Dallas Theological Seminary has formed an academic partnership with Evangelical Theological Seminary in India to launch a graduate-level Christian counseling program, with a long-term plan for the Indian institution to operate the program on its own.
Evangelical Theological Seminary (ETS), located in Bagalur near Bangalore and operated as a ministry of Asian Christian Academy, will enroll its first cohort of 11 students in a Master of Arts in Christian Counseling beginning in fall 2026. The program is structured so ETS can eventually sustain and administer it independently of its American partner, according to a joint announcement.
Under the arrangement, students will complete their Bible and theology coursework at ETS while taking selected counseling modules from Dallas Theological Seminary's Master of Arts in Counseling Ministries curriculum. Those enrolled in the counseling portion will register as nondegree students at DTS, with instruction delivered through online courses and in-person teaching by DTS faculty traveling to India.
ETS was founded in 1978 by Isaac John, a Dallas Theological Seminary alumnus who had studied there in 1973 before returning to India to establish theological training suited to the local context. Accredited by the Asia Theological Association, the seminary offers postgraduate and doctoral programs in biblical studies, theology, and ministry, and describes its mission as equipping men and women for Christian leadership across India and Asia.
Stephen George, president of ETS, said church growth in India had created demand for trained counselors that existing programs were not meeting.
"ETS offers degrees for pastors, theologians, and ministry leaders in India, but as the church continues to grow, we identified a need for qualified Christian counselors," George said. "We're honored to cocreate a pathway to raise up a generation of biblically rooted counselors throughout India."
Michael Ortiz, vice president for global ministries at DTS and head of the International Council of Evangelical Theological Education, said the partnership is built around transferring ownership of the program to ETS over time.
"Our long-term plan is to equip qualified counselors and professors in India so that ETS can take over the degree and offer it independently of DTS," Ortiz said. "This is what global multiplication and discipleship look like, where we plan ahead and collaborate for the benefit of the church worldwide."
The two institutions have maintained a relationship for several years. Ongoing conversations between them identified a growing need for biblically grounded counseling training among pastors, ministry leaders, and lay counselors serving churches and communities across the region, they said.
