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Access resources and tools to equip governing board members, strengthening governance, accountability, and mission-focused leadership in theological schools.
  • In Trust Magazine Articles 306
  • Documents 45
  • News & Insights 10
  • Videos & Webinars 2
  • Podcast 94
Small can be large
The Guardian

Small can be large

It may seem counterintuitive, but boards can do small things to revitalize and change the culture…

Awash in data
On My Mind

Awash in data

There’s no shortage of information at our fingertips. Interpretation and discernment must be brought to bear.

Present Moment | Preparing for greatness
The Star

Present Moment | Preparing for greatness

Relationships are key to stewardship. They also making coming into the room more fun.

A prayer for a bountiful harvest
The Sign

A prayer for a bountiful harvest

Rod Wilson offers a prayer for fundraisers and the work they do to provide a future…

Flexible, tailored collaboration partners
Feature Articles

Flexible, tailored collaboration partners

Eden Theological Seminary has created a network of schools that will provide students a wide range…

Strategic Shorts
The Guardian

Strategic Shorts

A new series of short videos can help leaders and boards wrap their heads around complex…

PowerPoints
The Guardian

PowerPoints

How can an executive leader and the chair of a board form a solid relationship?

The Census | Seeing the big picture
The Guardian

The Census | Seeing the big picture

The latest release of data from ATS shows a field is growing slowly.

The shifting sands of regulation
The Guardian

The shifting sands of regulation

With the federal government issuing new orders, two experts help schools plan a response for their…

Future Promise
The Star

Future Promise

Boards of theological education institutions need to lean into strategy and visioning to navigate an uncertain…

Letters from Canada
The Star

Letters from Canada

Canadian schools have faced a cap on international study permits, as well as travel issues. Theological…

On My Mind
On My Mind

On My Mind

The mobile provides a good analogy for the work of governance and is worth a look…

Core Essential 3-President-Board Chair Partnership
Annual Report

Core Essential 3-President-Board Chair Partnership

Wise boards know the relationship between the school president and board chair is mission-critical.

Core Essential 4-Balanced Budgets Fundraising Goals
Document

Core Essential 4-Balanced Budgets Fundraising Goals

Budget building is a challenging process, especially when finances are tight, and board members should balance…

Top 10 Questions When Merging
Annual Report

Top 10 Questions When Merging

Consider these top 10 questions that trustees, presidents, and CFOs should ask each other and themselves…

4 Steps to Smooth Functioning Shared Governance
Guide

4 Steps to Smooth Functioning Shared Governance

Shared governance has long been a part of theological education in North America but is often…

Storytelling
Guide

Storytelling

While financial control often seems like the key to influence, it’s storytelling that holds power. Boards…

Core Essential 2: Our Board at its best
Annual Report

Core Essential 2: Our Board at its best

The leadership of theological schools views their boards as trustworthy, honest, and embodying numerous other positive…

Core Essential 2-Diversity in the Boardroom
Annual Report

Core Essential 2-Diversity in the Boardroom

Rather than a checkbox, diversity should be viewed as a divine gift that enriches leadership and…

Core Essential 4: The Board’s Role in Fundraising
Annual Report

Core Essential 4: The Board’s Role in Fundraising

There are two key components to a board's role in fundraising: Collective governance and individual involvement.

Strategic Shorts: Large-scale Collaboration and the Role of Boards
News & Insights

Strategic Shorts: Large-scale Collaboration and the Role of Boards

Strategic Short: Large-scale Collaboration and the Role of Boards

In Trust Monthly Newsletter: July 2025
News & Insights

In Trust Monthly Newsletter: July 2025

THE MAGAZINE Flexible, tailored collaboration partners Eden Theological Seminary’s initiative, “Navigating the Shift,” funded by a $5…

Board Chair Newsletter: July 2025
News & Insights

Board Chair Newsletter: July 2025

Grants to help your advisory or governance board

In Trust Monthly Newsletter: June 2025
News & Insights

In Trust Monthly Newsletter: June 2025

Collaborations, Shared Services, Shifting Regulatory Environment, and much more.

In Trust Monthly Newsletter: May 2025
News & Insights

In Trust Monthly Newsletter: May 2025

The state of the industry conversation, revival of Auburn Studies, new resources, and much more.

Partnerships that Improve Institutional Sustainability and Quality
News & Insights

Partnerships that Improve Institutional Sustainability and Quality

Webinar explores considerations for institutions pursuing strategic partnerships.

In Trust Monthly Newsletter: November 2024
News & Insights

In Trust Monthly Newsletter: November 2024

Lilly Endowment's new funding announcement, the issue of power and much more.

In Trust Monthly Newsletter: September 2024
News & Insights

In Trust Monthly Newsletter: September 2024

Discover how a Lilly Endowment Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative grant helped Kairos University cement a legacy…

Strategic Shorts: Large-scale Collaboration and Difficult Personnel Decisions
Videos & Webinars

Strategic Shorts: Large-scale Collaboration and Difficult Personnel Decisions

How theological schools can navigate complex personnel decisions during large-scale collaborations.

From Confusion to Clarity: Strengthening Your School’s Brand
Videos & Webinars

From Confusion to Clarity: Strengthening Your School’s Brand

Facilitator: Dan Kennedy, Vice President, The FOCUS Group Many theological institutions are facing mounting pressure regarding…

Ep 94: Lessons to learn from Pathways initiative
Podcast

Ep 94: Lessons to learn from Pathways initiative

As the Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative reaches its midpoint, theological schools are navigating both promising innovations…

Ep. 93 – Staying ahead of the evolving world of AI in theological education
Podcast

Ep. 93 – Staying ahead of the evolving world of AI in theological education

As the world of artificial intelligence advances in theological education, leaders can stay ahead and find…

Ep. 92 – Faith, law, and the future: Governance in a shifting regulatory environment
Podcast

Ep. 92 – Faith, law, and the future: Governance in a shifting regulatory environment

What happens when federal education policy changes, roiling higher education, without specifically mentioning theological education? The…

Ep. 91 Coworkers in the vineyard: Adaptive change and the future of theological collaboration
Podcast

Ep. 91 Coworkers in the vineyard: Adaptive change and the future of theological collaboration

What if collaboration wasn’t a tactic, but a way of being? In this episode, Greg Henson…

Ep. 90 Rethinking ministry formation: Diaconal studies and the future of theological education
Podcast

Ep. 90 Rethinking ministry formation: Diaconal studies and the future of theological education

Could theological schools be missing a vital piece of ministry formation? Dr. Darryl Stephens joins the…

Ep. 89 – Rooted and Ready: Strengthening Theological Schools Amid Regulatory Upheaval
Podcast

Ep. 89 – Rooted and Ready: Strengthening Theological Schools Amid Regulatory Upheaval

In a time of political shifts and regulatory uncertainty, the Good Governance podcast dives into how…

Ep. 88 – A shared future: Rethinking seminary administration
Podcast

Ep. 88 – A shared future: Rethinking seminary administration

As theological schools consider how to prepare for the future, a Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative grant…

Ep. 87: The burden of leadership in theological schools
Podcast

Ep. 87: The burden of leadership in theological schools

What does it take to lead a theological institution today? Auburn Seminary is relaunching Auburn Studies,…

Upcoming & Recent Webinars

The In Trust Center hosts learning community spaces throughout the year. Check out our upcoming and recent ones below.

Strategic Shorts

Videos & Webinars

Strategic Shorts

Video Series for Building Institutional Capacity The Rev. David Rowe, Ph.D., Project Director for the Governance Initiative and…

Strategic Shorts: Large-scale Collaboration and the Role of Boards

Videos & