What are the signs of the times for your theological school?

William Tabbernee addreses Christa Klein's insights on image making. Neil Blair reflects on resources for fund-raising.

In a society that has coined phrases such as “in your face” and a time when litigation seems to be the national sport, no one should be surprised that churches, too, are seeing conflict more frequently and more openly expressed. Whether conflict proves a springboard for growth and positive change or the shoals on which a congregation founders depends in part on how the conflict is handled. How is your school preparing graduates to deal effectively with congregational crises?

Newly minted clergy emerging from seminaries these days find they no longer command the respect that the ordained once did. The increasing secularization of society and widely reported cases of clergy misconduct, particularly sexual misconduct, have made it far more difficult for clergy to win the trust and the attention of those they minister to. Author Donald B. Cozzens calls on his thirty years of experience as a priest, administrator, and spiritual director to offer some suggestions on how Roman Catholic priests in particular might cope effectively with the situation. Prayer and study are at the center of his prescription.

As the new school year begins, two new endeavors are in process. One is a survey of seminary board members. The other is the transition of the Seminary of the East which will make it part of Bethel Theological Seminary and College. And, of course, a substantial number of new faces are appearing at the top slots of schools around the country.

When Leah Fitchue delivered the address from which this piece is taken to the Women in Leadership group at the Association of Theological Schools biennial meeting in Toronto last June, her listeners sat up straighter, realizing that they were hearing an uncommonly truthful presentation. Her take on leadership is intensely personal, but her points likely apply to your context as well.

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