May 31, 2024

THE MAGAZINE
The future of learning and libraries

What do you do in this Google era, where all the world's information seems to be a few clicks – or a ChatGPT inquiry – away? For John Kutsko, Ph.D., and the team at Atla, the goal is to help theological schools better prepare tech-savvy students with new tools and ways to expand learning and access important information that isn't just a Google search away. Gregg Brekke chronicles how Atla foresees the future of libraries in theological education. Read more here. Also in the spring issue:

• Creating communities of belonging: In Seattle, Derek McNeil, Ph.D., president and provost of the Seattle School of Theology & Psychology, has been working to develop his school into a deeper community. Through a Pathways for Tomorrow grant, the school has considered its purpose and moved "into a deeper change of how we do business, how we work together, and how we think of ourselves in terms of our why and our calling." Read more about how the Seattle School is now considering its purpose here.

• The ancient paths: In a reflection on calling, Matt Hufman considers the memory of the mission to which we're called and how it provides a way to a future and hope.

Full issue: You can read the magazine on the In Trust Center website. 

The importance of the religious mosaic 

The Academy for Jewish Religion used a Pathways for Tomorrow grant to create a thoughtful series of videos to introduce Christian seminarians to an overview of Judaism and issues facing modern Jews. In Episode 65 of the Good Governance podcast, Ora Horn Prouser, Ph.D., the CEO and academic dean of the academy, discusses the impetus for the project, "Mosaic Religion and the Religious Mosaic," and discusses how she hopes viewers will receive the work. Other recent episodes include:

• The role of specialty accreditation: Philip Dearborn, Ed.D., president of the Association for Biblical Higher Education, talks about what boards should consider about accreditation and how schools can benefit from it. Listen to Episode 64 here.

• Returning to old ways: In a discussion on competency-based theological education, Kent Anderson, president of Providence University College and Theological Seminary, suggests that, in some ways, this may be a return to ancient ways of education. Listen to Episode 63 of the Good Governance podcast here.  

You can find more episodes on the In Trust Center's website.