News & Insights

The Newsletter for Chairs of Theological School Boards
Vol. 3 No. 1

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The newsletter for chairs of theological school boards, Vol. 3, No. 1

Reflection, governance, and relationship

In Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Rev. Nancy Claire Pittman, Ph.D., is retiring as president of Phillips Theological Seminary. She has had a long career as a minister and educator, and she worked through the ranks before she was named president – professor, director, dean and vice president.

Having worked in a variety of roles, she brings a rich perspective to theological education, and
in a new podcast, she discusses her career, particularly what she wished she had known before she assumed the office of president.

Nancy discusses how she would have liked to have known more about governance and shared governance. Another thing to note is how warmly she speaks of her board and her relationship with board members.

I so appreciate her willingness to discuss this and share with others the lessons she has learned. We all learn when leaders are transparent and willing to share, and she hit on topics that we regularly hear about.

Of all of the questions we receive at the In Trust Center, those two areas – shared governance and the president-board relationship – are among the most common, and I think that’s because of how those things affect the entire work of a theological school. 
Nancy’s conversation on our podcast is well worth a listen, and I’d encourage you to do so and reflect on what you wish you would have known coming into the work.

We have plenty of resources to help you think through shared governance and the relationship between the president and the board. These could be used for your ongoing board training. Here are a few:

  • Dr. Rebekah Burch Basinger, an expert on governance, provides a great overview of shared governance in this webinar.
  • As well, Mai-Anh Le Tran, Ph.D., offers a short and insightful reflection on the power of shared governance that’s worth sharing.
  • David Gyertson, Ph.D., is no stranger to the president’s office or the board room – he has served as both a president and board member. He provides a thoughtful overview of the relationship between the president and board here.

I hope you’ll consider using these for your board education as you do your work. We have a number of other curated resources we’d be happy to share with you. You can reach our Resource Consulting team via email here.
 
With gratitude for all you do in theological education,
 
Amy Kardash
President

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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

UPCOMING WEBINAR: OCT. 24, 1 PM (ET)

Planning for board officers 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.

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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.

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