• Accreditation Preamble Theological schools in the Pacific have two main and complementary functions. These are the provision of academic theological education and the formation of the students. Both are vitally important.
The SPATS Accreditation Commission is concerned primarily with the former function and this document deals only with academic matters. These are the focus of the accreditation process. This does not imply that the Commission’s belief that the academic programme is more important than the other. It is rather that the Commission perceives academic matters to be more susceptible to objective evaluation and therefore to the application of relatively easily agreed criteria. In terms of the relative value of awards/qualifications gained in these institutions, it is the academic performance of the students, which is of the essence.
Aims of Accreditation 1. SPATS accreditation process is designed to help theological schools of the Pacific islands to achieve, maintain, and improve the quality of Theological education.
2. SPATS accreditation provides a means for monitoring the comparability of academic standards achieved by graduates of the various awards programme offered by the accredited institutions.
3. SPATS accreditation allows for comparison of the individual awards given by the accredited institutions with those of non-theological institutions.
4. It is realized that some SPATS colleges may wish SPATS to provide evaluation of their programme(s) and awards on the basis of the colleges’ own perceived needs, aims and objectives. This is a service offered but such evaluation may not lead to accreditation of those programmes. However, initiatives should come from the schools.
5. The academic component of theological programmes has much that is common to most if not all institutions. The SPATS accreditation process calls for the clear enunciation of the aims and objectives of this components as an essential aid to the construction and maintenance of a sound curriculum.
6. The standards that follow are an attempt to set out these basic aims and essential contents of accreditable programmes. Beyond these essentials there is room for flexible application of the standards expected within the accreditation process.
• Pacific Journal of Theology
History The Pacific Journal of theology was first published in Samoa in December 1962. For twelve years it regularly published articles on the theological foundations of life, witness and current problems of the church in the Pacific. In 1989 the SPATS Council commissioned Series II of the Journal and defined its vision as being to stimulate theological thinking and writing by Christians living in the Pacific. The Journal has continued to act as a forum for the exchange of ideas and to record and preserve for future generations what is still largely an oral tradition of cultural and religious faith.
The Pacific Journal of Theology is published twice yearly.
Index to the Pacific Journal of Theology This is available on request to info@spats.org.fj
Subscription Forms Available on request to info@spats.org.fj
• Weavers
Preamble Weavers establishment as a programme of the South Pacific Association of Theological Schools (SPATS) was the result of a consultation on Women and Ministry in the Pacific held in Tonga in 1989, attended by delegates from SPATS’ member schools. The consultation was co-sponsored by SPATS and the Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC).
The name Weavers was adopted to emphasize the communal and participatory nature of the act of weaving. Weavers encourages women to weave together a distinctively Pacific way of doing theology.
God’s mission in Jesus Christ is very clear; Jesus came to give life and more meaningful life. SPATS promotes quality theological education for Pacific Island church leaders and laity. Weavers advocates for women to be fully involved in theological education throughout the Pacific churches to give life and more meaningful life to the Body of Christ.
Objectives • Weavers’ goal is to seek equal opportunities for both women and men, clergy and laity in theological education and in church ministry. Other objectives are: • promote opportunities for women to fully participate in the study programmes of theological schools • encourage theological schools to incorporate women’s theological perspective into their curricula • encourage theological schools to recruit women as members of faculty • develop study themes towards a Pacific Island women’s theology through seminars, workshops, consultations and other means • develop a regional resource centre for study and research on women’s theologies and issues • seek scholarship opportunities for women in theological education • advocate to church leaders for opportunities for women in church ministries
Newsletter This is published twice a year in March and October. More copies are available at the SPATS Office.
• Institutional Strengthening
Introduction One of the recommendations of the Strategic Planning Exercise of SPATS commissioned in 1996 was the creation of a new programme – Institutional Strengthening. As its name suggests, it aims at helping, developing and enhancing the member institutions belonging to SPATS. The name of Roger Landbeck has been associated with it from the programme’s inception.
Origins Roger Landbeck, a retired Director of the Centre for Enhancement and Learning at the University of the South Pacific (USP) has been offering his services to SPATS in helping faculty of theological colleges and seminaries with teaching skills over the past years focussing on more teaching methods and skills. The manual “Teaching and Learning in South Pacific Theological Schools” by Roger Landbeck is the result of this and is available on request to info@spats.org.fj
Future The other areas included in this programme are directed more on the area of ‘capacity building’ for our member schools’ teaching staff and principals. SPATS believes that its member schools are like the ‘theological labrotary’ of the Pacific region. New events and ideas are surfacing and affecting lives of the Pacific people and churches, needing proper research and reflection. Issues like globalization, climate change and partnership in theological education, financial management and leadership are issues that will help our member schools face the new world we find ourselves in today.
Aims The Committee draws up long term project proposals from time to time and aims at addressing or targeting areas in our member colleges that need continuing support from friends and partners.
