While financial control often seems like the key to influence, it’s storytelling that holds power. Boards of theological schools must pay close attention to the narratives shaping their institutions—especially in the boardroom.

The board chair plays a pivotal role in guiding the board and serving as a trusted liaison for the executive leader. Given the significance of this role, it is imperative that the president and board members invest time in understanding the practices, relationships, and processes that define the position and articulate the role’s expectations.

This is "the" guide for people governing theological schools. As the introduction says, "How well a theological school is governed is key to the institution’s overall effectiveness and its fidelity to its mission. In the midst of change and discontinuity, the governing board is the steward that nurtures the purpose and vision of a theological school across the span of time." Download the guide and get started!

Seminary governance expert Bob Landrebe presents a guide on the complexities of shared governance for theological school leaders.

Series of video shorts exploring how theological school leadership can strengthen economic vitality and mission fulfillment.

Series of video shorts exploring how theological school leadership can strengthen economic vitality and mission fulfillment.

Human formation implies a holistic approach to educating and preparing the total human being for religious leadership.

Vancouver School of Theology is using its Pathways grant to enhance its competency-based curriculum.

The Centre aims to deliver competency-based, contextual, and mentored pastoral education to strengthen church leaders through a close partnership with the church and the seminary.

Reflection, governance, and relationship from Rev. Nancy Claire Pittman as she retires as president of Phillips Theological Seminary

The World Next Door: Increasing Capacity to Prepare Pastors for Immigrant and Ethnic Churches

Driven by spiritual, practical, and personal motivations, many older students are discovering later-life religious callings and entering theological schools to follow their vocations.

Through the support of a Pathways grant, Wake Forest University School of Divinity has energized relationships with the University’s online learning office as its faculty are working with online curriculum designers to create asynchronous courses.

The Jesuit School of Theology's Pathways project aims to unite various educational groups in the Western region by providing accessible, high-quality education and training for Latina/o pastoral ministers and those serving Latina/o congregations.

Columbia Theological Seminary’s Pathways grant focuses on a three-pronged strategy.

In Trust Center President Amy Kardash reflects understanding our shared mission.

Strategies for engaging faculty and staff in institutional change to enhance organizational capacity.

Cory Scheer, Ed.D., the founder and CEO of TrustCentric, discusses the current and very troubling condition of trust as a clarion call to action. But despite the dismal data showing pervasive organizational distrust, every organization has the opportunity to assess their current level of trust, learn and adopt a proven trust building framework, and then develop a meaningful and long-lasting plan of action.

Dr. Rebekah Basinger addresses the opportunities and challenges that come with chairing the board of a theological school, which include how to design effective board meetings, enhance board member engagement, and develop the board for long-term effectiveness while giving attention to the board chair and president partnership and the critical importance of call in both roles.

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.

This webinar series addresses the basics of change management and adaptive leadership needed to navigate change.

Learn the value of having a trusted advisor and how to select one to meet your needs as a leader.

Join Rev. Matthew Wesley Williams, President of Interdenominational Theological Center, and Rev. Dr. Michael Joseph Brown, President of Payne Theological Seminary, as they discuss how leaders can have transformational conversations with their stakeholders around race and bias.?

Rod Wilson will provide suggestions and practical steps for communicating with care, as well as facilitate peer learning during this webinar.

Learn how to navigate diversity, equity, and inclusion on campus and create an environment for diversity to thrive.

Learn how to deepen awareness of intercultural education in the face of the multicultural community surrounding theological education.

Culture affects performance, engagement, retention, and satisfaction,all of which reflect on the student experience. Learn how to assess culture at your institution.

As advancement strategists, we are called to eliminate a one-size-fits-all fundraising model, but that may require radical changes in how we understand philanthropy and transformative gifts.

What does it take to lead a theological institution today? Auburn Seminary is relaunching Auburn Studies, beginning with a valuable report on leadership. In this episode, the Rev. Dr. Patrick Reyes, dean of Auburn Seminary, shares key trends in the field, and study author, the Very Rev. Dr. Michael DeLashmutt of General Theological Seminary, explains what his research uncovered.

The Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative was designed by Lilly Endowment Inc. to create ways for theological schools in North America to train and support ministers for Christian churches. The Rev. Dr. Jo Ann Deasy, director of institutional initiatives of the Association of Theological Schools, and Amy Kardash, president of the In Trust Center for Theological Schools, discuss key findings and themes. ATS and the In Trust Center are co-coordinating the initiative.

Can the work of governance - even board meetings - be holy? Award-winning writer and author Karen Stiller, herself a board member, thinks so. Her new book even addresses it.

At China Evangelical Seminary North America (CESNA), leaders are looking at ways to engage leaders and congregants of immigrant churches. They've done so with new programming aimed at helping congregations, including a Center for Public Theology. Drs. Frank and Anita Liu, leaders at CESNA, explain how they're doing that with a Pathways for Tomorrow grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.

Notre Dame's Department of Theology is using a Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative grant to create cross-cultural competency in students studying for vocational and lay ministry. Professor Stacey Noem, one of the grant project directors, discusses ways the school is creating space for cross-cultural ministry and how it prepares students.

For the Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, part of the Pathways for Tomorrow grant is about reinvigorating community as well as addressing key issues ministers work on, including mental health, isolation, and trauma. Dr. Derek McNeil, the school's president and provost, discusses the need for leaders to be resilient, adaptable, and open to partnerships and mutual support.

Just 13% of CEOs of ATS-accredited schools are women. In Trust Center President Amy Kardash discusses the pathways for women in leadership of theological schools and how boards can help women succeed.

There's a "trust gap" in the American workplace, according to Cory Scheer, Ed.D., the founder and CEO of TrustCentric. Scheer, a former pastor, academic administrator, and leader in business and nonprofits, studied trust as part of his doctoral work. The lessons can help theological schools learn how to improve performance and outcomes in their work.

The rise of conspiracy theories and a diminishing trust in societal institutions have given some church leaders pause to consider the impact. In this episode, Rob Saler, Ph.D., Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, suggests that theological institutions can contribute to addressing these challenges.

There has been considerable concern about AI and its use in theological higher education, particularly as it relates to cheating. But Greg Henson, president of Kairos University, and Ruth McGillivray, executive vice president of Northwest Seminary and College, believe there's more to it than that. In this episode, they discuss the opportunities for theological schools to explore with AI.

Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative is investing millions of dollars in theological education in North America. The Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and the In Trust Center are co-coordinating the initiative, and in this episode, the In Trust Center’s Amy Kardash and the Rev. Dr. Jo Ann Deasy of ATS discuss the emerging trends, interesting projects, and how coordination works.

In this episode, Dr. Jodi Porter discusses how she created a simple tool to help seminaries and theological schools discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion at their institutions.