Educational Philosophy
The purposes and objectives of CBTS are as follows:
Objectives: Training at CBTS integrates both theory and practice at all levels. The following general objectives are designed to define the scope and purpose of the programs offered by the Seminary. The Seminary exists to provide biblical, theological, historical, and practical training in Christian ministry for pastors, administrators, chaplains, theological teachers, and other Christian workers within the Cameroon, Africa and beyond. Graduation from this institution should enable a student to demonstrate growth and development:
- SPIRITUALLY, by cultivating a dynamic personal understanding of the triune God as he relates to daily living. This should be evidenced by an active commitment to Christ and the administration of his church;
- CULTURALLY, by a consistent Christian witness within an African context in order that the verbal witness of the church will be relevant and effective in practical social experiences;
- INTELLECTUALLY, by a comprehensive understanding of the truth of God revealed in the Scriptures of living Christian doctrines, and of the illumination given by historical development within the church;
- VOCATIONALLY, by translating intellectual foundations into concrete ministry experiences issuing in the edification of the body of Christ.
EVALUATION OF OBJECTIVES: For the evaluation of the courses in the various programs, we identify those courses dealing with the student’s personal Christian life as having the aim of developing the student spiritually. The assigning of prayer partners, Evangelism Week, staff-student retreats, and the Missions Conference are further parts of the program to assist students in this spiritual growth. These fall into the ontological domain of the personal being of a person in ministry.
Training at CBTS focuses on helping students maintain a healthy balance between theory and practice by building strong ties between matter taught and the contextual realities. This helps the student to better minister relevantly in diverse contexts.
The development of the student intellectually is seen to consist not only of those courses focused on the Scriptures, Christian Doctrines, and the History of the Church, but also to include those general education courses which support and aid the student in relating these to the world in which s/he lives
We see the vocational development of the program as being mainly those courses that deal with relating the background gained in the other areas of study to the work of the Christian minister in his/her community. Whereas, intellectually, he may learn Biblical truths, in his vocational development he learns to present these truths to his congregation.