On October 18, 2023, UETS signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Asbury Theological Seminary.
Dr. Gregg A. Okesson, Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs at Asbury Seminary, signed the agreement along with Rev. Dr. Ivan Rusyn, UETS President.
The document was signed to collaborate on leadership development in the global church through theological education.
Asbury Theological Seminary (ATS), which consists of four schools (Biblical Interpretation, Counseling, Mission and Ministry, and Theology and Formation) was established in 1923.
Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary (UETS), in its turn, was founded in 1992 as an evangelical interdenominational institution to equip ministers for God’s kingdom in Ukraine, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. It provides training in missiology, theology, counseling, worship and leadership.
Both institutions share the goal of advancing the kingdom of God through theological education and will support educational, professional and intercultural activities among students and faculty of the two institutions and their respective communities.
Their collaboration will include resource sharing, joint research, visiting international scholars, faculty exchanges, joint classes and programs, and church planting partnerships.
According to Dr. Okesson, “It is an incredible honor for Asbury Seminary to partner with UETS… I’ve seen firsthand the kingdom impact they are making, especially related to trauma counseling… I look forward to many years of fruitful partnership between our institutions.”
“Partnership with Asbury Theological Seminary is a great blessing. Its faculty and experience will help us expand and strengthen the mission of UETS in areas such as leadership, counseling, mission, church-planting” said Dr. Rusyn.
“It is of particular importance for the ministry of UETS to the suffering Ukrainian nation amid the ongoing war,” added UETS President.