Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Challenges in Theological Education: Insurmountable or Inspirational?

There are numerous challenges and pressures that confront theological education today that will serve to shape it in the future. The observations I will make come from interaction with candidates, faculty and administration at various seminaries.
While working to help develop and prepare individuals to be Christian leaders in the Church and society, the following issues have been brought to my attention:

• Contextual Education: Relevant and realistic learning is demanded by those preparing for ministry – everyone seems to be pursuing a more effective means by which to connect the candidate to the local congregation and its mission.

• The “Price Tag”: The cost of providing quality education has risen dramatically. Candidates have had to incur enormous debt. Most face meager opportunity for paying off these debts without significantly lowering the quality of their lives. The candidates’ standards of living will most likely not reflect those of their parishioners. A number of the candidates in the RCA process come out with debt of $30,000 to $40,000.

• Technology and Distance Learning: The computer, advanced software applications, multi-media resources, internet, and “on demand / regionalized” accessibility to information and teachers has forced seminary and faculty to become available 24/7. The teachers therefore also need to be creatively adept with the latest technological equipment and sophisticated software.

• Packaging Education and Relating to New Values and Sensations: Mega churches, parachurch organizations, and mission organizations have offered ministerial education in new and creative ways – ways that fit the younger generations. Ways that speak the language to the heart and soul of an MTV generation. Willowcreek, Saddleback, YWAM and Young Life are examples of organizations that package education programs for target groups in such a way as to become an alternative, and at times a complement to seminary education. Seminaries have resorted to re-labeling courses such as “Church History I” with a title such as “The Agonies and Ecstasies,“ (Regent College, Vancouver) and a basic ministry course with the title “To Pray Without Ceasing“ (North American Baptist Seminary).

• Lay Commissioned Pastor movements: These movements require specialized programs from seminaries that often go beyond the normal offerings, demanding extraordinary new efforts and resources.