OUR MISSION
Summit Theological Seminary exists for the specific purpose of teaching the Bible, the Bible sciences, and related practical ministry courses.
Though it is not confined to those who are ministers of the Gospel, it was established for the purpose of recruiting and educating men for the ministry. The school was also designed to help encourage located ministers to finish their degree program.
It is a great opportunity for those who wish to continue working toward either an undergraduate or graduate level degree by Independent Study.
Though Summit Theological Seminary never has nor will seek
accreditation, you will find it provides a top quality Bible education.
About Us
Summit’s President is Terry A. Carter. Brother Carter attended the following schools:
At Tri-State University he earned an Associate of Technology (’86)
From Purdue University a Bachelor of Science (’89)
From Summit Theological Seminary a Bachelor of Theology (’96), and a Master of Arts in Theology (’99)
From Purdue a Master of Science (2002).
Before entering the ministry, Brother Carter worked as a Software Engineer. He began working for a Fortune 500 Company. Later he traveled the world working on computer controlled machinery. Then he spent some time as a plant manager for a gold refinery. Finally he began his own computer consulting company.
Brother Carter has held ministries in Stryker, OH; Archbold, OH; Fort Wayne, IN; and Millington, MI.
Brother Carter returned to Fort Wayne in 1998 to help begin Northside Church of Christ where he served for 9 years. He held a preaching ministry at the Church of Christ at Grissom in Peru, IN from 2016 until December of 2020.
Brother Carter has had articles published in several religious journals. He has spoken at a number of Family Camps, Retreats, Clinics and Revivals. He has taught on a college level at both Purdue University and Summit Theological Seminary and was the principal of Harlan Christian School for 7 years until August of 2013. On August 1st, 2013, Brother Carter assumed the Presidency at Summit as Brother Faull assumed the Chancellor/Founder position.
He currently serves as Trustee at Person to Person Ministries and returned full time to Summit Theological Seminary in January 2021.
Summit Theological Seminary's Founder and former Chancellor:
George L. Faull.
Mr. Faull passed away February 24th, 2021.
To read about Summit's Founder, former President and Chancellor, please visit his Memorial Page on the following link
Administration
President
Terry Carter
Founder
George L. Faull
Our History
In 1974 George L. Faull established Treaty Institute for Evangelism at Treaty IN. It grew in the first four years to 12,000 students. It was a non degree granting institution and offered resident classes and correspondence courses.
Thanks to Joe Garman over ten thousand of those students were prisoners. It was given to American Rehabilitation Ministries and moved to Huntington, IN. It was called American Institue for Evangelism. It was then moved to Joplin, MO and the name was changed to American Bible Academy. Since its beginning it has had over 189,000 students enroll in a serious study of the Word of God.
Brother Faull moved to Woodburn Indiana and started Seminary Off-Campus Studies. It began in 1980. It's degrees were granted by Louisville Bible College, Indiana Christian University, and Clayton University. Several colleges accepted their work. Dean Mills worked closely with Brother Faull as Dean of the school. He later became President of Eastern Christian College and he suggested that Seminary Off-Campus Studies evolve to a degree-granting school on its own.
So began Summit Theological Seminary. It was l984 when the school was incorporated and that name was chosen because it began in Ft. Wayne's tallest building, One Summit Square. It has enjoyed a steady increase in attendance of students across the country. Classes have been held in Woodburn, three different locations in Ft. Wayne and finally moved to its present location on State Hwy 31 and Airport Road in Peru, IN. Summit School of Preaching resident students and others attending LEAP programs and visitors from the Brotherhood were able to enjoy the classrooms and dorms at the Grissom Aeroplex base on S. Matador Street in Peru, IN from 2012 to 2022. Brother Terry Carter assumed the Presidency at Summit on August 1st, 2013 as Brother Faull assumed the Chancellor/Founder position.
The school has never asked for a donation in all of the years that it has existed. The four buildings on Airport Road were built at a cost of only $350,000 due to volunteer labor by students and members of the churches in the area.
The school has never sought accreditation and therefore has been able to keep down the number of employees and facilities, therefore the costs per credit hour have been kept at a minimum. Students from most of the states, and a few foreign countries, enjoy good instruction in a program that continues to enjoy respect among the churches that use the students that it produces.
The school is operated by trustees for state approval and has brought in some outstanding men to lecture in the resident classes. It is a monument to what can be done by a few dedicated men without requiring constant requests for financial support. People have given, but it is always unsolicited and no money has to be spent to try to oil the machinery. God has blessed Summit at every turn and we pray it may be a continual blessing to His Church.
