The Newsletter for Chairs of Theological School Boards
Vol. 3 No. 12

Keeping the board well-oriented.

As we head into fall, I tend to think about board composition and orientation because many boards use this season to orient new members or discuss adding new members and orienting them to the work.

I’ve written about it in this newsletter before here, and for executives and board leaders, that’s something worth revisiting and regularly considering. It’s vitally important that we consider how our boards are formed – not just who we invite to be part of our boards but also how we bring them into the work and train them for the work ahead.

Ongoing training and formation of boards is also essential, and I invite you to consider how we continue to orient a board to the issues in the field. Here are two things to consider:

First, consider how your board continues to gain information on the field, not just your institution. We’ve created a series of short videos to provide information and insight for leaders of theological schools called Strategic Shorts. These videos provide expert advice on key topics facing theological schools. They’re centered around three questions and are 30 minutes or less. They provide great fodder for board education and advice. Explore the series here.

Second, we have a wide range of webinars that cover vital topics for the work of theological school boards and leaders. For example, Dr. Rebekah Basinger, an expert in governance, will lead a webinar on “Navigating the Power Differential in Shared Governance.” The webinar will explore how boards can consider the opportunities and challenges of shared governance. That’s an issue every school faces, and viewing is well worth the time. You can register here. You can find more webinars on a wealth of topics here.

If you’d like to share your experience around shared governance or if you have a question or want specific information to better fit your school, you can always reach out to our team. Email them here.

Thanks for all you do in theological education.

Amy Kardash
President