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!

Many theological school board members see their work as a calling. Dr. Karen Sawyer, a doctor of physical therapy and theological school board member, talks about why.

Theological school boards can - and should - spend time preparing policies and procedures that prepare for potential legal actions. Find out more here.

Reducing expenses, decreasing enrollment, increasing costs, and shrinking revenue. These are the current realities of higher education. Are your board members asking the right questions in response?

Board members often lament the lack of time in board meetings to focus on strategic issues and trends that really affect the future of the institution. Many boards struggle with spending too much time on the present, or even on the past. They prioritizereports from staff and committees but leave little time for robust discussions about moving forward.

Effective board orientation is valuablefor new trustees and veteran board members alike. Fitting orientation into already-full board meetings can be difficult, but it is important to take time each year to do so.

How do you go about finding new board members?It's not as easy as asking friends if they want to serve.

As part of the ongoing work of the In Trust Center's Wise Stewards Initiative, participating schools are completingboard self-assessments, which their faculty coaches are usingto create board development plans. Creating a plan is something that every school should consider doing.

As the diversity of students entering theological schools continues to grow, many school leaders are challenged with mirroring that diversity within their administration, faculty, and board.

The dashboard of a carcan tell you a lot — fuel level, speed, air temperature, tire pressure. The one thing it can't tell you is where you're going. For that we need another metaphor. Randall Basinger at Messiah College has just the thing: GPS, or governance positioning system.

Theological school boards are responsible for all aspects of the school they serve, including the spiritual formation of their students. But how can boards know for sure whether spiritual formation is being adequately addressed?

Do you have new (or existing) board members that require orientation? Interested in conducting an assessment ofyour board's efficacy? Feel as if your board could be communicating or collaborating better?

Most authors, researchers, and support organizations agree that no one-size-fits-all template dictates how boards should function. Rather, governance gurus urge boards to shape the way they work to the contours of their specific organizations.

Presenter Donna Alexander, President & CEO of Advoxum Global Strategies, offers best practices for navigating conflict and crisis. She examines the crucial elements of defining conflict and crisis, identifying, and prioritizing affected stakeholders, utilizing effective communication strategies, and ultimately, executing a 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.

With any organizational plan, certain pivotal individuals – both internal and external – hold significant influence over our goals. To ensure the success of a program, initiative, or on-going strategy, we must prioritize these “Audiences of One” differently from larger audiences. Learn how the “Stakeholder Management Plan” tracks the status of these relationships to help boost overall success.

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.

In this session, we consider the policies, practices, and key performance indicators most helpful to supporting the essential partnership between the president and the governing board.

Join consultant Dr. Rebekah Basinger to gain an understanding of shared governance, including definitions, delineations of roles and responsibilities, and strategies for adapting governance practices to your school's new now.

This webinar will address how seminaries can own their destiny by being responsible and "finishing well," rather than closing in crisis.

Join the discussion about how to plan well in advance of an anticipated change.

Rebekah Basinger leads a discussion on board governance as part of the Wise Stewards Initiative's Governance Between the Times Seminar.

The wisdom, professional expertise, and life experiences of the folks seated around your board table are worth their weight in gold to your school and its mission. Without clearly stated expectations of board members and ongoing education and encouragement to match, there isa chance you areleaving riches untapped.

Dr. Derek McNeil, president of The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, provides information on recruiting board members of diverse backgrounds. This presentation was offered as part of the Governance Between the Times seminar of the Wise Stewards Initiative.

Providing a well-organized board orientation can set the direction for the board and provide them with a strong foundation for leadership.

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 Rev. Dr. Steven Moore, CEO emeritus of the M. J. Murdock Trust, says leaders in theological education should consider how they focus on stewardship. Drawing on 40 years of leadership in nonprofit groups and theological and higher education, Moore outlines what good leaders need, how boards can frame the work, and how leaders can stay fresh.

In this episode of the Good Governance podcast, Rev. Dr. Frank Yamada, the executive director of the Association of Theological Schools, discusses what it means for theological education and what skills boards and leaders need to navigate these times.

For Dr. Karen Sawyer, the sense of calling has kept her on Missio Seminary for more than 30 years.

Fundraising expert Dr. Carla Maxwell Ray joins the podcast to share how boards can engage – and be energized – for fundraising.

Making boards good isn’t enough – they need to be great to help schools fulfill their callings, and Dr. Rebekah Basinger knows how.

In this week’s episode, we speak with Dr. Ron Mahurin, senior consultant at Design Group International.

Join us for this week’s conversation where we connect with Ms. Cheryl Williams.

Listen in as Ms. Alexander talks about how she led the board during a transition and how boards can cultivate and support new leadership.

Listen as they discuss why engagement is so critical to the success of a theological school board.

Tune in to episode 9 of the In Trust Center podcast where we are joined by guests Ms. Lynette M. Brown-Sow and Dr. Rod Wilson, Wise Stewards Initiative Faculty Coaches and governance consultants.

Listen in as they discuss the value of the board engaging a consultant, the issues boards should consider, and important questions to ask.