The Newsletter for Chairs of Theological School Boards
Vol. 3 No. 6

Gathering insights, listening well

Effective leadership depends on good intelligence, particularly in times of tough decision-making. At the In Trust Center, we have spent more than 35 years offering leaders news, insights, and resources to guide their way through changes in the field.

You know that the field faces significant challenges, but despite that, there are remarkable people doing some incredible work and leading in creative ways. One way we learn is by listening to those around us. I highly recommend these three recent episodes of the “Good Governance” podcast as a way to spark board discussions about the field.

• To understand the landscape of theological education in 2025, listen to this episode of the “Good Governance” podcast. Frank Yamada, the executive director of the Association of Theological Schools, and I delve into the key issues shaping the field – from executive turnover to new Lilly Endowment Inc. funding initiatives. After listening to the discussion, consider asking your board what they identify as key issues impacting your school and whether these issues are considered in board work. Listen here.
• How can theological education engage artificial intelligence? Anna Robbins, the president of Acadia Divinity College in Canada, explores this question in this thought-provoking episode. Encourage your board to reflect on how these insights might shape your school’s future. listen here.
• Graduates of theological schools are facing an ever-changing society. The question that ATS researchers posed is whether theological school curriculum is preparing graduates for the field. You can listen to their answers in this conversation here. Encourage your board to consider how these insights might shape the future of your school.

These could be great discussions to help inform your board and the leadership of your school about some emerging challenges.

Also, our colleagues at the Association of Theological Schools are hosting a webinar on research into executive leadership at theological schools. This free, hour-long webinar is the first of two parts. It will be held at 1 p.m. ET on Monday, March 24, and will examine research into trends, including contributing factors that have led to the unprecedented turnover of executive leaders in recent years. I invite you, your board, and your leadership team to attend this important discussion. You can register here.

With gratitude for all you do in theological education,

Amy Kardash
President