In Trust is the common name of the Association of Boards in Theological Education, a nonprofit organization that promotes the well-being of graduate-level theological schools in North America. We believe that the healthiest theological schools have a strong system of governance. In theological education, as elsewhere in higher education, governance is shared by three groups -- the board of directors or trustees, the faculty acting in their corporate capacity, and the office of the president (including the president's cabinet or executive staff). In many theological schools, a denomination, religious order, or other church body also has a formal or informal role in the institution's governance.
In Trust includes two program areas:
Editorial: In Trust magazine has been published quarterly for 20 years. You can read the latest issue online here. Our Web site includes online-only resources. And our e-newsletter is issued once every two months.
Governance services: In Trust's Governance Mentors visit theological school campuses in the United States and Canada to help boards grow in their governance expertise. They often help boards interpret the results of In Trust's governance assessment instruments for boards -- like the Financial Health Checkup, the Institutional Health Checklist, or the Board Performance Audit. In addition, In Trust offers a Presidential Evaluation, which helps boards to strengthen and support the president's work.
In Trust has no denominational affiliation. Our board and staff represent a variety of Christian faith traditions, including Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, mainline Protestant, and evangelical Protestant.
In Trust's office is in Wilmington, Delaware. The acting president is G. Douglass Lewis, Ph.D. Biographies of all our staff are here.
Donations are tax-deductible in the United States and Canada.