Introduction During the COVID-19 pandemic, a seminary in Brazil decided to offer online courses, just like many other seminaries in the Majority World They made the decision quickly because of the need to continue to offer classes during lockdown Unusually, the school did not have a preexisting..... read more
Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every source of seminary income Many seminaries have seen tuition income decline precipitously (Even before the pandemic, tuition on average only met between a third and half of a school’s financial needs (Smith 2015)) Other sources of income..... read more
“We live in an unprecedented time” Those words, alongside adjectives like “strange,” “unique,” and “challenging,” have been repeated frequently since the term “novel coronavirus” entered the collective lexicon In the last 50 years, perhaps no other event has impacted so much of..... read more
The COVID-19 crisis has created an unprecedented disruption for global theological education Within a few weeks, nearly all face-to-face instruction ceased around the world Most schools scrambled to salvage the remainder of the term by moving into online learning environments They used..... read more
Educational Model for the Next Semester (or Two) Notes: For US colleges this fall, Inside Higher Education has described 15 possibilities for reopening – three main categories with variations (eg, delayed starts, hybrid approaches, etc) Resume normal teaching on campus (with enhanced..... read more
The following questions can help school leaders analyze issues related to finances as they meet with their management teams, Board, and donors Communication During the crisis, how have you communicated with your senior leadership team, faculty, staff, and Board about the school’s..... read more
Near-term: The following questions relate primarily to the coming term as schools transition into the next phase of pandemic-inflected reality For many, this term will mean temporary approaches that enhance the initial emergency response but are not yet fully designed online programs Which..... read more
The COVID-19 pandemic has added considerable stress across every aspect of the theological school, including the community’s spiritual and emotional well-being As leaders, we not only provide vision and management for the institution, but we also contribute to creating an environment of care for..... read more
Abstract Although they often practice theological research and reflection, many theological schools have not developed a prophetic voice – a sense of missional calling that addresses specific problems facing the Church and society As an act of stewardship, the institution can develop this..... read more
Not all leaders get to choose the time at which they will away step from their responsibilities, and not all transitions at South Asian Institute for Advanced Christian Studies (SAIACS) in Bangalore, India, have gone well However, after twenty-four years of involvement at SAIACS, the last ten..... read more
Abstract Two key strategic priorities – vocation formation among the diaspora and communal spiritual formation – emerged from consultations with global partners and the Vital SustainAbility Initiative These two priorities are translated into new programs fulfilling the seminary’s mission..... read more
Philip Melanchthon, the essential yin to Martin Luther’s yang, led reformation of Lutheran education The times demanded new educational materials and forms, and consumed much of his attention from his inaugural lecture at Wittenberg in August 1518 until his death in April 1560 Melanchthon’s..... read more
In their study entitled The Impact of New Public Management on Academic Citizenship: A Case Study of the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sharareh Ani and Lina Persson state that “[a]cademic citizenship is a relatively new theory that has not yet been studied..... read more
For greatest impact, each theological school must discern and articulate its unique mission within the broader purpose of theological education in service to the Church and the Kingdom of God This mission then guides the strategy of the school, for which the faculty is perhaps the most essential..... read more
Abstract: Financial viability remains one of the greatest challenges facing schools of theology To succeed, schools in Africa need to better understand the business of theological education in order to better accomplish their mission To do so, schools must better understand the true costs of..... read more
One day, the disciples found themselves in a situation that would be a nightmare for any president of a theological institution They were challenged to provide food for thousands of hungry students! The disciples were troubled, knowing that vast resources would be required However, Jesus urged..... read more
Our town in Italy is famous for the flavor and quality of its olive oil A neighbor has 3,000 mature trees, well-spaced and perfectly pruned, located on a hillside with ample sun exposure He is experienced and competent, and his family has been producing oil for generations Yet he loses an average..... read more
The Challenge When the Ethiopian Graduate School of Theology (EGST) was established in 1997 as the first and only graduate theological institution in the Horn of Africa, the founders did not plan for it to have its own campus, faculty, and full-time staff The plan was for all teaching..... read more
