Bethany Divinity College & Seminary
2573 Hodgesville Rd.
Dothan, AL 36301
Tel: 334-793-3189
Fax: 334-793-4344

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Frequently Asked Questions


Ans. Bethany is not and has not ever been a part of a denominational body, but is a free-standing school offering educational course subjects in Bible, Theology, Christian Education, and Bible related subjects. Bethany is an independent, conservative, fundamental, Bible based school, Baptist in identification, but trans-denominational in its student body.

Ans. Bethany is . . .

1. Incorporated under the laws of the State of Alabama and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Internal Revenue Service as a non-profit religious institution.

2. Bethany has provided biblical educational programs of study leading to an earned religious degree since opening its doors in Dothan, Alabama 1982, and has presented evidence that it qualifies for exemption from requirements of licensure pursuant to the Code of Alabama, Title 16-46-3, 1 through10, (a) (1), (b), (c), (d), and (e). Bethany was first issued a Certificate of Exemption on February 19, 1982, Certificate number 117.

3. Approved by the Veteran Administration for veterans who attend on-site classes.

4. Approved (college division) by the Evangelical Training Association, formerly known as ETTA, to award the ETA certificates.

5 . A member of the United States Distance Learning Association (this is not an accrediting association). To learn more about the USDLA, you may access their web site here. To view Bethany's listing with the USDLA, you may access the listing here.

6. Bethany has been granted "Affiliate Status" with the Association for Biblical Higher Education. Bethany Divinity College and Seminary is an affiliate institution of the Association for Biblical Higher Education. As such, it participates in and contributes to collegial and professional development activities of the Association. Affiliate status does not, however, constitute, imply, or presume ABHE accredited state at present or in the future. The ABHE is recognized by CHEA and CORPA, and listed by the United States Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency. For more information concerning "Affiliate Status" - Go here

Note: The primary focus of the Association for Biblical Higher Education is accreditation, but non-member institutions may also relate to the Association through an Affiliate Status. This affords affiliate institutions the opportunity to take advantage of many of the programs and services that the Association provides without becoming an accredited member. Affiliation with the Association is not to be confused with accreditation.

Ans. Bethany was founded in 1973 and was then located in North Georgia. The school was named North Georgia Baptist Bible College and Seminary.  In 1982 the school was moved to Dothan, Alabama and the name was changed to Bethany Bible College and Theological Seminary. However, in 2003 the Board of Directors voted to change the name by dropping the word Bible and inserting the word Divinity.

Ans. Basically there is no difference. However, because there were several other schools that use the name Bethany, for identification purposes, Bethany’s Board of Directors dropped the term Bible college and adopted the name Divinity College. An example: There is a Bethany Bible College in the USA associated with the Assemblies of God and there is another seminary by the name of Bethany Theological Seminary that is operated by the Church of the Brethren. Someone who does research for the World Wide Web reported that Bethany Divinity College was associated with the Church of the Brethren, but that is not true. Bethany Divinity College and Seminary has never been associated with the Church of the Brethren, but is an independent, conservative, Bible based school, standing for the inerrancy and infallibility of the Word of God.

Ans. Bethany Divinity College and Seminary does not promote or teach any particular church doctrine, but rather, holds to the fundamentals of the historical Christian faith. The school teaches Bible doctrine, doctrines that are found only in the Bible. Pastors, evangelists, missionaries and those who work in Christian education will find themselves to be comfortable with Bethany’s curriculum. It is the goal of Bethany Divinity College and Seminary to educate Christian leaders to proclaim the good news of God’s love in the church and in the world.

Ans. Bethany is different than most Bible and Theological schools because of its stand on the Word of God; its requirements and program design; its use of pastors training pastors; its goal and objectives; and its personal concern for the students.

Ans. Bethany has been a pioneer in external degree programs since 1973 and has gained a well respected position among other institutions of higher learning. Moreover, Bethany has developed a proven method of study that allows the student to study at home and get a quality education. Through the non-traditional methodology, Bethany has developed a high quality, self-motivating and self disciplining curriculum for the off-campus approach. The courses consist of conservative Bible teaching through the use of textbooks, research, assignments and deductive reasoning.