Frequently Asked Questions


	One of the seminary mentoring groups led by Dr. Tiberius Rata.

1. Do I need to have a Bible background to attend seminary?

2. If I did complete a Bible or theology degree as an undergrad, can some of those classes count towards seminary?

3. When is my application due?

4. Should I visit the campus before making a decision to attend?

5. How are the GTS scholarship funds distributed and can they be used to cover living expenses?

6. How many credit hours per semester do I have to take in order to be considered a full-time student?

7. Do many of the seminary students work at the same that they are taking classes?

8. What degrees are available in the seminary?

9. Are there any residential requirements for the distance education program or will all of the classes be either online or by electronic media (cd/dvd)?

10. How do I register for classes and when should I do this?

11. How much will seminary cost?

12. Where is WinonaLake located relative to the nearest major cities?

13. Will I be ordained after I graduate from the seminary?

14. Are there any restaurants near the campus or coffee shops to grab something between and after classes?

15. What is the Grace Brethren, is it a denomination, and is it similar to Baptist denominations?

16. Where can I find the academic calendar for Grace Theological Seminary?

17. Where can I find a class listing for the upcoming semester?

18. Are you accredited and by which organization?

19. Is wireless internet available on campus so that I can check my email, and are there computer resources for when I don’t have a laptop computer available?

20. The course catalog lists something called a "module class." What's a module class?

21. What if I only want to take one or two seminary classes without going through the whole application process? Can I do this, or begin taking one or two classes while I make my application?

1. Do I need to have a Bible background to attend seminary?

No, you do not need to have an undergraduate degree in Bible, ministry, theology or other related field. Seminary is considered a first professional degree which means programs are designed to serve those who will be taking their first formal theological class as well as those who have already completed a theological degree.

2. If I did complete a Bible or theology degree as an undergrad, can some of those classes count towards seminary?

Yes. For a more detailed answer on advanced standing for course that you have already taken click here.

3. When is my application due?

We do not have an application deadline. Our classes start in August for the fall semester and January for the spring semester so it must be turned in by then. However, in order to get the GTS scholarship you need to have turned in an application and a GTS scholarship form by July 1 for the fall semester and December 1 for spring.

Grace has streamlined the application process such that it can be done online without any application fee. The only things that need to be mailed in are the reference forms and the transcripts. Click here for application information and to apply online.

Click here for information about the GTS scholarship.

4. Should I visit the campus before making a decision to attend?

Yes! A campus visit will offer you an excellent opportunity to meet with Grace staff members and to get acquainted with the academic programs. If you come during the school year we recommend that you attend a seminary class. The best day to visit is on Tuesday as we will arrange for you to attend graduate chapel, sit in on a class, and go to lunch with a professor or staff member. Other good days to visit are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday as few classes are held on Friday. If Friday is the only day that you can make it here we will still be able to arrange a high quality visit.

5. How are the GTS scholarship funds distributed and can they be used to cover living expenses?

Scholarship funds are distributed directly to your student account and cannot be used to cover living expenses, except that any credit that remains on your account after the beginning of the semester will be returned to you. So if you have student loan funds or personal money that you placed on your account and the GTS scholarship is credited you will receive whatever positive balance you have.

Click here for information about tuition and financial aid.

6. How many credit hours per semester do I have to take in order to be considered a full-time student?

Students taking at least 9 semester hours are considered full time and anything less than that is part time. This is important because certain student loan programs may require you to attend full time in order to be eligible for deferment. Also, if you are receiving state unemployment you may not be able to attend full time.

7. Do many of the seminary students work at the same that they are taking classes?

Yes, many students both on-campus and distance education work part time and a few even work full time while attending seminary. Click here for a link to jobs at Grace College and Seminary as well as locally.

8. What degrees are available in the seminary?

Grace offers certificates for those that don't have an undergraduate degree, MA programs, MDIV programs, and DMin programs. Grace no longer offers the ThM or ThD. Detailed information is available by clicking here.

9. Are there any residential requirements for the distance education program or will all of the classes be either online or by electronic media (cd/dvd)?

Distance ed students will be required to attend three week-long module courses on the main campus here in Winona Lake. The rest of the courses will be done through electronic media or the Internet.

10. How do I register for classes and when should I do this?

The registration materials are available on the forms page by clicking here. New students frequently register for classes during their orientation as they need to meet with their advisor and obtain their signature on the registration form. Registration for new students should be completed by the end of the orientation day. For questions please contact the Registrars Office. For returning students there are set registration times during the semester to register for the following semester. Current students should speak with their advisor about when to register for the following semester.

