Houston Graduate School of Theology

Houston Graduate School of Theology (HGST) is an independent, evangelical, multicultural, and ecumenical seminary, training students from more than 30 denominational traditions.

History and heritage 
Houston Graduate School of Theology was founded in 1983 by Dr. Delbert Vaughn and his wife, Carol. Both were associated with the Evangelical Friends Church. For the first fifteen years of its existence, the school was affiliated with the Evangelical Friends Church—Mid America.
The seminary was first housed in the Texas Medical Center. It later moved to other properties: the Adams Petroleum Building in 1987 and Central Congregational Church in 1996. In 2013, HGST moved to the campus of Willow Meadows Baptist Church.

Timeline:
 1983, the school was officially registered with the State of Texas
 1986, the school received accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
 2001, the school received accreditation from the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS)

Academics 
HGST offers six degree programs:
 Master of Divinity (MDiv)
 Master of Arts in Counseling (MAC)
 Master of Arts in Christian Ministry (MACM)
 Master of Theological Studies (MTS)
 Doctor of Ministry (DMin)
 Doctor of Professional Counseling (DPC)

Certificate programs are available in the areas of biblical languages, Christian spirituality, spiritual direction, and missional leadership.

Alumni
 Samuel Jackson Gilbert Jr., pastor-emeritus Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, Houston, Texas. 
 Ken Gross, author of the Emotional Prisons series. 
 Donald C. Simmons Jr., pastor, author and editor of Organizational Leadership: Foundations and Practices for Christians (IVP). 
 Becky Towne, pastor and dean of Houston Graduate School of Theology.

Accreditation 
HGST is fully accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS). HGST is listed in the Education Directory: Colleges and Universities, published by the Office of Educational Research and Improvement of the U.S. Department of Education Center of Statistics. HGST is approved by the State Approving Agency for veterans' benefits, and is a member of the Council of Southwestern Theological Schools (COSTS).

References

External links 
 Official website

Category:Seminaries and theological colleges in Texas
Category:Educational institutions established in 1983
Category:1983 establishments in Texas