Board Officer Description Templates
We are often asked by our members how to draft descriptions for board officer positions. In response, we have compiled a collection of downloadable documents that can be used as templates to aid boards in outlining the roles and responsibilities of specific positions (dated January 2024). Each template provides clear delineations of board officers’ positions.
Infographic
Wise Stewards Initiative Journey
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.
Podcast
Ep. 58 Leadership, innovation, and what's ahead in theological education
In Trust Center President Amy Kardash and the Rev. Dr. Frank Yamada, executive director of the Association of Theological Schools, open a new series, "Inside Theological Education," discussing current trends and what schools can understand about the field from them.
Podcast
Ep. 57 - Creating cross-cultural competency in ministers
Notre Dame's Department of Theology is using a Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative grant to create cross-cultural competency in students studying for vocational and lay ministry. Professor Stacey Noem, one of the grant project directors, discusses ways the school is creating space for cross-cultural ministry and how it prepares students.
Guide
Board Officer Positions Description Templates
We are often asked by our members how to draft descriptions for board officer positions. In response, we have compiled a collection of downloadable documents that can be used as templates to aid boards in outlining the roles and responsibilities of specific positions (dated January 2024). Each template provides clear delineations of board officers’ positions. Feel free to contact us for further assistance and guidance as you define these roles within your institution.
Guide
Who’s in the chair?
The board chair plays a pivotal role in guiding the board and serving as a trusted liaison for the executive leader. Given the significance of this role, it is imperative that the president and board members invest time in understanding the practices, relationships, and processes that define the position and articulate the role’s expectations.
Podcast
Ep. 53: No CEO goes alone
Just 13% of CEOs of ATS-accredited schools are women. In Trust Center President Amy Kardash discusses the pathways for women in leadership of theological schools and how boards can help women succeed.
Podcast
Ep. 51: The "trust gap" in theological education
There's a "trust gap" in the American workplace, according to Cory Scheer, Ed.D., the founder and CEO of TrustCentric. Scheer, a former pastor, academic administrator, and leader in business and nonprofits, studied trust as part of his doctoral work. The lessons can help theological schools learn how to improve performance and outcomes in their work.
Videos & Webinars
Called to the Chair: Board Leadership for Unsettled Times
Dr. Rebekah Basinger addresses the opportunities and challenges that come with chairing the board of a theological school, which include how to design effective board meetings, enhance board member engagement, and develop the board for long-term effectiveness while giving attention to the board chair and president partnership and the critical importance of call in both roles.
Podcast
Ep. 49 Conspiracy theories, information literacy, and theological schools
The rise of conspiracy theories and a diminishing trust in societal institutions have given some church leaders pause to consider the impact. In this episode, Rob Saler, Ph.D., Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, suggests that theological institutions can contribute to addressing these challenges.
Videos & Webinars
Stakeholder Management Planning
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.
Guide
Wise Stewards Guide
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!