaching, publication, and administration.
Dr. James Belote, missionary president of HKBTS, became the first president of ABGTS. Classes for the first degree, the Master of Theology, began in Hong Kong in 1960. Seven years later, the Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippine seminaries started offering graduate courses. Rev. Dr. Maak Hay Chun was the first graduate in 1964. |
By 1999, six of the partner school presidents were ABGTS graduates. However, policies and plans by the Southern Baptist Convention culminated its ties with ABGTS. This marked the start of a new era where ABGTS would be led by Asians for Asians, then for the world. ABGTS found a new covenant partner in Mercer University, Macon, Georgia, providing partial financial support yet allowing the Seminary total freedom in electing officers and charting her own future.
Following James Belote, were Carl Hunker (1965-1968), Grover Tyner (1977-1987), and George Wilson (1987-1993). Chow, Lien Hwa from Taiwan BTS became the first Asian president in 1993, followed by Lilian Lim who became the first executive president in 2005. Dr. Chow, Lien Hwa served as Acting President after the death of Dr. Lilian Lim in June 2009. In June 2012 Board of Trustees meeting Dr. Graham B. Walker, Jr. was elected as the 7th president of ABGTS. The degree and academic programs were supervised by the Academic Deans: Chow, Lien Hwa (1959-1966), Carter Morgan (1966-1982), Al Gammage (1982-1993), Graham Walker (1993-1999), Tereso Casino (1999-2002), Stephen Tam (2002-2009), and Lizette Knight, first woman Academic Dean (2009-2012). Currently serving as ABGTS Dean is
Dr. Honorina Lacquian, who was also elected during the Board in June 2012 meeting.
Today, all officers and trustees of ABGTS are Asians. There are more than 200 alumni who serve in key leadership positions as pastors, missionaries, administrators, and faculty in Asia and globally. The Baptist World Alliance and the Asia Pacific Federation recognize ABGTS as the premier seminary consortium in Asia.
Following James Belote, were Carl Hunker (1965-1968), Grover Tyner (1977-1987), and George Wilson (1987-1993). Chow, Lien Hwa from Taiwan BTS became the first Asian president in 1993, followed by Lilian Lim who became the first executive president in 2005. Dr. Chow, Lien Hwa served as Acting President after the death of Dr. Lilian Lim in June 2009. In June 2012 Board of Trustees meeting Dr. Graham B. Walker, Jr. was elected as the 7th president of ABGTS. The degree and academic programs were supervised by the Academic Deans: Chow, Lien Hwa (1959-1966), Carter Morgan (1966-1982), Al Gammage (1982-1993), Graham Walker (1993-1999), Tereso Casino (1999-2002), Stephen Tam (2002-2009), and Lizette Knight, first woman Academic Dean (2009-2012). Currently serving as ABGTS Dean is
Dr. Honorina Lacquian, who was also elected during the Board in June 2012 meeting.
Today, all officers and trustees of ABGTS are Asians. There are more than 200 alumni who serve in key leadership positions as pastors, missionaries, administrators, and faculty in Asia and globally. The Baptist World Alliance and the Asia Pacific Federation recognize ABGTS as the premier seminary consortium in Asia.
Our Purpose |
The purpose of the seminary is to provide graduate training for God-called men and women preparing for vocational Christian ministry, primarily within the Asian Baptist context.
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Our History |
Discussions concerning the need for Baptist graduate theological study began at the 1955 Orient Missions Conference sponsored by the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention in Hong Kong. At the 1957 Orient Missions Conference, a Continuation Committee was formed for the purpose of investigating ways and means of setting up a program of graduate theological education in Asia. A meeting of eight Baptist Seminaries in the orient was called for April, 1959, at which time definite steps were taken to accomplish this objective. On April 21, 1959, a Board of Trustees was organized and a Preparatory Committee was set up to make specific plans for beginning a graduate seminary.
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