Here are a few resources to help your institution define and discuss shared governance and ensure that everyone has a clear role in stewarding the institution.

Theological school boards can - and should - spend time preparing policies and procedures that prepare for potential legal actions. Find out more here.

In January of this year, theBaptist Theological Seminary at Richmond (BTSR) closed its doors for good. Mike Clingenpeel, a BTSR board member, wrote an article for the school's website reflecting on the closure, and his article was reprinted in the Summer 2019 issue of In Trust. Clingenpeel's honest reflections offerrare insight into the painful realities of closing a seminary.

If your school is in transition now, or if you've recently completed a leadership change – or even if you are not even considering one – the issue of leadership transition ought to be a part of regular board discussions. Organizationalsuccession planning is the board's work.

Succession planning isn't just for a school's presiding officer. Having a plan for transitionand succession that applies to the entire institution can reduce stress and avert ad hoc emergency decision making when change inevitably occurs.

The Autumn 2018issue of In Trust magazine includes an interview with William Crothers, interim president at Ashland Theological Seminary. Crothers has served as an interim CEO five times since he retired in 2002 as ninth president of Roberts Wesleyan College. He was happy to share with In Trust readers some of the wisdom that he's gleaned over the years.

After a female faculty member was promoted into seminary leadership, a colleague stopped by her office to congratulate her. But he also asked, "Does this mean the school is in trouble?" It didn't — but the colleague was assuming the theory of the so-called "glass cliff" might be at play.

Leaders of theological schools routinely navigate the nuances of Torah law; Trinitarian controversies; the oeuvre of Rahner, Barth, and Marion; not to mention the subtleties of shared governance. Yet we can still be intimidated by the occult mysteries of strategic planning — not just planning, mind you, butstrategic planning.

According to a 2014 In Trust article by Heidi Schlumpf, "...interim or 'acting' presidents...can be valuable to a seminary, offering stability and continuity, achieving specific – often financial – goals, and providing time to reexamine mission and vision while searching for the most appropriate permanent leader."

When a school is looking for a new president, rumors fly and questions abound. The search process takes many months, and often confidentiality is paramount.

What's your process for hiring a new president?Many boards these days rely on consultants or executive search firms to identify candidates, vet their qualifications, gauge their interest, and make recommendations.

The latest issue ofTrusteeshipmagazine features an article by Richard Chait on the topic of board culture and how it affects board efficacy. In the article, "The Bedrock of Board Culture," Chait argues that, too often, boards do not examine the underlying assumptions that define their board's culture.

The In Trust Center is pleased to announce a new webinar series focused on change management models. These webinars are presented by rpk GROUP, a national leader in helping institutions create sustainable business models that reflect both mission and market. This series includes two webinars. Webinar 1 provides a change management framework to include best practice for leading change initiatives and common pitfalls to avoid. This session will include a consideration of institutional readiness for change, especially around the use of a strategic finance lens.

Join consultant Dr. Rebekah Basinger to gain an understanding of shared governance, including definitions, delineations of roles and responsibilities, and strategies for adapting governance practices to your school's new now.

Join the discussion about how to plan well in advance of an anticipated change.

A two-part conversation as you consider your own sustainability plan.

JoinRick Staisloff for a discussion about strategic partnerships.

Join us for a series of conversations with leadership consultant, David Gyertson, about leadership transitions.

Join Chris Meinzer as he discusses questions about financial challenges and opportunities facing seminaries and theological schools in North America.

The wisdom, professional expertise, and life experiences of the folks seated around your board table are worth their weight in gold to your school and its mission. Without clearly stated expectations of board members and ongoing education and encouragement to match, there isa chance you areleaving riches untapped.

Dr. Bryon Klaus, faculty coach for the In Trust Center Wise Stewards Initiative provides information on what board members needs to know about theological school finances. This presentation was offered as part of the Governance Between the Times seminar of the Wise Stewards Initiative.

Lynette M. Brown-Sow, president of L.M. Brown Management Group LCC, provides information on dashboards and strategic indicators. This presentation was offered as part of the Governance Between the Times seminar of the Wise Stewards Initiative.

The sudden departure of a key leader can threaten your school's mission. But it can also be an opportunity for growth if you have nurtured a culture of leadership continuity.

Learn about the most significant contributing factors that lead to financial stress in theological schools.

Is there a way to help theological schools cut overhead costs and free up resources to focus on mission? That’s the goal of the CHANGE (Configuring Higher Education Administration for Next Generation Excellence) Initiative, one of the projects funded in Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative. In this episode of the podcast, Dr. David Boshart, president of Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, and Dr. Jeff Williams, the project director of the CHANGE Initiative, provide an overview of how a nonprofit organization could provide business offerings to schools, increasing quality of services while allowing schools the space to innovate. Dr. Jeff Williams can be reached here: jwilliams@ambs.edu

Price Harding, chairman of the executive search firm CarterBaldwin, joins Amy Kardash on the podcast to talk about the essentials of hiring a leader.

Dr. David Gyertson, a former university president, consultant, and recruiter, knows what can go wrong in presidential transitions -- and what can go right.

In today’s episode, we speak with Rev. Dr. William (Bill) Nelsen, senior consultant with The Registry

In this week’s episode, we talk with Dr. Rebekah Basinger, project director of our Wise Stewards Initiative.

This episode gives a firsthand look at interim president and board member relationships and offers key insights for other interims and the valuable role they play in the institution.

How the board chair and president relationship positively impacts the institution.