Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary

Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary (CBTS) is a Reformed Baptist seminary based in Owensboro, Kentucky. The institution trains students for pastoral ministry, theological teaching, and other forms of church leadership within a confessional 1689 Baptist framework. Its campus operates on the premises of Grace Reformed Baptist Church in Owensboro, linking the seminary’s educational work closely with the life and ministry of a local congregation. The school began in 2005 under the name Midwest Center for Theological Studies. It was established by Ted Christman, then pastor of Heritage Baptist Church in Owensboro, with Sam Waldron serving as its initial faculty member. Instruction started on a small scale, using one classroom at Heritage Christian School. As enrollment and faculty capacity grew, the seminary temporarily used two rooms in a local law office in 2007 while plans were developed for additional educational space at Heritage School. At that stage, approximately thirty to thirty-five students were being taught by three regular faculty members and three adjunct professors. In 2015, the board adopted the name Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary. The change was intended to communicate the institution’s mission and theological identity more clearly. The name emphasizes the seminary’s confessional orientation and its focus on preparing ministers and church leaders who affirm the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689. The school’s identity is therefore narrower and more specifically defined than that of a general Protestant or interdenominational seminary. CBTS offers graduate-level theological programs that include the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Theological Studies, Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies, Master of Theology, and Master of Reformed Baptist Studies. These programs collectively address biblical studies, theology, pastoral formation, church ministry, and advanced academic work. The Master of Divinity is the institution’s standard professional theological degree and was introduced after the seminary’s recognition by the Association of Reformed Theological Seminaries. The seminary was recognized by the Association of Reformed Theological Seminaries in 2019. In May 2024, ARTS received recognition as an accreditor from the Council on Higher Education Accreditation, a development relevant to the external standing of institutions associated with that accrediting body. CBTS is also identified as a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, with an IRS ruling year of 2020. In June 2023, the seminary moved into a newly renovated property associated with Grace Reformed Church of Owensboro. The relocation expanded the institution’s available capacity and provided a more permanent setting for instruction and administration. CBTS’s present role is that of a specialized confessional seminary serving students in the United States and internationally, particularly those seeking education aligned with Reformed Baptist theology and the 1689 Baptist Confession.

Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary traces its origins to 2005, when Ted Christman, pastor of Heritage Baptist Church in Owensboro, Kentucky, founded the institution as the Midwest Center for Theological Studies. The seminary was created to provide theological education shaped by Reformed Baptist convictions and to prepare men and women for service in churches and related ministry settings. Sam Waldron was the first faculty member, and classes initially met in a single classroom at Heritage Christian School. The school expanded during its early years. By August 2007, it was using two rooms in a local law office on a temporary basis. At that time, approximately thirty to thirty-five students were studying under three faculty members, supported by three adjunct professors. The temporary arrangement reflected plans by the church to construct a substantial addition to Heritage School, which was intended to provide additional educational space. A major institutional change came in 2015, when the board adopted the name Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary. The new name was selected to make the seminary’s purpose and doctrinal position more apparent. CBTS identifies with the Reformed Baptist tradition and places particular emphasis on the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith. Its educational mission is directed toward the preparation of pastors, teachers, and other leaders for churches that share or engage with that theological tradition. The seminary’s academic portfolio developed into a range of graduate programs. These include the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Theological Studies, Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies, Master of Theology, and Master of Reformed Baptist Studies. The degrees combine biblical and theological study with pastoral and ministry-oriented preparation, while the Master of Theology provides a more advanced level of theological education. The Master of Divinity became part of the program offering after the seminary’s recognition by the Association of Reformed Theological Seminaries. In 2019, CBTS was recognized by ARTS, an organization serving Reformed theological seminaries. This recognition provided an external institutional framework for the seminary’s identity and academic work. In May 2024, the Council on Higher Education Accreditation recognized ARTS as an accreditor. CBTS is also described as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, with an IRS ruling year of 2020. The seminary entered a new phase in June 2023 when it moved into a newly renovated property of Grace Reformed Church of Owensboro. The relocation gave the school additional capacity for enrollment and a more suitable permanent base for its teaching and administrative activities. The campus relationship with Grace Reformed Baptist Church reflects CBTS’s continuing connection between formal theological education and local church ministry. Today, Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary remains an active specialized seminary in Owensboro. Its principal distinction is its explicit Reformed Baptist and confessional orientation rather than a broad ecumenical or generic Protestant identity. Through its degree programs and institutional relationships, it serves students preparing for ministry in the United States and internationally.

• 2024

  ARTS receives CHEA recognition

  [1]Covenant Baptist Theological Seminaryen.wikipedia.org

  The Council on Higher Education Accreditation recognized the Association of Reformed Theological Seminaries as an accreditor in May 2024.

