Models
Where We Do Our Theology Matters
“It used to be that we did our theology in the school and then went and practiced it. Now we are doing our theology out of our practice,” says Taras Dyatlik, Regional Director for Overseas Council and consultant to the ScholarLeaders Vital SustainAbility project. He shared these words over Zoom, speaking to a group of… read more
Constructing a Model of Theological Education for Contemporary China: Retrieving Insights from Jia Yuming
Abstract This article examines the model of theological education developed by Jia Yuming (1880–1964), who established a Bible school emphasizing spiritual formation. Jia envisioned his school of spirituality as a place that holistically cultivated holy persons by integrating spiritual formation, biblical-theological knowledge, and mission. Jia’s model balanced cultivation of heart and mind to encourage students… read more
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
Introduction
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 combinations of learning platforms, video conferencing and file sharing software, social media, and… 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
Becoming More Truly Christ’s Followers and More Truly South Asian
“Tell me to what you pay attention and I will tell you who you are” Jose Ortega y Gasset A welter of challenges faces the church in South Asia. Some are daunting, but each is an opportunity the Christian community can engage and use. The key challenge concerns identity. Over the last decade, South Asia Institute… 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
A Friend with a Global Perspective
“Ho, Ho, Ho! You must be wishing that you could be back home in Singapore,” said a smiling Ted Ward to me on a cold winter morning in Deerfield, Illinois. He was holding a mug with steaming brewed coffee in one hand and a briefcase in the other. He was walking toward his office on… read more
