Reimagining the Role of Graduate Theological Education in Clergy Formation

This study explored the alignment between the self-reported needs of the religious workforce and the ways theological schools are addressing these needs. Analyses of the 2022 ATS Alum/Mapping the Workforce Survey, MDiv curricula, and teaching areas of theological school faculty suggest there are sig...

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Bibliographic Details
Subtitles:Graduate Theological Education: Appraisals and Prospects
Authors: Gin, Deborah H.C. (Author) ; Deasy, Jo Ann (Author) ; Pena-Camprubí, Grego (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Interlibrary Loan:Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany)
Published: 2025
In: Christian higher education
Year: 2025, Volume: 24, Issue: 2, Pages: 148-179
RelBib Classification:CF Christianity and Science
FB Theological education
RB Church office; congregation
ZA Social sciences
Further subjects:B Alignment
B religious workforce
B Competencies
B graduate theological education
B Clergy formation
Online Access: Volltext (kostenfrei)
Description
Summary:This study explored the alignment between the self-reported needs of the religious workforce and the ways theological schools are addressing these needs. Analyses of the 2022 ATS Alum/Mapping the Workforce Survey, MDiv curricula, and teaching areas of theological school faculty suggest there are significant gaps and even larger misalignments based in structures that have a long history in theological education, and that many programs are filling a need that is not commonly expressed by alums today. Findings from activity reports submitted by Lilly Endowment’s Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative grantees additionally suggest that schools are beginning to break out of a system defined primarily in terms of academic disciplines and are designing alternative educational models that will be relevant for forming the workforce of the future. Potential directions for the future of graduate theological education are suggested in the conclusion.
ISSN:1539-4107
Contains:Enthalten in: Christian higher education
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1080/15363759.2025.2462802