There are tasks, both large and small, that your school could better accomplish in collaboration with another school or schools. What makes it worth overcoming inertia to find out what they are and to do them? A Teagle Foundation grant program asked that question and points toward some helpful answers.

Some friendships deepen over time to committed relationship. Schools entering into courtship need to begin with a solid self-understanding, and an eyes-wide-open understanding of what they might gain, and what they might lose, either by merging or staying independent. Western Theological Seminary and Multnomah Biblical Seminary are negotiating a possible union. Their story has lessons for schools cooperating on any level.

Imagine being a university student who reads an ad in the campus newspaper that’s so inflammatory and outrageous that you feel physically ill. Imagine you become angry enough to protest, demonstrate, occupy academic offices, and risk arrest to express your rejection of this affront to inexpressible core values. Now imagine being that same student and discovering that the local theological school is not only fully prepared to discuss the issue but has in place the leaders, the analytical framework, and the vocabulary to articulate a reasoned and compassionate response that is scripturally based.