In Trust Inc. -- Who We Are

Description

Founded in 1988 and incorporated in 1995, In Trust is a nonprofit organization committed to strengthening boards and governance in North American theological schools -- Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, mainline and evangelical Protestant. Our most visible service is the quarterly In Trust magazine, but In Trust's governance mentors also engage with leaders directly on individual campuses.

Values

At In Trust, we believe that

1. Graduate seminaries and theological schools are vital to the churches, religious organizations, and society at large -- for the ministers and other leaders they educate and for the theological traditions they tend.
   
2. These schools depend on those who govern -- boards, presidents, faculty, and others -- to succeed in the pursuit and stewardship of their educational mission.
   
3. Shared governance, historically realized in each school, is the arena of leadership in theological education.
   
4. Given the variety in theological schools, customized education for governance is a continuing need among their leaders.
   
5. In Trust's distinctive value lies in our growing knowledge about boards and governance in the pursuit of the mission with a commitment to achieving economic vitality.
   
6. This knowledge can be most effectively transmitted by In Trust's own corps of experienced writers and mentors who are familiar with wider trends and practices in theological education and capable of recognizing and honoring the distinctive characteristics of individual schools.
   
7. We pursue our mission most expansively when we work collaboratively within an ecology of organizations that support theological schools.
   
8. Continuous improvement of our educational services depends on their rigorous evaluation by our client schools, our own mentors and writers, and through third party assessment.
   
9. The future of theological education warrants our assisting, as we are able, those who govern alternative and emerging institutions that prepare students for Christian ministry.

Mission

In Trust, a servant of the churches, educates and assists boards and others entrusted with governing North America's theological schools for more faithful, informed, strategic, and productive leadership.

Vision

We envision In Trust as the premier resource on governance for boards and other theological school leaders. With adaptable educational delivery systems and custom services that draw on the wide experience of our staff and mentors, we assist seminaries as they pursue and sustain their mission for the sake of the Gospel. The quality of our work gains us recognition and trust in theological education and enables us to secure and steward the financial support necessary to our purpose.