The Association of Theological Schools in South East Asia was established in 1957 in Singapore with sixteen schools as founding members and Benjamin I. Guansing of the Philippines as its first chairperson. Its first full meeting was held in Singapore in 1959 on which occasion it elected John R. Fleming as the first executive director. In June 1968 Kosuke Koyama succeeded John R. Fleming as executive director. From 1959 to May, 1974 the main office of the association was in Singapore. In June 1974 it was moved to Manila, Philippines, when Emerito P. Nacpil succeeded Kosuke Koyama. With the election of Yeow Choo Lak as executive director in 1981, the office was moved back to Singapore. It moved back to Manila again in 1998. At this time of writing there are eighty-one member-institutions of the association. 

In 1981 the name of the Association was changed to The Association For Theological Education in South East Asia. 

Besides publishing the Asia Journal of Theology, providing accreditation services, operating the South East Graduate School of Theology, and promoting faculty development, theological renewal and contextualization in the light of the critical Asian principle, and coordinating regional planning in theological education, the Association has run programs designed to meet the needs of theological education in the region. In the past it conducted theological study institutes in various disciplines of the theological spectrum and facilitated faculty exchange. Some of its present programs include the improvement of the management and administration of schools, the search for a new spirituality in Christian formation, the encouragement of the experiments in innovative or alternative patterns of theological education, the promotion of closer relationship between seminary and church, the search for a more adequate understanding of excellence in theological education and the development of Asian perspective and insights in Christian theology through the Theological Seminar-Workshops. 

As the association responded to the changing needs of theological education in the region, its Constitution has been correspondingly revised. The Constitution published below is the latest vision. It was revised and adopted at the Full Meeting of The Association in 1974 ( Note: For a fuller account of the history of the association, the reader may be referred to Alan  Thomson, “ A note on the Development of the Association of Theological Schools in South Asia,” in the South East Asia Journal of Theology, vol. 16, No.1, 1975 pp.35-44). 

An indication of our Association’s attempt to respond to the changing needs of theological education in our region is seen in the implementation of research and development program to assist in the intellectual and spiritual development of Asian theologians so that their Christian ministry will be enriched and be more effective. They also hope to contribute to the publication and popularization of a contextual and Asian-oriented theology by providing the facilities and opportunities for research into, and reflection upon, the Christian faith as it relates to the other religions, cultures and traditions of Asia and contemporary Asian society and its problems. They aim to provide continuing theological education for clergy, make available specialized education in the various form of pastoral theology, which can be used for the study of the programs and prospects of pastoral work in the member –institution of our Association.