Curriculum
The Church’s Leader Training Challenge: More than One Way to Address the Need
Based on the “Diversity of Theo Ed Prog in MW Theo Sem” Survey – Overseas Council, 2019 Abstract This article explores the results of a recent survey of 130 theological seminaries in the Majority World that are related to Overseas Council. The results point to a diversity of programs, study topics, and modalities within Majority… read more
Grassroots Theological Education
Abstract Grassroots theological education should be viewed as an intrinsic part of theological education. It is part of a three-fold model of theological engagement: grassroots, ministerial, and academic. All three types of learning operate on the same continuum, yet each has a distinct purpose, distinct content, and a distinct audience. Refocusing on grassroots theological education… read more
Matrices for Understanding Pastoral Leadership and Implications for the Global Landscape of Theological Education
Abstract Measurements of pastoral training would be of immense value to the Global Church. This paper attempts to create matrices that allow trainers to measure pastors’ needs for training based on their past leadership experience and context. The proposed matrices identify various stages in a pastoral leader’s journey and can be used as a guide… read more
A Philippine Reflection: Asian Theological Seminary and Two New Programs
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 of quality theological education for the Asian region and beyond. Introduction In 2012, Asian Theological Seminary… read more
Relevance and Faithfulness: Challenges in Contextualizing Theological Education
The relevance of theological curricula to specific contexts has always been a challenge. In our pluralistic world where graduates minister in greatly varying contexts and cultures, theological education has to be both relevant and faithful. It is no longer enough to ensure that students have mastered core theological concepts and truths, learned biblical knowledge, and… read more
Toward Theological Integration Using Action Research: Reflections from an Arab Context
This article describes our attempt to use an abbreviated version of action research in an integrated learning module of the Theology Program at the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary in Beirut, Lebanon. Practical theological and theological educators can make effective use of this social scientific method within the context of the theological school. Among the benefits… read more
Research-Based Curriculum Review: Learning from the Africa Leadership Study
Introduction Leadership development is a buzzword found in the vision and mission statements of many evangelical theological institutions in Africa. The irony, however, is that the more theological institutions claim to be developing transformational leaders for the African church, the more leadership crises the church continues to encounter. Elliston (1988) used graphic words like over-functioning,… read more
Book Review: González, Justo L. The History of Theological Education
If we imagine the great Church Fathers and ancient theologians graduating summa cum laude from the most prestigious seminaries of the ancient world, then Justo González has a surprise for us. Seminaries are actually a recent development, established less than 500 years ago to prepare those called to ministry. How in the world did the… read more
Book Review: Shaw, Perry. Transforming Theological Education: A Practical Handbook for Integrative Learning.
In Transforming Theological Education: A Practical Handbook for Integrative Learning, Perry Shaw, Professor of Christian Education at Arab Baptist Theological Seminary (ABTS) in Beirut, Lebanon, addresses problems familiar to theological educators around the world. These challenges include providing alternatives to the classic tripartite curriculum (i.e., biblical, dogmatic, and practical theology), overcoming an almost exclusive reliance… read more
