The Congregational Foundation for Theological Studies was established in 1961 as a response to the concern many people were expressing for where the churches were to find ministers whose commitment, training and preparation fitted them uniquely for service to the churches of the Congregational Way. 

It represents an unusual approach to theological education designed to serve the special requirements of our divers Congregational fellowship in which no single theological viewpoint can represent all of the churches. 

CFTS is as the name denotes, a foundation which provided financial aid in the form of grants and scholarships and thereby places a fine theological education within reach of all potential Congregational ministers. It also seeks to enrich each student's program academically by providing a directed study in Congregational History and Polity and by providing annual seminars on topics related to ministry in the Congregational churches. To provide experience in the practice of ministry, each student is required to serve an internship in an approved NACCC teaching church. By giving equal emphasis to the financial, the academic and the practical portions of the program, the Congregational Foundation for Theological Studies provided unusually fine preparation for ministry in Congregational churches of our Association.