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Discover strategies, resources, and tools to strengthen board engagement, fostering active participation, shared vision, and meaningful contribution in theological schools.
  • In Trust Magazine Articles 402
  • Documents 12
  • News & Insights 13
  • Videos & Webinars 9
  • Podcast 4
Small can be large
The Guardian

Small can be large

It may seem counterintuitive, but boards can do small things to revitalize and change the culture…

‘Do’s’ for trustees
Soundings

‘Do’s’ for trustees

Veteran nonprofit board member Frank P. Wendt offers four pointed comments and suggestions for building better…

Present Moment | Preparing for greatness
The Star

Present Moment | Preparing for greatness

Relationships are key to stewardship. They also making coming into the room more fun.

Institutional Mergers
The Guardian

Institutional Mergers

Use this thought and question to help spur a discussion about your board.

On Your Mind | Letters to the Editor
On Your Mind

On Your Mind | Letters to the Editor

I appreciated Heather Grennan Gary’s recent article on shared governance and the perspectives provided (“Shared Governance…

Smarter questions
On My Mind

Smarter questions

The questions we fail to ask are the ones that will get us into trouble, writes…

Boardroom Diversity
The Guardian

Boardroom Diversity

Use this thought and question to help spur a discussion about your board.

Mutual Trust
The Guardian

Mutual Trust

Nancy Claire Pittman considers a life spent in theological education and lessons learned on shared governance,…

On Your Mind | Letters to the Editor
On Your Mind

On Your Mind | Letters to the Editor

Your thoughts about shared governance.

What’s Working?
On My Mind

What’s Working?

What’s happening in theological education? There are three ways that leaders of theological schools can draw…

Synchronicity
Feature Articles

Synchronicity

To call Kairos University’s success with competency-based education an experiment diminishes the vision and hard work…

Minimizing lame duck syndrome
The Guardian

Minimizing lame duck syndrome

There are lessons that can help boards and leadership prepare for the inevitable presidential transition

Core Essential 4-Balanced Budgets Fundraising Goals
Document

Core Essential 4-Balanced Budgets Fundraising Goals

Budget building is a challenging process, especially when finances are tight, and board members should balance…

Core Essential 4: The Board’s Role in Fundraising
Annual Report

Core Essential 4: The Board’s Role in Fundraising

There are two key components to a board's role in fundraising: Collective governance and individual involvement.

Executive Sessions
Guide

Executive Sessions

If your board is not holding an executive session during every board meeting, maybe it should.

Who’s in the chair?
Guide

Who’s in the chair?

The board chair plays a pivotal role in guiding the board and serving as a trusted…

Wise Stewards Guide
Guide

Wise Stewards Guide

This is "the" guide for people governing theological schools. As the introduction says, "How well a…

Which Wise Stewards Guide is right for you?
Annual Report

Which Wise Stewards Guide is right for you?

A shared governance case study
Other

A shared governance case study

Seminary governance expert Bob Landrebe presents a guide on the complexities of shared governance for theological…

La Guia de Mayordomos
Guide

La Guia de Mayordomos

Strategic Shorts: Large-scale Collaboration and the Role of Boards
News & Insights

Strategic Shorts: Large-scale Collaboration and the Role of Boards

Strategic Short: Large-scale Collaboration and the Role of Boards

Strategic Shorts: Large-scale Collaboration and Change of Control
News & Insights

Strategic Shorts: Large-scale Collaboration and Change of Control

This video explores the formal process of transferring control between institutional boards.

Board Chair Newsletter: March 2025
News & Insights

Board Chair Newsletter: March 2025

In Trust Center President Amy Kardash discusses "Balcony Time"

In Trust Monthly Newsletter: October 2024
News & Insights

In Trust Monthly Newsletter: October 2024

Top 3 on-demand webinars, shared governance, and much more.

