Twenty-four seminaries and ministry
organizations came together in Chicago this past weekend for the purpose of
sharing the ways in which we are innovating. Leaders of theological schools
know that we are facing strong headwinds as we seek to provide relevant
ministry preparation for churches that occupy a different social space than in
former times.
We talked about
service learning and vocational discernment; new forms of delivery, especially
technologically enhanced; competency based programs; collaboration with other
professionals who seek continuing education; congregationally-based
instruction; and, creative ways to use our physical campus sites to generate
additional revenue. And I have only mentioned a few of the wide-ranging topics!
A major area of
discussion was how accrediting bodies and denominations are rethinking the
issue of credentialing. Is it always
necessary for a pastoral candidate to have a Master of Divinity from a seminary
accredited by the Association of Theological Schools? This requirement precludes many who do not
have the privilege of this kind of graduate education. White privilege continues to infect many
schools.
What I found
surprising was that no one talked about global partnerships except
Central. As one of the presenters, I
spoke of the significance of our collaboration with Myanmar Institute of
Theology. The intercultural and
interfaith learning that occurs as part of this shared Doctor of Ministry
program is significant and essential for understanding dimensions of global
Christianity.
Surprising also was
the lack of concrete initiatives to empower women for leadership. Once again, Central has a differentiating
identity in our Women’s Leadership Initiative.
Perhaps other denominations have made more progress moving women into
senior ministry positions, but the percentage of American Baptist senior
pastors who are women is 9.4%.
An inherent tension
in ministry preparation lays between mastery the classical areas of theological
education—biblical studies, theology, ethics, Christian heritage—and the arts
of ministry, such as preaching, working for justice, pastoral care, and
congregational leadership. Knowledge and
practice must cohere if the deep wisdom of our faith be formed in new
generations.
I came away from
the intense three-day conference encouraged by the passion of other seminary
leaders in their discrete contexts. I
also celebrate Central’s nimble movement toward an ever more relevant form of
ministry preparation.
Molly T. Marshall
Central makes a bold claim: we prepare ministers to craft the future
with God.
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