If your board is not holding an executive session during every board meeting, maybe it should.

The board chair plays a pivotal role in guiding the board and serving as a trusted liaison for the executive leader. Given the significance of this role, it is imperative that the president and board members invest time in understanding the practices, relationships, and processes that define the position and articulate the role’s expectations.

Reflection, governance, and relationship from Rev. Nancy Claire Pittman as she retires as president of Phillips Theological Seminary

Larry Braskamp proposes a type of assessment to engage people at all levels, particularly during a pandemic.

The Autumn 2018issue of In Trust magazine includes an interview with William Crothers, interim president at Ashland Theological Seminary. Crothers has served as an interim CEO five times since he retired in 2002 as ninth president of Roberts Wesleyan College. He was happy to share with In Trust readers some of the wisdom that he's gleaned over the years.

In Trust recently published an article titled "Promising Professor vs. Prominent Pastor," which pointed out that most theological schools hire CEOs who have moved up through the faculty ranks, while a third hire CEOs from leadership positions in their denomination or from the business world.

After a female faculty member was promoted into seminary leadership, a colleague stopped by her office to congratulate her. But he also asked, "Does this mean the school is in trouble?" It didn't — but the colleague was assuming the theory of the so-called "glass cliff" might be at play.

According to a 2014 In Trust article by Heidi Schlumpf, "...interim or 'acting' presidents...can be valuable to a seminary, offering stability and continuity, achieving specific – often financial – goals, and providing time to reexamine mission and vision while searching for the most appropriate permanent leader."

What's your process for hiring a new president?Many boards these days rely on consultants or executive search firms to identify candidates, vet their qualifications, gauge their interest, and make recommendations.

Dr. Rebekah Basinger addresses the opportunities and challenges that come with chairing the board of a theological school, which include how to design effective board meetings, enhance board member engagement, and develop the board for long-term effectiveness while giving attention to the board chair and president partnership and the critical importance of call in both roles.

This webinar series addresses the basics of change management and adaptive leadership needed to navigate change.

In this session, we consider the policies, practices, and key performance indicators most helpful to supporting the essential partnership between the president and the governing board.

Learn the value of having a trusted advisor and how to select one to meet your needs as a leader.

Join the discussion about how to plan well in advance of an anticipated change.

Join us for a series of conversations with leadership consultant, David Gyertson, about leadership transitions.

The sudden departure of a key leader can threaten your school's mission. But it can also be an opportunity for growth if you have nurtured a culture of leadership continuity.

Learn how to make strategic planning functional and practical for your institution.

A cooperative approach to assessment that outlines nine critical activities to include in the presidential assessment process.

The Rev. Nancy Claire Pittman, Ph.D., is retiring as president of Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, Oklahoma, after a long career in both the church and theological education. She reflects on the changes at Phillips and the transformation that has taken place there, including how the school uses the city as a place to learn. She also considers what she wished she knew about shared governance, working with a board, and the role of president.

Just 13% of CEOs of ATS-accredited schools are women. In Trust Center President Amy Kardash discusses the pathways for women in leadership of theological schools and how boards can help women succeed.

Upon assuming the presidency at Hartford Seminary, Joel Lohr, Ph.D., implemented a seemingly routine strategic plan. However, after bringing in Rick Staisloff of rpk GROUP, he recognized an opportunity and charted a course that ended with a revitalized mission and a new name: Hartford International University of Religion and Peace.

Rev. Dr. Scott Sunquist, president of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, discussses the school’s plan to sell all or part of its scenic campus in Hamilton, MA, and move to Boston.

Dr. Jason Allen discusses the core principles behind a remarkable institutional turnaround as outlined in his book, "Turnaround: The Remarkable Story of an Institutional Transformation and the 10 Essential Principles and Practices that Made it Happen."

Leadership coach Chris Thyberg shares how one-on-one coaching can produce tangible results.

Price Harding, chair of the executive search firm, CarterBaldwin, discusses the essentials of hiring a leader with In Trust Center president Amy Kardash.

Dr. David Gyertson, a former university president, consultant, and recruiter, discusses the intri-cacies of presidential transitions, highlighting both the pitfalls to avoid and the opportunities to seize for effective leadership changes.

In the second installment of the Consultant Series, Rev. Dr. William (Bill) Nelsen, senior consultant with The Registry, discusses interim leadership and how boards can best prepare for an interim leader in their institution.

As the first episode of the Consultant Series, Carol Marturano-Becker, founder of IMPACT Learning Inc., shares best practices and tips for consultant engagement and presidential evaluation.

In this episode of the Women in Leadership series, Ms. Cheryl Williams discusses her work as an executive coach and board member.

In this episode of the Women in Leadership series, Amy Kardash speaks with Donna Alexander, president and CEO of Advoxum Global Strategies and board chair at the John Leland Center for Theological Studies, about her experience in guiding a board through a period of transition and the effective methods for boards to nurture and empower emerging leaders.