Reinventing Theological Education

It is important to begin with the affirmation that the 10 theological seminaries of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) exist to serve the church, in particular the PC(USA).

Our schools are theoretically under the jurisdiction of the General Assembly. For example, presidents and board members must be confirmed by action of the Assembly. But this relationship is purely nominal. Legally, each seminary is an independent, free-standing institution which makes its way largely on its own initiative.

The PC(USA) as a whole, however, through the gifts of previous generations and current Presbyterian congregations and especially those of well-to-do Presbyterians, provides strong support for its theological institutions. Also, there’s the One Per Cent plan, whereby congregations are urged to give 1 percent of their operating budgets to a special fund that brings in more than $2 million per year and is distributed among the 10 according to a formula.

The 10 seminaries (and two other institutions related by covenant) are arguably the most significant set of institutions in the PC(USA) beyond the congregation, in terms of their mission, influence and their ability to shape our future through the training of ministers, despite the fact that many of our ministers are now trained in other seminaries.

The greatest problem the church faces with respect to its seminaries is institutionalism, the fact that the seminaries, their boards and executive officers, are primarily devoted to their own special interests rather than the interests of the whole church.

This may appear to be a rash statement, but we believe it to be true. General Assembly studies and proposals in recent years aimed at the seminaries collectively have been largely ignored.

It’s not that seminaries and those who run them want not to be for the church and its interests, but that there is a controlling internal dynamic in each — the need to survive and to grow — which largely determines decision-making.

So how does the church get the seminaries to do what the church needs the seminaries to do?

The church can exert positive influence in several ways: (1) it can recruit outstanding students to go to Presbyterian seminaries, and assist them financially in their efforts; (2) congregations and governing bodies in the vicinity of a seminary can take an active interest in the work of the seminary, including accepting students in intern-type positions, providing ongoing financial support, inviting professors and others into the churches for particular programs and otherwise using resources that seminaries have to offer and suggesting outstanding ministers and elders to serve on the boards of the seminaries.

For their part, those who lead seminaries can make every effort to develop and improve relationships with congregations and governing bodies in their region in such areas as fund raising, student recruitment, student placement in congregations and encouraging ministers and churches to be involved in as many activities on the seminary campuses as possible.

Also, to the extent possible, the seminaries can be creative in providing a range of educational resources for strengthening the lay leadership of the church through special programs and lay academies.

Finally, the seminaries can work together self-consciously for the sake of the church, specializing their efforts in certain areas, so that the whole system provides what the church needs.

Many if not most states now have systems of campuses; they coordinate educational activity geographically and programmatically so as to prevent waste and duplication.

The Presbyterian theological seminaries could take a lesson from such systems where competition continues, but the benefits of coordination can be realized.

The difference is that the church through the General Assembly cannot impose a pattern on its theological institutions. If theological education in the PC(USA) is to be reinvented, it will come only through the purposeful efforts of those who run the seminaries.

In the long run, if the cooperative approach were taken, the seminaries would probably increase their collective strength to a greater extent than if they continue to go their separate ways, and gradually drift away from a close connection with the church.