News & Insights

As David Tiede put it in a 2009 In Trust article, “Effective leadership . . . has become the test in a growing number of schools, and some track their results by how well communities are led by their graduates.”

 

Quoting Daniel Aleshire, executive director of the Association of Theological Schools, Tiede states that “theological education is leadership education.” In addition to intellectual and spiritual formation, seminaries typically include leadership education in their models of good theological education.

But what leadership looks like varies from school to school, because the examples of leadership differ among various faith traditions and seminaries. This is illustrated in the book Traditions in Leadership: How Faith Traditions Shape the Way We Lead, a collection of essays edited by Richard J. Mouw and Eric O. Jacobsen.

Each essay in the collection presents a different viewpoint on leadership and explores how personal faith traditions shape this viewpoint. For example, Father Mark O’Keefe, a monk of Saint Meinrad Archabbey, writes on Benedictine leadership and how the first abbot of Saint Meinrad demonstrated this definition of leadership. Another writer, Elliot Dorff, discusses leadership and organization within the Jewish tradition.

Tradition is usually seen to be embedded in the past, but as Tiede points out, Traditions in Leadership is not a call to return to a bygone era. Rather, it demonstrates how traditions are living entities that inform the way we lead today.

Because seminaries reflect particular faith traditions, these places of education are examples of why what we believe matters, as future church and ministry leaders are shaped by these beliefs.

How would you define the qualities of leadership within your own tradition? Would you agree that these traditions shape the leadership model espoused by affiliated seminaries?

To read David Tiede’s full article on Traditions in Leadership, click here.  

To purchase Traditions in Leadership, click here.

 

Top Topics

Roles & Responsibilities

Challenges

Opportunities

Board Essentials

Upcoming Events

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

Who's Next? Succession Planning for Boards

ON DEMAND

Planning for board officer vacancies should start well in advance with an intentional, smooth, and carefully designed transition plan.

Seminaries are people too: Mindsets that make or break institutional change

ON DEMAND

Theological schools are launching innovative projects to reshape education, but many struggle to achieve transformational change despite strong grant funding. Human nature, organizational culture, and governance practices often hinder progress. In this webinar, Drs. Aaron Einfeld and David Rowe provide tools to identify/overcome hidden barriers to change, offer practical steps for institutional leadership to move their institutions forward

I See That Hand

ON DEMAND

Board members are typically recruited for their leadership, business acumen, and networks. Dr. Rebekah Basinger, project director of the In Trust Center’s Wise Stewards Initiative, will discuss how strategic questioning and interrogation skills are essential for effective board stewardship.

Can’t Find What You’re Looking For?

In Trust Center provides Resource Consulting to our members at no charge. Contact us today and let us guide you to the most helpful resources for your situation.

Contact Us