Pathways Grant: Jesuit School of Theology
News & Insights

Pathways Grant: Jesuit School of Theology

The Jesuit School of Theology's Pathways project aims to unite various educational groups in the Western…

May 2023: Board Chair Newsletter
News & Insights

May 2023: Board Chair Newsletter

In Trust Center President Amy Kardash reflects on finding better ways to engage an institution's board.

What should your board be asking?
News & Insights

What should your board be asking?

Reducing expenses, decreasing enrollment, increasing costs, and shrinking revenue. These are the current realities of higher…

Building a better board meeting
News & Insights

Building a better board meeting

Board members often lament the lack of time in board meetings to focus on strategic issues…

Large-scale Collaboration and Change of Control
Videos & Webinars

Large-scale Collaboration and Change of Control

The formal process of transferring control between institutional boards

Boards on a Tight Rope: Navigating the Power Differential in Shared Governance
Videos & Webinars

Boards on a Tight Rope: Navigating the Power Differential in Shared Governance

Webinar explores attitudes about power, types of power at play within shared governance, and strategies for…

Redeeming Conflict One Tough Conversation at a Time
Videos & Webinars

Redeeming Conflict One Tough Conversation at a Time

Conflict can either divide or strengthen institutions, offering a framework and practical strategies for constructive dialogue.

I See That Hand
Videos & Webinars

I See That Hand

Board members are typically recruited for their leadership, business acumen, and networks. Dr. Rebekah Basinger, project…

Stakeholder Management Planning
Videos & Webinars

Stakeholder Management Planning

With any organizational plan, certain pivotal individuals – both internal and external – hold significant influence…

Using Change Management Best Practice to Achieve a Sustainable Business Model: Part 1
Videos & Webinars

Using Change Management Best Practice to Achieve a Sustainable Business Model: Part 1

Webinar 1 of a two-part series provides a change management framework to include best practice for…

Guiding Transformations
Videos & Webinars

Guiding Transformations

Dr. David Rowe, creator of TransformingCollege.com and former interim president of Lancaster Theological Seminary, will lead…

Sustainable Pathways
Videos & Webinars

Sustainable Pathways

Dr. David Rowe of AGB Consulting leads discussions on strategic transformation and financial sustainability in theological…

Ep. 45: Beyond fundraising: Helping people be generous
Podcast

Ep. 45: Beyond fundraising: Helping people be generous

What does it take to raise money? At its heart: generosity. In her career, Dr. Carla…

Ep. 40: What’s new in the Pathways Initiative
Podcast

Ep. 40: What’s new in the Pathways Initiative

Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative is investing millions of dollars in theological education in…

Ep.10: Wise Stewards Series: Board engagement
Podcast

Ep.10: Wise Stewards Series: Board engagement

In the final episode of the Wise Stewards series podcast, discover the pivotal role of engagement…

Ep. 3: Wise Stewards Series: Board assessment
Podcast

Ep. 3: Wise Stewards Series: Board assessment

Listen as leading theological school board experts share best practices for building a culture of assessment…

Upcoming & Recent Webinars

The In Trust Center hosts learning community spaces throughout the year. Check out our upcoming and recent ones below.

Strategic Shorts

Videos & Webinars

Strategic Shorts

Video Series for Building Institutional Capacity The Rev. David Rowe, Ph.D., Project Director for the Governance Initiative and…

Strategic Shorts: Large-scale Collaboration and the Role of Boards

Videos & Webinars

Strategic Shorts: Large-scale Collaboration and the Role of Boards

Focus on the critical role boards play in large-scale collaborations

Strategic Shorts: Large-scale Collaboration and Difficult Personnel Decisions

Videos & Webinars

Strategic Shorts: Large-scale Collaboration and Difficult Personnel Decisions

How theological schools can navigate complex personnel decisions during large-scale collaborations.

Large-scale Collaboration and Change of Control

Videos & Webinars

Large-scale Collaboration and Change of Control

The formal process of transferring control between institutional boards