Barnabas File

Several years ago, someone contacted me about auditing a class at our seminary site.  She was upset when I quoted her the fee to do this even though the fee was only a third of the cost for taking the class for full credit.  I was surprised because I knew she did not seem to mind paying a much larger amount for a session ticket for her favorite college basketball team. Good theological education is not cheap.  Of course, you can find unaccredited schools that will give you a degree with a minimum amount of effort or cost, but I don’t consider that theological education, much less good theological education.  The result of this relationship is a piece of paper rather than an education. Most of us, including theological students, don’t realize that the individual student does not carry the full cost of his or her education.  Even though students may borrow money to go to seminary, the total cost would be prohibitive if the student had to bear it complet...

If you haven’t noticed, theological education in North America is going through a “shake-out” process. I learned this week of one free-standing denominational seminary that is negotiating to become the divinity school of a college in the same denomination.  Other seminaries are combining or closing their doors.  Those that survive with find new partners and strengthen their relationships with old partners. New approaches to theological education like those being offered by Central Baptist Theological Seminary require contextualization and creativity, but they will fail without cooperation.  Healthy, flexible, and supportive partners are needed for these efforts to be successful. Partners assist theological institutions in a number of ways.  For one thing, partners—church, judicatories, other institutions—link the theological schools with potential students.  Seminaries and divinity schools are exhibiting flexibility by offering programs to edu...