CBTE Recognition Must Be More Than a Badge

A Bible college displays several logos beneath a CBTE programme. One church body approves its ministry formation. A theological association recognises its educational quality. A public authority registers the institution or qualification. A university has agreed to consider applicants for further study.

A prospective learner sees one word: accredited. The learner assumes that the award is nationally recognised, internationally portable, acceptable for university admission and sufficient for church appointment.

Those conclusions may be true, partly true or entirely unsupported. The logos cannot answer the question.

Competency-Based Theological Education (CBTE) organises theological learning around demonstrated competencies, contextual learning and mentoring. It is used in Bible colleges, seminaries and university degree programmes. This article focuses on Bible-college and church-based formation; that focus is not a restriction on the international meaning of CBTE. Kenya’s broader occupational Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) framework is a related but distinct policy context. ICETE’s CBTE standards.

CBTE recognition must be more than a badge. Every claim should identify who recognised what, under which authority, against which evidence, for how long and with what consequence for the learner.

TRACS lists an accreditation evaluation visit to Jimmy Swaggart Bible College for 28–31 July 2026, overlapping a reaffirmation visit to Grace Mission University on 27–30 July. Its schedule also lists accreditation and candidacy visits starting on 10 August. These are scheduled review activities, not accreditation…