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Most ministers who want to engage the working world will find that their theological school left them unprepared,” argues Chris Armstrong in “The other 100,000 hours,” an article in the New Year 2013 issue of In Trust. He notes that this situation is in sharp contrast to earlier periods of church history, “when questions of work and vocation were actively studied in light of Scripture and tradition.”

Armstrong notes that William Messenger, editor of The Theology of Work Project, has found that “most businesspeople, though they may otherwise love their church and their pastor, feel their pastor simply does not understand their working world and its issues.” Other researchers have found that anti-business biases are common among clergy, and that these biases are often “inherited from seminary professors.”

Does your school convey -- whether consciously or unconsciously -- an anti-work, anti-business attitude to students? Do you have a message about issues of faith and work? Leaders and trustees who want to look more deeply into questions about a theology of work and their schools may want to read both this article and “Theology for workers in the pews,” Armstrong’s companion article in the Spring 2013 issue. The follow-up article delves a bit more deeply into the topic, and provides examples of what a theology of work looks like at several schools.

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Closing the Trust Gap

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The current and very troubling condition of trust is a clarion call to action. But despite the dismal data showing pervasive organizational distrust, every organization can assess their current level of trust, learn and adopt a proven trust building framework, and then develop a meaningful and long-lasting plan of action. This webinar details the knowledge and practical next steps to strengthen workplace culture as a result of closing the trust gap.

In Trust Center Resource Grants

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An In Trust Center Resource Grant offers member schools a chance to explore innovation at their institutions through a matching grant opportunity of up to $15,000. Listen to this 30-minute information session, including Q&A, as we provide details on eligibility requirements, funding priorities, application process. Previous grantees are eligible to apply as long as they are not within our current funding cycle.

Conflict + Crisis: Navigating the Shoals, Part 2 – A Deeper Dive

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Presenter Donna Alexander, President & CEO of Advoxum Global Strategies, offers best practices for navigating conflict and crisis. She examines the crucial elements of defining conflict and crisis, identifying, and prioritizing affected stakeholders, utilizing effective communication strategies, and ultimately, executing a plan of action. Click here to view.

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