Pentecostal Theological Seminary

What Pentecostal Theological Seminary does

Pentecostal Theological Seminary (PTS) is a private, nonprofit graduate theological institution founded in 1975 and headquartered at 900 Walker St. NE, Cleveland, Tennessee, operating under the sponsorship of the Church of God denomination. It is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and designated a Military Friendly School for six consecutive years through 2024. PTS delivers graduate theological education through doctoral programs (PhD, Doctor of Ministry), master's degrees (Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling), and a fully online Certificate in Wesleyan-Pentecostal Ministry (CWPM), with its student body representing over 40 countries.

The institution operates a hybrid delivery model combining on-campus instruction with global online and cohort-based programs under the Global Education Initiative, supported by a proprietary streaming media platform called Spirit Network (SPN), built on a Vimeo infrastructure contract. Supporting infrastructure includes the jointly operated Squires Library shared with Lee University (housing the Dixon Pentecostal Research Center), the Populi student information system, Flywire for international payments, and Authorize.net for domestic payment processing. Specialized centers (Center for Latino Studies, Center for African Descent Studies, Center for Pastoral Excellence) address targeted demographics within the global Pentecostal community, while PTS Press and the Hall of Prophets program reinforce scholarly prestige and alumni engagement.

PTS generates revenue primarily through tuition and fees across its degree programs, supplemented by donations and named endowments (e.g., the Dr. Don and Jackie Walker and Fred H. and Colene R. Mercer endowments), grants (including a $1,000,000 grant supporting the PTS THRIVE initiative), web store sales via ptseminarystore.com, and nominal transcript and administrative fees. Go-to-market is denominational and event-driven: recruitment flows through Church of God networks, international MOUs with Pentecostal institutions in Latin America, Africa, Europe, and Asia, and recurring on-campus events (Hall of Prophets, Clarence J. Abbott Lecture, Third Pentecost Symposium). Leadership under President and Church of God Chancellor of Education Dr. Michael L. Baker (since 2016) has coincided with record enrollment, the 2023 ecumenical MOA with C.H. Mason Theological Seminary, and a 50th anniversary in 2025.

Name

Pentecostal Theological Seminary

Legal name

Pentecostal Theological Seminary

Website

https://ptseminary.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Pentecostal Theological Seminary is a Church of God-sponsored, ATS-accredited graduate theological institution in Cleveland, Tennessee, offering doctoral, master's, and certificate programs to ministers and aspiring clergy across more than 40 countries through on-campus, online, and global cohort delivery.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Theological Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Seminaries (Graduate Theology & Ministry) (EDAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Denominational Theological Colleges (e.g., Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical) (EDAHAKAM), Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)

Keywords

• Theological education
• Graduate seminary programs
• Ministerial training
• Online learning
• Pastoral counseling

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from graduate theological education programs including doctoral, masters, and certificate programs. Students pay tuition for coursework leading to degrees.
2. Donations and Endowments: Contributions from donors for general operations, scholarships, endowed chairs, and specific projects including Dr. Don and Jackie Walker endowment, Fred H. and Colene R. Mercer endowment, and other named endowments.
3. Web Store Sales: PTS operates a web store (ptseminarystore.com) selling books, merchandise, and publications.
4. Transcript and Administrative Fees: $5 fee for official transcripts with additional fees for expedited delivery or international shipping. Account settlement services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Pentecostal Theological Seminary (PTS) is a private graduate theological institution located in Cleveland, Tennessee, offering doctoral, master's, and certificate degree programs in Pentecostal theology, ministry, and clinical mental health counseling. The seminary also operates the Spirit Network (SPN) media platform, the PTS Press publishing arm, and the Hall of Prophets academic honor program, supporting both on-campus and distance learners. Specialized centers focus on Latino Studies, African Descent Studies, and Pastoral Excellence.

Product overview

Pentecostal Theological Seminary (PTS) is a higher education institution offering a comprehensive suite of theological degree programs and ministry training. The institution operates a platform-plus-services model centered on graduate theological education, including doctoral programs (PhD, Doctor of Ministry), master's degrees (Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling), and certificate programs (Certificate in Wesleyan-Pentecostal Ministry). Supporting the academic core, PTS provides specialized centers for Latino Studies, African Descent Studies, and Pastoral Excellence, along with media distribution via Spirit Network (SPN), library resources through Squires Library, publishing via PTS PRESS, and the PTS Web Store for merchandise. The institution also recognizes distinguished ministers through its Hall of Prophets program and hosts the annual Clarence J. Abbott Lecture series.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Pentecostal Theology

Quantifiable outcome

• 50 years of Pentecostal theological education with record enrollment
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and regional.

