The “why” behind seminary is essential to preventing mission drift. As leaders and boards, we bear a sacred responsibility: the stewardship of students who come to be formed as Christian leaders and then sent into the world. We must ask ourselves:“Who are we forming them to be?”
In Matthew 10, Jesus instructed those being sent to be “wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” Are we truly helping our students embody both? This astute wisdom, wrapped in the gentleness of a dove, requires clean hands, a pure heart, and a clear mind to protect it from distortion. Spiritual leaders who are harmless in heart are unlikely to do harm to those they serve.
Our stewardship as seminaries is to align our culture and programs to provide the opportunity for students to experience the continuum of insight to understanding to wisdom. When seminaries prioritize scholarship over wisdom formation, we risk losing our way. We exist to serve the church; therefore, holistic formation must be at the center of everything we do. Our success is measured by whether we prepare effective ministry leaders who know their identity in Christ, understand His design for their lives, and are guided and can guide others by love.
As they are sent as sheep among wolves, we must ensure they are equipped to be both wise and harmless.
