Starting fresh!

SATS SYMPOSIA: We are Back!

Please mark your calendars for our upcoming Friday Symposia at SATS and join us for our welcome day. On Friday, 14 February (14:00 CAT), we are launching the Symposium with our annual Welcome Day. You can look forward to hearing from our Principal, Academic Dean, and other key role players. Join us to see what we have lined up for 2025 in the Symposium space. Click on the following link for more details: https://sats.ac.za/live-events/february-2025-symposium/

SATS e-Conference 2025: Register Online!

An interpreter’s hermeneutical approach flows from their posture towards the biblical text. Following the marked surge of higher critical methodologies in the 20th century, the hermeneutical landscape has been by a recent rise in ideological criticisms, cultural relativism, and reader-response approaches. Such reading strategies have resulted in biblical analyses that place the reader at the center of interpretation thereby giving them authority over the sacred text. The so-called hermeneutic of suspicion, which seeks to read against the grain of Scripture, has been eroding the conviction that Scripture is God-breathed, useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16). The rise of perilous hermeneutical approaches and their erosion of a hermeneutic of trust calls for a return to the text and a critical reconsideration of the reading strategies we adopt. In response to these dangers and opportunities for engagement, the 2025 SATS e-Conference is themed: “Back to the Bible: Biblical Hermeneutics in the Global South.” Celebrating the beauty, trustworthiness, and efficacy of Scripture, we aim to foster a dialogue around theories of interpretation and their application. We will explore the relationship between text and context, the centrality of Christ in the Bible, and the transformative power of the Scriptures to shape faith communities. Click here to register for this event!

 

Contact Person:

Please direct any questions to Dr Sarah Apps ().

Important Update: New Cum Laude Standard Effective 2025

We are introducing an important change to the Cum Laude qualification criteria across all applicable programmes, effective from Term 1, 2025. We are rolling out the change to ensure smooth implementation and fairness in the Honours and MDiv programmes. Below are the key updates:

  • Starting from 1 February 2025, students will need to achieve 80% or higher to graduate Cum Laude. (Until present, the requirement was 75%.)
  • Honours and MDiv students graduating in 2025, along with MTh thesis evaluations completed under the previous system, will still qualify for Cum Laude if they achieve a 75% or higher
  • From 2026, all graduates will require 80% or above to be eligible for Cum Laude, with no exceptions.
  • These changes do not apply to PhD, BTh, or Certificate

We will provide clear communication to students throughout this transition to ensure they are well-informed and supported.

Study Short Courses at SATS

If you want to study the Bible or theology without investing the time and money required for a full degree programme, Micro Seminary may be a good fit for you. You may be:

  • a seminary graduate committed to lifelong learning
  • a pastor who never had the opportunity to go to seminary
  • an ordinary Christian with a longing to learn about God and his Word

Click here for further information.

Counsellor’s Corner: February – The Power of Listening

“Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” – James 1:19

One of the greatest gifts we can give others is the gift of being fully present. Active listening not only shows love but also helps us understand others’ burdens. This month, practice pausing to listen before responding—it can transform relationships and foster deeper connections.

If you feel called to minister to others through lay-counselling or professional Christian counselling, we are here to walk with you on that journey. Supporting you in answering the calling in your life, is ours.

     Announcements from the Counselling Team 

  

We are thrilled to announce the launch of a new course in the Higher Certificate called Christian Counselling Skills 1.  This is the first of two courses that will equip lay-Christian counsellors with the 5E Model of Christian Counselling for their counselling toolbox. For those enrolled, let us know what you think.

Additional Free Resources

SATS has free resources available in a variety of formats. Our YouTube Channel covers a broad range of topics ranging from African Theology, Bible Interpretation, Christology, Ecclesiology, and others that can be viewed for your personal growth. In addition, we provide monthly Blog articles on interesting topics written by expert theologians and bi-annual academic articles in our scholarly journal, Conspectus. You are also welcome to register for future free events on our Events page.