MAGAZINE
Value Proposition
Matt Hufman explores how theological education is being challenged to clarify and communicate its value in a rapidly changing cultural and economic landscape. Drawing on insights from the Rev. David Rowe, Ph.D., the piece highlights shifting demographics, financial pressures, evolving ministry expectations, and an expanding array of educational delivery models that are reshaping the sector. As demand struggles to keep pace with growing supply, and as questions of affordability and vocational sustainability intensify, schools are being called to articulate more clearly how theological education serves both students and society.
Rowe emphasizes that sharpening a school’s value proposition is essential for sustaining mission in today’s environment. Rather than relying solely on internal assumptions about worth, theological institutions must listen closely to the needs of students, churches, donors, and communities while exploring new models of formation, access, and delivery. Even amid disruption, the article affirms the enduring importance of theological education in cultivating ethical reflection, moral leadership, and meaning — gifts that remain deeply needed in contemporary life. Read “Value Proposition” here.
What do you think? Email us here with your thoughts.
Also, in the Winter 2026 issue of In Trust:
- Brand before everything else. Dan Kennedy, vice president, The FOCUS Groupunderscores the critical role of clear, consistent branding for theological schools navigating declining enrollment, donor fatigue, and rising costs. Drawing from an In Trust Centerwebinar, Kennedy argues that the core challenge is not ineffective marketing but a confusing institutional promise, one that weakens efforts across enrollment, fundraising, alumni engagement, and staff recruitment. True brand strength, he explains, is rooted not in visual design but in how clearly an institution’s purpose lives in the minds of its audiences. Read “Brand before everything else” here. Watch the webinar here.
- In the Balance. Amy L. Kardash, president of the In Trust Center, explores how boards can move beyond low-impact, post-meeting surveys toward meaningful reflection that strengthens governance. She encourages boards to ask fewer, mission-centered questions that promote continuous learning rather than simple evaluation, while establishing consistent expectations for concise reflection after each meeting. By assessing how effectively time advanced institutional priorities, identifying conversations that warrant deeper attention, and considering adjustments to improve focus and engagement, boards can shape stronger future agendas and model the disciplined curiosity essential to effective leadership. Read the full article here.
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Full issue: You can read the Winter 2026 issue of the magazine on the website here.
GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
Resource Grants: New Cycle Opens March 2
The In Trust Center will open its next Resource Grant cycle in March 2026. These matching grants of up to $15,000 help member schools engage external expertise to address strategic challenges and pursue innovative opportunities. Specifically, they target supporting projects that strengthen a school’s mission, encourage new thinking, and invest in adaptive change, from strategic planning and enrollment initiatives to curricular innovation and new educational models. All current member schools are eligible, except those that received a Resource Grant in 2025. Grantees complete a mid-year update and a final report. Full details are available here.
SEMINAR
Wise Stewards Initiative
The In Trust Center’s Wise Stewards Seminar, coming in March 2026, will invite leadership teams from theological schools across North America to explore governance as a catalyst for change, innovation, and long-term sustainability. Designed by experienced educators and supported by funding from the M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust, the initiative equips boards to navigate unprecedented challenges, strengthen adaptive leadership, and pursue new opportunities for institutional vitality. Through collaborative learning, coaching, and peer engagement, participants will deepen their understanding of exemplary governance, access practical resources for faithful innovation, and develop actionable plans that prepare their institutions for a resilient and hopeful future. Learn more here.
GUIDES
Core Essential #3 – Presidential Evaluation
Presidential Evaluation: To help, not harm.
Presidential evaluation can feel daunting for boards, but when approached thoughtfully — with balanced candor, compassion, and clarity — it becomes a vital practice that strengthens leadership, deepens trust, and renews a shared commitment to the president’s success.
PODCAST
The State of Theological Education
How leaders and schools can find opportunities in the challenges that lie ahead.
Theological schools across North America are at a pivotal moment. In this episode, Rev. Frank Yamada, Ph.D., executive director of the Association of Theological Schools, and Amy Kardash, president of the In Trust Center for Theological Schools, discuss both the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of theological education. They explore pressing issues such as financial sustainability, leadership transitions, and shifting student demographics, while also highlighting how boards and leaders can navigate these changes. Listen to the State of Theological Education here.
Other recent episodes include:
- Regulation, Resilience, and Renewal: A 2026 outlook for theological education. In this forward-looking conversation, Frank Yamada of the Association of Theological Schools and Amy Kardash of the In Trust Center reflect on a season of both turbulence and possibility. Joined by host Matt Hufman, they explore how creativity and collaboration are emerging amid regulatory uncertainty, financial pressure, and leadership transition. Drawing on recent data, grant initiatives, and board research, the discussion points to cautious optimism, highlighting enrollment growth, new approaches to theological formation, and the implications of artificial intelligence for higher education. The episode closes with timely questions for school leaders and boards as they plan for the year ahead. Listen to Ep. 101: Regulation, Resilience, and Renewal: A 2026 outlook for theological education here.
- What decades of governance still have to teach us. To understand new governance trends, look to enduring wisdom. Governance expert Rebekah Basinger, Ed.D., reflects on what theological schools can learn from lasting board leadership principles, even amid financial, regulatory, and post-COVID pressures. She cites challenges like executive turnover and fatigued boards, while offering a hopeful vision of governance rooted in fiduciary responsibility, strong relationships, and shared stewardship of mission. Listen to Ep. 100: What decades of governance still have to teach us here.
SPONSORED
Introducing the ACEO Health Plan
AdminWise Shared Services is pleased to introduce the Association of Church Educational Organizations (ACEO) Health Plan, an exclusive health insurance option for ATS seminaries and church-related colleges. This sustainable, cost-effective solution helps institutions address rising employee health insurance costs while continuing to offer competitive benefits. Participants benefit from greater flexibility, reduced regulatory burden, subsidies, enhanced bargaining power, and shared governance to ensure institutional needs are met. Learn more at www.adminwise.org or contact ron.ringenberg@adminwise.org | 574-370-0345.