11. How much will seminary cost?

Tuition rates and scholarship information are available by clicking here. Grace’s tuition rates are very competitive and along with the low cost of living in the Winona Lake area this makes Grace one of the best values in the conservative evangelical seminary market.

12. Where is Winona Lake located relative to the nearest major cities?

Winona Lake is 100 miles north of Indianapolis, 110 miles east/southeast of Chicago, 230 miles southwest of Detroit, 30 miles west of Fort Wayne, and 50 miles southeast of South Bend. For a map and driving directions click here.

13. Will I be ordained after I graduate from the seminary?

The seminary does not ordain students but this is done through local churches in conjunction with the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches or through your own church or denomination.

14. Are there any restaurants near the campus or coffee shops to grab something between and after classes?

Yes, Grace has a full-service dining hall on campus called Alpha Dining Commons that makes available breakfast, lunch and dinner for a nominal per-semester fee on a meal plan or individual meals can be purchased by paying at the door. Grace also provides a coffee shop in the center of the main campus called the Tree of Life, and a second Tree of Life coffee shop on the edge of campus which also houses the campus bookstore. More information on these is available by clicking here.

15. What is the Grace Brethren, is it a denomination, and is it similar to Baptist denominations?

The Fellowship of Grace Brethren is a voluntary association of churches sharing common doctrinal beliefs in a voluntary association of churches in the USA, Canada, and around the world. Grace is technically not a denomination in that it does not operate under a hierarchal structure and attracts students from a wide variety of backgrounds, both Calvinistic and Arminian. The worldwide Grace Brethren movement includes over 1300 churches, with a heavy concentration in central Africa. Although the doctrinal beliefs of the Grace Brethren is very similar to conservative Baptist denominations, Grace has several ordinances that make them unique because of their Brethren/Pietistic background.

When you examine Grace's doctrinal statement you will discover the following elements:

Reformed theology, Calvinistic and with an emphasis on evangelism
Pietistic, with emphasis on a living faith and holy lifestyle
Anabaptist, where only professing believers partake of baptism
Dispensational
Pre-millenial
Pre-tribulational

More information about the beliefs of the Grace Brethren Fellowship can be found by clicking here.

History of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches is available by clicking here.

16. Where can I find the academic calendar for Grace?

The academic calendar is available by clicking here. The fall semester runs from late August until mid-December. The spring semester runs from early January until the first of May. Each semester includes designated periods for mid-term and final exams during which class times and meeting locations may vary.

17. Where can I find a class listing for the upcoming semester?

The class lasting for current and upcoming semesters is available by clicking here.

18. Are you accredited and by which organization?

Grace Theological Seminary is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Grace Seminary is also a candidate member of the ATS and expects full membership by the fall of 2008. This status will apply retroactively to all current seminary students. For updates on accreditation watch that section on the GTS web page by clicking here.

19. Is wireless internet available on campus so that I can check my email, and are there computer resources for when I don’t have a laptop computer available?

Yes, wireless internet access is available in most areas of the campus including along the walkways between the various buildings. Internet access is also provided at a variety of walkup terminals throughout the campus as well as in the computer labs. Printers, both color and black and white are available as well as document scanners. Students can print online articles for free in the library, as well as homework assignments but these are limited to a certain number of pages per semester.

20. The course catalog lists something called a "module class." What is that type of class?

A module class is one in which students completed pre-course work assignments then come to our campus in Winona Lake to attend a week-long class. The classes meet Monday through Friday generally from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. although the last day will likely finish a few hours earlier to allow students time for travel. After the week is concluded students will complete post-course assignments before the end of the residential semester period. These classes are an excellent way for distance ed students to meet their professors and other students.

21. What if I only want to take one or two seminary classes without going through the whole application process? Can I do this, or begin taking one or two classes while I make my application?

Students that only desire to begin take a few seminary courses without completing the entire application process may do so simply by completing the unclassified student form. This process allows students to take up to four seminary classes before they apply and are accepted to the program. Unclassified students cannot take part in the GTS scholarship program. The unclassified student process was designed for those students that desired to only take a few seminary courses, or for those that were late in applying to attend the seminary and plan to complete their application later.

QUESTIONS?

Thank you so much for visiting our site. We would love to discuss your questions with you either by email or by telephone by calling 800-54-GRACE (47223) x-6435.

Sincerely,

Lee Compson