The Association for Theological Education in South East Asia (ATESEA) is an organisation of Christian seminaries and other tertiary institutes of theology. It is based in Manila, Philippines and currently networks 102 member institutions and schools in 16 countries. It also acts as an accreditation agency for theological education in the South East Asian region. ATESEA publishes the Asia Journal of Theology, provides accreditation services, operates the South East Asia Graduate School of Theology, and promotes faculty development, theological renewal and contextualization in the light of the "Critical Asian Principle", while coordinating regional planning in Christian theological education. In 2007, ATESEA seminaries developed Guidelines for Doing Theologies in Asia, responding to the many challenges facing the region, including religious fundamentalism, ecological problems, natural disasters, globalisation and post-colonialism. ATESEA is a full member of the World Conference of Associations of Theological Institutions (WOCATI) by which the association is networked with other regional associations and accreditation agencies for theological education worldwide like the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS), the American Theological Library Association (ATLA) and the Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore College (BTESS) in India. Aims and objectives The aims of the ATESEA according to Section II of the association's constitution are as follows: To promote creative relationships among institutions and agencies engaged in theological education and the churches in the region. To facilitate regional efforts in theological education in the service of the churches in South East Asia. To set guidelines and standards of theological education and to provide accreditation services to member institutions and to others requesting it. To work for the improvement and renewal of theological education in the region in such ways it may deem appropriate. History ATESEA was established as the Association of Theological Schools in South East Asia in 1957 in Singapore with 16 schools as founding members. The first full meeting was held in 1959 under the leadership of Benjamin I. Guansing of the Philippines and John R. Fleming was elected as the first executive director. The secretariat and offices of ATESEA was in Singapore from 1959 to 1974. In June 1974, ATESEA moved to Manila, Philippines when Emerito P. Nacpil was elected the executive director. It was again relocated to Singapore in 1981. In 1981, the name of the association was changed to the current title and continued to expand its scope of operations