Illustration by Ellen Marello

Boards of theological education institutions need to roll up their sleeves and lean into strategy and visioning to navigate a very complex and uncertain period. In the U.S. in particular, changes in foreign student policies are impacting enrollment. If we’re attached to a larger university, required changes in things such as diversity, equity and inclusion policies impact us.

We need to turn off the autopilot way of functioning. Board members will need to renew their commitment to the institution and, in that renewal, they need to rebalance the talent, time and treasure they invest in the institution. These are not times for meeting three times a year with your friends. Things might get a bit messier, blurring the lines of responsibilities between board and administration. Perhaps a task force needs to be created that blends institutional leaders with board members to speed up the development of strategy and vision. We did that at Oblate School of Theology, and it is helping us move forward on important new initiatives.

Board members need to become more outspoken advocates for student recruitment. We need to be involved in the vocation ministry that is enrollment. The future of theological education is not in silos. Board members can influence for greater collaboration, and we can grow stronger.