Barnabas File

What does today’s seminary student look like?    This is a big question, but I would like to address this from one perspective.   This week I will wrap up two years as interim director of Contextualized Learning at Central Seminary in Shawnee, KS.  Over the past twenty years, I have been associated with the seminary in various ways—director of the Tennessee site in Murfreesboro, supplemental instructor in several areas, designer of the contextualized learning component of the CREATE program, interim director of the Doctor of Ministry program, faculty advisor, and financial supporter.   Over those twenty years, the Master of Divinity program has evolved in structure and in accessibility.  Central aggressively developed satellite centers in the early 2000’s and programs specially for Korean students.  Central had already moved to an online program prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, so they were ahead of the game in offering a degree that was ...

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.  ...

My LinkedIn account reminded me recently that I have been associated with Central Seminary in Shawnee, Kansas, for fifteen years this month.  It has been an interesting journey that has taken me to unexpected places.   Association with Central Seminary began while I was Coordinator of Tennessee Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.  The seminary offered an “alumni by choice” certificate to invite those who had attended other seminaries to show their support and I readily signed on.    My more official relationship with seminary began in 2005 when I became the volunteer site coordinator for Central’s teaching church site at First Baptist Church in Murfreesboro.  We provided the opportunity for students who were already immersed in ministry, work, and family life to pursue the Master of Divinity degree without uprooting their lives and relocating to pursue a seminary degree.   During the Tennessee Site years, I was invited to become an adjunct i...

Ministry in the 21 st century takes many forms.   Leaders of theological institutions are aware of this diversity and many are ready to address this emerging need. There are 274 member institutions in the Association of Theological Schools.  Schools choose to belong in order to challenge themselves to meet the high standards articulated by the Commission on Accrediting including its Degree Program Standards.  These standards are not static, however, but evolve to reflect the best practices of member schools, the needs of constituents, and new methodologies.  In a recent report , the ATS Models and Practices in Theological Practices project identified ten emerging themes that have potential implications for the Standards of Accreditation. One suggestion is the redeveloped standards should encompass a broadened definition of the nature of ministry.  Theological schools in North American have traditionally focused on preparing leaders for ...

Creativity and innovation are two terms that are often used interchangeably, but they mean entirely different things. When we were looking for a title for Central Seminary’s new Doctor of Ministry curriculum, we considered a number of possibilities.  Although titles often restrict rather than describe, we settled on the title of Creative Leadership.  Some have asked why we did not use the term Innovative Leadership or if the terms don’t really mean the same thing.  Let’s unpack that a bit. Creativity is the ability to come up with something new and valuable.  Innovation is the ability to do something with it.  We can generate plenty of creative ideas through various techniques, but those ideas only become innovative when they are put into action.  As Franz Johansson says in The Medici Effect , “Creative ideas are valuable. Innovative ideas are realized.” In terms of the Doctor of Ministry program, we are seeking not only for those who can come ...