The cry, “I didn’t learn that in seminary,” seems to be heard even more often these days. Few of us had the opportunity to learn how to use technology, do virtual pastoral care, or deal with the widespread grief during a pandemic. Even so, theological educators have realized for years that there is just so much that an institution can cram into a degree program for students with different interests, abilities, and experiences.
A couple of years ago, The Association of Theological Schools did research on the topic of what alumni wished that they had learned in seminary. It is the basis of a recent article by Judith C.P. Lin and Deborah H. C. Gin which gives insights about the emerging learning needs that graduates express once they are in full-time ministry roles. For example, Master of Divinity recipients serving congregations listed their top three “wish-learned” items as administration, leadership, and finance.
Some revised M.Div. programs such as that offered at Central Seminary (Shawnee, KS) attempt to address these needs. They are also addressed in the revised Doctor of Ministry in Creative Leadership at the seminary. Even so, those who have been out of seminary for a while or who cannot access a graduate program must find ways to acquire these skills.
The reality is that we never learn all that we need in a degree program. Ministry is not static; we often find ourselves with responsibilities that we never anticipated. Although biblical, theological, and historical content change little, the primary task of teachers in these disciplines is to instill in students the skills and abilities to be life-long learners. Resources change. Situations call for deeper understanding. New responsibilities surface the need for continued learning.
The good news is that resources for learning are available. Some of these are provided by denominations as well as seminaries, but others can be found in secular sources such as colleges and universities or online learning. Here are three sources that offer online learning at little or no cost:
- Acumen seeks to provide resources for social entrepreneurs across the globe who wish to impact their communities for good.
- Coursera offers courses from over 200 universities and companies in business, psychology, digital media and dozens of other topics.
- Ideo trains individuals and groups in human-centered design techniques for innovative planning and organizational change.
Other opportunities come from peer learning groups such as those offered by organizations like Pinnacle Leadership Associates, coaching, and personal reading.
Acknowledging that there are gaps in our learning is the first step toward embracing our responsibility to become lifelong learners. Welcome to reality!
Comments