Illustration by Ellen Marello

I’m hopeful for the future of theological education, but there is a need for recalibration. We know the trends aren’t promising, with dwindling numbers in churches and seminaries. If we don’t adapt, we will have a very difficult time in the next decade and beyond.

I am seeing some schools and churches adapting. There are innovative degree and non-degree programs being created. Many institutions and churches are listening carefully to the needs of their constituents.

I’m also seeing a recognition of the need for collaboration among churches, denominations, and schools. If there’s not engaged and purposeful collaboration, it will be very difficult to navigate these challenges.

We’re using the image of expanding the table within theological education. How do we make this table bigger and more welcoming to those who aren’t as interested in traditional models of theological education and pastoral ministry? How are we proactively responding to the interests of folks in the relationship between theology, church, ecology, and justice? We should be cautious to interpret the current trends to mean the younger generation is disinterested in God. It should be our mission to explore how we can expand the table to respond to the changing landscape of theological education.