The Evangelical Seminary of Southern Africa (ESSA) is a committed evangelical institution of Higher Education in South Africa. Our focus is to equip men and women with tools and attitudes needed to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ in church, ministry a
The Evangelical Seminary of Southern Africa (ESSA) is a committedly evangelical institution of Higher Education in South Africa. Our focus is to equip men and women with tools and attitudes needed to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ in church, ministry and life. We are evangelical, multi-racial, multi-denominational, non-sexist, contextual and academically credible at tertiary level.
History of the Evangelical Seminary of Southern Africa
The Evangelical Seminary of Southern Africa (ESSA) is a committedly evangelical institution of Higher Education in South Africa. It was founded 1980 with the aim of offering high quality theological education to those who didn’t have access to theological training on that level. Today ESSA is still pursuing that goal, although times have changed drastically.
ESSA has seen the usual number of ups and downs in the past 33 years. A serious leadership crisis in 2008 has led to a reduction in staff from 20 to 5 full-time staff members by mid-2010. The Seminary has been de-registered in 2011 due to financial audited statements not being submitted to governmental departments on time. While the academic standards had been superb and ESSA’s 3 qualifications (BTh, DipTh and HCertTh) had just been re-accredited in 2010, the administrative aspect of the Seminary had been in need of attention. In beginning of 2012 the Seminary had a total of 630.000 Rand in combined debts.
Remaining staff members and a renewed council have committed themselves to re-build the Seminary into an institution that will, once again, serve the church and God its Lord by preparing men and women for ministry and mission in Africa and beyond through a new mode of instruction which is relevant and affordable and allows for stronger integration with local churches and congregations.
In May 2013 the combined debts have been cleared and, probably for the first time in its history, the Seminary was debt free and showed a positive balance in the bank account. The financial statements have been audited and administration is back on track again. Academic accreditation is sought again for January 2015 where ESSA is preparing to offer a BTh programme in a block-release model.
"We are an evangelical academic community, in partnership with the Church, preparing men and women for ministry and mission in Africa and beyond."
