While financial control often seems like the key to influence, it’s storytelling that holds power. Boards of theological schools must pay close attention to the narratives shaping their institutions—especially in the boardroom.

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

Governing boards can follow these steps to enhance their Wise Stewards journey for institutional change through one-on-one coaching, board self-assessment, peer learning, and immersion into governance habits for long-term effectiveness.

Participation in the Wise Stewards Initiative empowers governing boards of theological schools to serve as agents of institutional change. Learn about the specific steps to enhance your journey.

This is "the" guide for people governing theological schools. As the introduction says, "How well a theological school is governed is key to the institution’s overall effectiveness and its fidelity to its mission. In the midst of change and discontinuity, the governing board is the steward that nurtures the purpose and vision of a theological school across the span of time." Download the guide and get started!

The intricate landscape of 21st-century theological education demands fortitude and a steadfast commitment to effective communication.

Thanks to a Pathways for Tomorrow grant, Union Theological Seminary is creating collaborative models for managing campus operations, promote student success, expand academic opportunities, and forge technology innovation.

Through a Pathways for Tomorrow grant, Claremont School of Theology (CST) in Los Angeles, California, has developed a comprehensive redesign of the school’s educational strategies, institutional practices, and financial operating model to achieve sustainability.

Thanks to a Pathways for Tomorrow grant, Princeton Theological Seminary is advancing innovation and change making in, with, and through congregations and in pastoral formation through its Isaiah Partnership project.

Fuller Theological Seminary’s three-year Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative, “Indispensable Church Leadership Project,” focuses on business-model innovation; engaging publics and contexts; spiritual direction and student formation; student affordability and resourcing; and up-skilling pastoral and ministerial leaders.

The charters for board committees serve several significant purposes in school governance. Key committees include the Executive, Finance, Governance, and Investment Committees. Creating effective charters requires clearly defining and specifying the roles they play within institutional governance.

The In Trust Center offers a variety of initiatives to its members including the Governance Initiative, Pathways for Tomorrow, Resource Grants, and the Wise Stewards Initiative.

Developing Christian Imagination

There are ways to deal with the difficulties facing your school.

How you can help your board stay on top of issues and trends in minutes.

The term "strategic planning" can strike fear into the heart of some leaders.

While change itself isn't always the problem, it's often the process that poses challenges.

Data-driven strategies can strengthen theological schools.

Conflict can either divide or strengthen institutions, offering a framework and practical strategies for constructive dialogue.

ATS research into executive leadership at theological schools is the focus of a free, hour-long webinar, the first of two parts.

Seminaries are People Too: Mindsets that make or break institutional change

Planning for board officers vacancies should start well in advance with an intentional, smooth, and carefully designed transition plan.

Cory Scheer, Ed.D., the founder and CEO of TrustCentric, discusses the current and very troubling condition of trust as a clarion call to action. But despite the dismal data showing pervasive organizational distrust, every organization has the opportunity to 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.

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.

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.

With any organizational plan, certain pivotal individuals – both internal and external – hold significant influence over our goals. To ensure the success of a program, initiative, or on-going strategy, we must prioritize these “Audiences of One” differently from larger audiences. Learn how the “Stakeholder Management Plan” tracks the status of these relationships to help boost overall success.

Webinar 1 of a two-part series provides a change management framework to include best practice for leading change initiatives and common pitfalls to avoid. This session includes a consideration of institutional readiness for change, especially around the use of a strategic finance lens.

The In Trust Center is pleased to announce a new webinar series focused on change management models. These webinars are presented by rpk GROUP, a national leader in helping institutions create sustainable business models that reflect both mission and market. This series includes two webinars. Webinar 1 provides a change management framework to include best practice for leading change initiatives and common pitfalls to avoid. This session will include a consideration of institutional readiness for change, especially around the use of a strategic finance lens.

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

In a time of political shifts and regulatory uncertainty, the Good Governance podcast dives into how theological school leaders can respond with clarity and authenticity. Governance expert the Rev. Dr. David Rowe and law professor Peter Lake, a higher education policy expert, discuss navigating potential changes to federal education policy, including impacts on Title IV, Title IX, and accreditation. They offer practical guidance for boards and presidents — emphasizing mission alignment, shared governance, and measured leadership. This episode is essential listening for those guiding faith-based institutions through complex and fast-changing landscapes.

A congregational leader and strategist, the Rev. Tod Bolsinger, Ph.D., discusses the need for adaptive leadership in theological education. Bolsinger shares insights from his latest book series, including tackling the challenges of leading through change, handling internal resistance, and realigning missions in a post-pandemic world. Bolsinger discusses rethinking old models and learning from experimentation. He emphasizes that effective transformation isn’t about working harder but adapting wisely.

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.

During his tenure as interim president of Lancaster Theological Seminary, Dr. David Rowe was challenged with merging the school while preserving its mission. Rowe and Elizabeth Palmer Bennett, former CFO at Lancaster, discuss the genesis of the merger, share their insights, and reflect on the lessons they learned in the process.

Is there a way to help theological schools cut overhead costs and free up resources to focus on mission? That’s the goal of the CHANGE (Configuring Higher Education Administration for Next Generation Excellence) Initiative, one of the projects funded in Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative. Listen how Dr. David Boshart, president of Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, and Dr. Jeff Williams, the project director of the CHANGE Initiative, provide an overview of how a nonprofit organization can provide business offerings to schools, increasing quality of services while allowing schools the space to innovate.

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."

Dr. David Rowe answers questions about why the educational model needs change and offers practical advice for theological school leaders.

Dorian Persaud, an experienced employment attorney who works with theological schools, helps organizations anticipate and understand key crisis issues before they happen.

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.

Tune in to episode 1 of the In Trust Center podcast as we welcome special guests Dr. Rebekah Basinger, Wise Stewards Initiative Project Director, and Dr. David Rowe, Wise Stewards Initiative Faculty Coach and governance consultant. Listen as they share insights on how the effects of COVID-19 have changed how theological schools cultivate “community”, use technology, and the pandemic’s impact on boards as they live into the future.