Quick Facts
- Summit currently has over 2,000 students enrolled around the world.
- Last year 110 resident students attended the classes at Summit Theological Seminary.
- Summit Theological Seminary is not accredited by any accrediting institution.
- Only 10% of the degree program can be earned by Life’s Experiences.
- You may use a qualified instructor with our approval for a course in your program. He must hold a degree equal to the one you are pursuing.
- Currently, 100% of our instructors graduated from schools other than Summit Theological Seminary.
- 95% of the faculty’s highest degrees were received from regionally accredited schools.
- We are not affiliated in any way with any other institution of higher learning.
- Students are not encouraged to enroll in our Graduate program if they seek: (1) Ordination in mainline denominations, (2) To become a chaplain in the Armed Services or (3) To teach on college level in accredited institutions because such institutions require accreditation.
- Bible colleges accredited with AABC may or may not accept our under-graduate credits because we are not accredited.
What is a Non-Resident Degree?
A “Non-Resident Degree Program” does not require attendance in a traditional college classroom. Decades ago, the trend began for colleges to offer non-resident degree programs. This included both accredited and unaccredited schools. This has been, and continues to be, a very practical, and far less expensive means of education.
The Bible, theology, education, religion, and Biblical counseling are subjects that can be learned by non-resident methods. Unlike art, crafts, science, and vocational trade skills, these subjects lend themselves to this type of an educational approach. The reading of books, listening to recorded lectures, and viewing videos and cassettes make these subjects easily grasped by the adult student. A thesis, project, or original research demonstrates the student’s comprehension and expertise.
Non-resident degree programs are not correspondence courses, though a few correspondence courses may be allowed to be used toward the degree. There is a vast difference between correspondence courses and independent guided study.
Correspondence Courses, for the most part, are usually several lessons in length, requiring “fill-in-the-blank” type questions, a short-term paper, and a final supervised exam. There are fully accredited colleges that offer correspondence courses in dozens of fields. Summit Theological Seminary will make use of these schools in assigning courses to students in the area of Liberal Arts.
Independent Study on the other hand, requires a bibliography, independent research, assigned reading, viewing, and listening, as well as originality in producing projects that demonstrate competency in the chosen area of study.
Initially non-resident degree programs were primarily done through mail. Materials were sent to the student who then studied them, did the required research, wrote papers, and took exams. In recent years, this has begun shifting to online classes which can be either live or recorded.
Summit Theological Seminary has offered the traditional independent studies via the mail since it was founded in 1984. We sill offer this method and will continue to do so. As of the fall of 2022, we are also offering a live online option for the full schedule of classes each semester. We fully expect this method of non-resident study to continue to grow in the years to come.
For traditional independent study courses, Summit Theological Seminary uses professors who are experts in their field to layout programs of self-study which will result in a practical, inexpensive learning experience.
For in-person and online classes, we use highly qualified, Biblically solid professors to teach each semester providing options for students who thrive in those situations.
How Are We Unique?
The School is Unique in Several Ways:
- First, it does not offer any liberal arts education. However, it does require a basic core of liberal arts for the Bachelor’s degree. These must be transferred from other schools that are recognized by our school.
- Second, it does not have either a music or athletic department. However, some such courses from other schools may be used as electives.
- Third, the school will not solicit money for its operation. The school will be funded by its tuition. Some unsolicited gifts may come from those who believe in what we are attempting to do. It is our belief that many share our desire to have a college level program with an emphasis on Bible.
- Fourth, it encourages the student to be teaching in some capacity while he is enrolled. We agree with Seneca who said, “Men learn while they teach.”
- Fifth, it is not necessary that the student take resident courses. Though some may take residence study, others may choose to learn by means of audio, video, and reading courses. Seminars are also offered. Francis Bacon said, “Reading maketh a full man, conference a ready man, and writing an exact man.”
Summit Theological Seminary does not exist to tell men “How the heavens go.” It is designed to prepare its students to tell men “How to go to Heaven.” It does not deal with the “Age of rocks,” it deals with the “Rock of Ages.” It does not strive to equip men in the “Ways of the evil world,” but in how to help men overcome the “Evil of the world’s way.”
In short, Summit Theological Seminary exists for one basic reason: We want men and women to be “Teaching God’s Word to God’s World.” Our degrees simply state that the student has seriously disciplined themself to prepare for the task. It is the most important task in the world!
One Summit Square Fort Wayne, IN
Fort Wayne Ofc. 1989-1993
Present Offices - Peru, IN
Resident Hall Classrooms and Dorm
2012 to Spring 2022
