MAGAZINE
Forming chaplains, shaping ministry pathways in Florida
Palm Beach Atlantic University is helping shape the future of chaplaincy through innovative ministry preparation.
Palm Beach Atlantic University is expanding opportunities for ministry through an innovative chaplaincy initiative supported by a Lilly Endowment Pathways for Tomorrow grant. The program prepares students for chaplaincy in healthcare, law enforcement, education, and other community settings while helping current ministers connect their calling with sustainable, co-vocational careers. By building partnerships across South Florida and responding to growing community needs, the university is creating new pathways for ministry beyond the traditional congregation and equipping leaders to serve where people live and work. Read the full article here.
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Also, in the Summer 2026 issue of In Trust:
- All together in governance. New research from the In Trust Center’s Governance Initiative suggests that institutional effectiveness is less about choosing the “right” governance model and more about achieving shared clarity. Schools where trustees and senior leaders have a common understanding of governance roles and decision-making report stronger institutional effectiveness, highlighting the importance of alignment, communication, and trust in board leadership. Read the full article here.
- The mission goes beyond the buildings. Faithful leadership isn’t always about preserving an institution; it can also mean guiding it to a meaningful end. When Rev. Colleen Derrbecame president of Eastern Nazarene College, she hoped to secure its future. Instead, she found herself leading the institution through a thoughtful closure. Her story explores how leaders can honor a school’s mission, care for its people, and recognize that an institution’s legacy can continue long after its campus doors close. Read the full article here.
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Full issue: You can read the Summer 2026 issue of the magazine on the website here.
PODCAST
Ep. 108: Making Hard Choices Through Faithful Governance
Good governance makes hard decisions possible.
How does a board unanimously decide to leave a campus that has been its home for more than a century? In this Good Governance Podcast, Luther Seminary President Robin Steinke shares how mission, data, and shared governance helped leaders navigate that difficult decision. Facing changing student needs, evolving educational models, and nearly $40 million in deferred maintenance, the seminary chose to invest in its mission and future rather than buildings that no longer served its needs. The takeaway for leaders? Build trust, acknowledge the reality, and keep mission at the center, because, as Steinke says, “We can do hard things together.” Listen to Ep. 108: Making Hard Choices Through Faithful Governance here.
Other recent episodes include:
- Creating a different future. Higher education strategist Rick Staisloff, senior partner, rpk GROUP, explores how strategic partnerships and shared services can strengthen mission, not signal failure. Listeners will gain practical guidance on evaluating business models, identifying the right partners, and pursuing long-term transformation before crisis forces change. This episode offers valuable insights for leaders seeking to guide theological schools with clarity, courage, and a renewed focus on mission. Listen to Ep. 107: Creating a different future here.
- Rethinking board governance in theological education. Drawing on the most extensive governance study of ATS-accredited schools to date, In Trust Center President Amy Kardash and Governance Initiative Project Director David Rowe examine how leadership stability, clear board roles, and intentional board development contribute to institutional effectiveness. They challenge boards to think more deeply about mission stewardship, presidential support, and the evolving realities facing theological education today. Listen to Ep. 106: Rethinking board governance in theological education here.
- Finishing faithfully – leadership lessons on closing a school. The Rev. Dr. Colleen Derrreflects on one of leadership’s most difficult responsibilities: knowing when, and how, to finish well. As a former seminary president, Derr shares the realities of financial distress, the weight of inherited decisions, and the emotional and spiritual complexity of guiding a beloved institution to its end. She highlights the importance of mission clarity, courageous leadership, and honoring people over place. Listen to Ep. 105: Finishing faithfully – leadership lessons on closing a school here.
GRANT OPPORTUNITY
Board Development Grants
Board Development Grants offer financial support of up to $10,000 USD for action-oriented board development opportunities and growth by providing a catalyst to propel your governing or advisory board forward in its strategic priorities. Applications for the next cycle will be accepted between August 24, 2026, and September 30, 2026, by 4pm ET. To learn more about grant details, eligible projects, and the application process, view this informational video and visit the Board Development Grant webpage. If you have any questions, contact boardgrants@intrust.org.
VIDEO SERIES
Practicing Collaboration Video Series
In this 10-part recorded series, leaders within theological education share practical insights drawn from their lived experiences of collaboration. Each conversation explores a different dimension of “practicing collaboration,” offering valuable lessons, fresh perspectives, and actionable ideas for those seeking to strengthen collaborative leadership and ministry.
- Video 3: The Importance of Internal Collaboration. Dr. Brent Sleasman, president of Winebrenner Theological Seminary, shares insights from leading a school through a structural transition, including a language shift and organizational reporting restructure, which ultimately laid the groundwork for deeper collaboration. The conversation also explores the role of information-sharing and power within collaboration, and how these and other factors influence an institution’s capacity for external collaboration. Watch “The Importance of Internal Collaboration” here.
- Video 4: Cultivating an Imagination for Collaboration. Drawing from her experience within the ATS community, Dr. Jo Ann Deasy, director of institutional initiatives, sheds light on the various forms of collaboration being pursued across theological schools, with particular attention to initiatives emerging through the Pathways for Tomorrow initiative. She reflects on both the challenges institutions are facing, and the approaches and practices that stand out as especially promising, helping expand our imagination for what may be possible through collaboration. Watch “Cultivating an Imagination for Collaboration” 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.
