Each is affiliated with or sponsored by a denomination, a diocese, a religious organization, or several religious orders. Each offers professional degree programs for ministry at the master's and doctoral levels, and most also offer other academic degrees. All offer a variety of opportunities for continuing education for clergy and lay leaders, as well as conferences, lectures, and other programs of interest to a wider public. Together, the schools within ACTS offer a rich network of resources for theological education, making the association one of the outstanding centers of theological education in the world. Available to the approximately 3,000 students currently enrolled at its member schools is a faculty of more than 350, more than 1,000 courses offered annually, and library collections of 1.7 million volumes and nearly 5,000 currently received periodical subscriptions.
Several schools have well-stocked theological bookstores.
In addition, ACTS makes it possible for students and faculty to pursue their work, study, and reflection in interaction with people from many different cultural and theological traditions. Students in ACTS schools also have access to other resources pertinent to theological education through institutions related to ACTS . ACTS itself does not offer either courses or degrees. Application for enrollment must be made to one of the member institutions. The current chairperson of ACTS is Cynthia M. Campbell of McCormick Theological Seminary.