Accreditation Information

"Accreditation is a process colleges and universities submit to voluntarily.

Regional agencies accredit entire schools, and professional agencies accredit either specialized schools or departments within schools. There are no national accrediting standards.

Because accreditation is not mandatory, lack of accreditation does not necessarily mean a school or program is bad. Some schools choose not to apply for accreditation."

~ Excerpted from NONTRADITIONAL EDUCATION: ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO EARN YOUR CREDENTIALS 
by U.S. Department of Labor - Published 1996 (view the original document here) 

Some points to remember:

• There is secular education and there is religious education.
• Secular schools seek secular education, and sacred schools receive sacred accreditation—each by their own peers.
•  Religious institutions need no secular accreditation because they offer no secular degrees.
• Secular accreditation associations in turn are recognized by governmental agencies. They trace their authority back to the capitol of a country, like Washington, D.C.
• Religious accrediting associations are recognized by the Church of Jesus Christ, which has no supreme central office on earth. Our authority is derived directly from Heaven through the Word of God.
• Civil and religious interests are different and have separate realms of jurisdiction.
• The State is not superior to the Church. The Church need not wait for approval from the secular world.
• Civil agencies should not be dictating standards of Christian education, any more than a police officer should be directing the worship of God.
• Theological Seminaries should not be accredited by accrediting associations that are "recognized" by an agency of the federal government, because it is contrary to the Biblical principle of "Separation of Church and State," indicated by Christ when He said, "…Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s…" (Mark 12:17).
• What business does a Christian educator have going to the world of unbelievers for recognition and acknowledgement when 2 Corinthians 6:14 clearly tells us, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?"
• A Christian educational institution securing accreditation from an association which is attached to a governmental agency is a Scripturally
  condemned and unholy union as James 4:4 says, "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?"

Trinity Evangelical Christian University chooses NOT to seek secular accreditation or recognition of any kind from any of the privately operated "Big 6" regional accrediting agencies. We are, however, fully recognized and endorsed by The American Theological Education Association and our degrees, professional certifications and ordinations have been fully accepted worldwide, by many mainline denominations and countless other Christian outreach and service organizations.

We pray this information is a help to you, as you prayerfully consider completing your educational journey with us. We are committed to equipping and empowering you for Christ's service.