• C.H. Mason Theological Seminary (Church of God in Christ)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 August 2023Historic Memorandum of Agreement signed between Pentecostal Theological Seminary and C.H. Mason Theological Seminary, two significant Pentecostal denominations. This partnership represents major ecumenical cooperation between Church of God and Church of God in Christ theological institutions.
• Church of God African Descent Ministries CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 August 2023Partnership for 2023 International African Descent Conference co-produced with Church of God African Descent Ministries Council and Church of God Intercultural Ministries.
• FlywirecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 March 2023Flywire is the market leader in international education payment processing. PTS partnered with Flywire as part of its Global Education Initiative to increase efficiency in payment processing and reduce fees for international payments. Students can transfer funds electronically using their national currency with minimal fees and dedicated multilingual customer support.
• Vimeo.comcoreTechnology or Integration · 4 December 2019Contract signed with Vimeo supporting the establishment of Spirit Network as a global online media educational platform for streaming chapel services and lectures.
• Church of God of Prophecy (COGOP) - Central AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 December 2019MOU providing Master of Arts in Church Ministry program through COGOP Central America affiliates, expanding PTS's global reach in Latin America.
• Global Fire Advance (GFA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 July 2019Memorandum of Understanding signed for collaborative ministerial formation, representing alignment with international Pentecostal training initiatives.
• Church of God Southern New EnglandregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 27 June 2019Historic MOU signed during Southern New England Camp Meeting for regional ministry training and education distribution.
• Global Fire AdvancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Memorandum of Understanding for collaborative ministerial formation and training initiatives.
• Church of God Chaplaincy and Care CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Transfer agreement of Church of God Chaplaincy and Care Center in Oradea, Romania to Pentecostal Theological Institute.
• Church of God (Parent Denomination)flagshipOthers · 1 January 2018PTS is sponsored by the Church of God and serves as its theological education arm. Dr. Michael Baker serves as Chancellor of Education for Church of God while also serving as PTS President. Denominational relationships enable global reach through Church of God World Missions and affiliated ministries.
• USA Hispanic Educational Ministries, SEMISUD, SEBIMEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 May 2017Global Education Initiative interinstitutional partnerships for Hispanic/Latino theological education across USA, Latin America, and Belgium.
• NTCG Leadership Training CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 May 2017Memorandum of Understanding establishing partnership for leadership development and ministerial training through the Networked Training Church Global (NTCG) center.
• Global Institute for Ministry and Training (GIMT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Global partnership for worldwide ministerial training, coordination of European and Canadian training programs, and international education initiatives.
• Church of God in CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017MOU recognizing God's call to develop Spirit-led leaders through theological education partnerships for Canadian Church of God affiliates.
• Pentecostal Theological Institute, Bucharest, RomaniacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Strategic partnership for chaplaincy training and care center in Oradea, Romania, with leadership from Church of God ceremonially signing agreement.
• Lee UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShared Squires Library between Lee University and Pentecostal Theological Seminary students. Shared campus facilities in Cleveland, TN. Joint hosting of Society for Pentecostal Studies conferences.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Tyndale University: Canadian evangelical/Pentecostal-leaning seminary offering accredited masters and doctoral programs. Comparable in denominationally rooted theological education, smaller institutional scale, and Spirit-centered formation.
• Oral Roberts University: Charismatic/Pentecostal university with a graduate theology school offering masters and doctoral programs. Comparable in Wesleyan-Pentecostal tradition, degree mix, and spiritually-formational mission.
• Anderson University School of Theology: Church of God (Anderson, Indiana) affiliated seminary offering masters and doctoral programs. Closely comparable denominational context, Wesleyan-holiness heritage, and ministry-focused graduate education.
• C.H. Mason Theological Seminary: Theological seminary of the Church of God in Christ (COGIC). A direct peer after the 2023 MOA partnership with PTS, serving the largest historically African American Pentecostal denomination in the U.S.
• Lee University: Cleveland, TN-based Church of God affiliated university sharing a campus, library (Squires Library), and many denominational pipelines with PTS. Operates as the undergraduate academic counterpart feeding PTS graduate enrollment.
• Assemblies of God Theological Seminary (Evangel University): The flagship graduate theological school for the Assemblies of God denomination. Directly comparable as a Pentecostal graduate seminary offering masters, doctoral, and certificate programs with denominational affiliation and global cohort delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Asbury Theological Seminary: Wesleyan-holiness seminary with overlapping theological tradition and Pentecostal-friendly stream. Comparable in masters/doctoral offerings, online programs, and Wesleyan theological roots, but serves a wider Methodist/Wesleyan audience.
• Regent University School of Divinity: Large online theological school offering accredited masters and doctoral programs across evangelical and charismatic streams. Comparable in online delivery and degree offerings, but operates at a much larger scale with broader evangelical scope.
• Fuller Theological Seminary: Premier ecumenical evangelical seminary offering accredited masters and doctoral programs with strong online presence. Competes for the same prospective ministry students, though broader multi-denominational in identity rather than Pentecostal-specific.
• Liberty University John W. Rawlings School of Divinity: One of the largest accredited online theological schools in the U.S. offering affordable masters and doctoral programs. Competitor for online ministry students, though broader evangelical rather than specifically Pentecostal.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/user14116217
• Facebookfacebook.com/ptseminary
• Instagraminstagram.com/ptseminary_cog

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pentecostal Theological Seminary