• 2023

  Relocation to renovated Grace Reformed Church property

  [1]Covenant Baptist Theological Seminaryen.wikipedia.org

  CBTS moved into renovated property associated with Grace Reformed Church in Owensboro, increasing available capacity.

• 2020

  IRS ruling year for 501(c)(3) nonprofit status

  [1]Covenant Baptist Theological Seminaryen.wikipedia.org

  Charity Navigator identifies 2020 as the organization’s IRS ruling year for its 501(c)(3) status.

• 2019

  Recognized by the Association of Reformed Theological Seminaries

  [1]Covenant Baptist Theological Seminaryen.wikipedia.org

  CBTS received recognition from ARTS and subsequently offered the Master of Divinity degree.

• 2015

  Name changed to Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary

  [1]Covenant Baptist Theological Seminaryen.wikipedia.org

  The board adopted the current name to clarify the seminary’s mission and Reformed Baptist theological viewpoint.

• 2007

  Early expansion into temporary teaching space

  [1]Covenant Baptist Theological Seminaryen.wikipedia.org

  The growing institution used two rooms in a local law office while additional facilities were being planned at Heritage School.

• 2005

  Institution founded as Midwest Center for Theological Studies

  [1]Covenant Baptist Theological Seminaryen.wikipedia.org

  Ted Christman established the seminary in Owensboro, initially with Sam Waldron as its faculty member and classes held at Heritage Christian School.

A specialized, confessional Reformed Baptist seminary focused on preparing pastors, teachers, and church leaders who affirm the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith.

• Professional theological degree · 2019

  Master of Divinity

  CBTS’s standard professional theological degree is designed for students preparing for pastoral ministry and broader church leadership. It represents the seminary’s principal ministry-oriented graduate offering and combines theological study with preparation for practical service in local churches.

• Academic theological degree

  Master of Arts in Theological Studies

  The Master of Arts in Theological Studies provides graduate-level study in theology and related biblical disciplines. It is positioned as an academic program for students seeking structured theological education without necessarily pursuing the full professional scope of a Master of Divinity.

• Pastoral ministry degree

  Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies

  The Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies focuses on preparation for pastoral and church-based ministry. Its subject area reflects CBTS’s emphasis on equipping leaders for practical service within Reformed Baptist congregational settings.

• Advanced theological degree

  Master of Theology

  The Master of Theology is an advanced graduate program intended for deeper theological study. It supports students pursuing further academic development in a confessional Reformed Baptist environment.

• Confessional theological degree

  Master of Reformed Baptist Studies

  The Master of Reformed Baptist Studies is specifically focused on the history, theology, and ministry concerns of the Reformed Baptist tradition. The program reflects CBTS’s distinctive commitment to the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith and related confessional study.

• 2023

  Move to renovated Grace Reformed Church propertyStrategy

  Background

  The seminary needed a larger and more suitable setting as its educational activity and enrollment capacity developed.

  Action taken

  CBTS relocated to a newly renovated property of Grace Reformed Church in Owensboro.

  Aftermath

  The move provided greater capacity for enrollment and a more permanent base for seminary operations.

  Source

• 2015

  Adoption of a confessional institutional nameStrategy

  Background

  The institution’s original name, Midwest Center for Theological Studies, did not communicate its specific Reformed Baptist identity as directly as the board desired.

  Action taken

  The board renamed the institution Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary.

  Aftermath

  The new name more explicitly associated the school with its Baptist mission and theological viewpoint.

  Source

• 2024

  ARTS receives recognition from the Council on Higher Education Accreditation[1]Covenant Baptist Theological Seminaryen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation

  The Association of Reformed Theological Seminaries, which recognizes CBTS, received accreditor recognition from the Council on Higher Education Accreditation in May 2024.

• 2023

  Seminary relocates to renovated Grace Reformed Church property[1]Covenant Baptist Theological Seminaryen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  In June 2023, CBTS moved into a newly renovated property of Grace Reformed Church in Owensboro, giving the school greater capacity for enrollment and instruction.

• 2019

  Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary receives recognition from ARTS[1]Covenant Baptist Theological Seminaryen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The seminary was recognized by the Association of Reformed Theological Seminaries, strengthening its formal standing within Reformed theological education.

• 2015

  Seminary adopts the name Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary[1]Covenant Baptist Theological Seminaryen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The board changed the institution’s name from Midwest Center for Theological Studies to Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary to express its mission and Reformed Baptist theological identity more clearly.

1. 1Covenant Baptist Theological Seminaryen.wikipedia.org
2. 2CBTS Unveils Blueprint for 100% Agentic Delivery After Scaling Anthropic Company-Wide, Giving Mid-Market Companies a Proven Path to AI-Fueled Growth - Morningstarnews.google.com