Identity, Mission and Vision

Who We Are

Cornerstone University is a Christ-centered university with a passion for global influence through the transforming power of the gospel.

Why We Exist

Cornerstone University exists to empower men and women to excel as influencers in our world for Christ by offering a student-focused learning community where Jesus Christ is central.

What We Aspire To

We aspire to create a thriving community of fully devoted followers of Jesus in a spiritually contagious, academically excellent, richly resourced and culturally diverse learning environment that attracts outstanding students, faculty and staff who influence our world for Christ, His church and His kingdom.

Mission and Purpose

Cornerstone Theological Seminary is a graduate school that prepares biblically informed ministry leaders for service through Christ’s church.

The seminary exists to achieve the following six purposes:

1. To advance biblical, theological and ministry knowledge and skill.
2. To nurture theological, spiritual and leadership formation.
3. To encourage the development of critical thinking and worldview formation governed by biblical teaching.
4. To nurture a global ministry perspective.
5. To enhance the cultural relevance of ministry practice within the bounds of a distinctively Christian theological framework.
6. To encourage lifelong and collaborative learning.

CTS Motto

The motto of Cornerstone Theological Seminary is “Learning, Serving, Leading.” 

Learning

Student learning is central to the mission, values and overall culture of Cornerstone Theological Seminary. Through a disciplined and rigorous learning environment, faculty members temper the challenge with grace and support. The core curriculum is designed to enable students to conduct disciplined interpretation and application of the Bible; articulate a coherent understanding of Christian theology; and demonstrate knowledge, values and competencies associated with spiritual, worldview and leadership formation. In addition to the core curriculum, the various degrees include areas of specialization, equipping students for a wide range of ministry, leadership, teaching, discipleship and non-profit vocations. 

CTS conceives of learning in holistic terms, seeking to foster growth of the whole person. Traditional classroom teaching, interaction with faculty scholars, student assessments and a field education experience combine to foster cognitive, affective and behavioral learning. Since ministry and other forms of service are always engaged as whole persons, the preparation must foster holistic learning and growth. CTS understands this and structures a diverse set of learning experiences that foster maturation of the whole person.

Serving

In addition to working with faculty scholars to develop exegetical skills and theological understanding, CTS offers students the opportunity to work with seasoned ministry professionals to refine their gifts, confirm their calling and mature in character within the context of authentic service and/or practice.

Through Ministry Residency, and as part of the degree program requirements, students serve side by side with experienced ministry leaders and professional counselors within local church, parachurch and other vocational contexts. The sustained nature of the Ministry Residency experience, throughout the duration of the degree program, enables students to establish a life pattern of learning and serving, the necessary foundation for mature and effective vocational service.

Leading

At CTS, we believe that ministry leadership emerges from the mastery of learning and serving.

Leadership, or influence, in ministry is not inherent to a position or established by exerting authority but by the authentic confession of faith, affirmation of gifts, demonstration of commitment and competence, expression of care and credibility of character.

At CTS, we believe that ministry leadership is best understood as stewardship, consisting of a stewardship of truth, of persons and of organizations. Ministry leaders, regardless of position, are responsible to accurately represent God and His Word, nurture the faith and contribution of others and foster a mature and responsive faith community.

Effectiveness and influence in life and ministry require a sustained commitment and engagement in learning and serving. Leadership flows from the expertise and credibility derived from such commitments and actions. CTS understands itself and its mission in these terms, endeavoring to nurture life patterns of learning, serving and leading.

Educational Effectiveness

Assessment of student learning is highly valued at Cornerstone Theological Seminary. We take seriously our responsibility to deliver on the promise to provide excellence in graduate theological education. At CTS, assessment of student outcomes is not an externally imposed burden. Rather, assessment of student learning and the disclosure of educational effectiveness is a task of stewardship, a process for organizational learning and a matter of accountability.

The effectiveness of our educational programs is assessed in a disciplined and routine manner. Through a variety of instruments and processes, we assess the achievement of the intended student learning outcomes of our curriculum, student and alumni satisfaction, readiness for vocational service of our students and vocational achievement of our graduates.

Accreditation, Authorization and Academic Standing

Cornerstone Theological Seminary is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and in affiliation with:

• International Academic Credential Evaluators, Inc (IACE)
• International Council for Evangelical Theological Education (ICETE)

The commission contact information is:

Higher Learning Commission:
230 South LaSalle Street
Suite 7-500
Chicago, Illinois 60604
Phone:  800.621.7440

Our programs are offered by the Michigan State Board of Education to grant the B.D. degree in 1948, the M.Div. degree in 1968, the M.R.E. degree in 1969, the Th.M. degree in 1977, the M.T.S. degree in 1985 and the M.A. degree in 1996.

The U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force accept M.Div. graduates as candidates for chaplaincy. The United States Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service has approved the seminary for education of international students.

The U.S. Office of Education Directory lists CTS as an approved graduate theological institution.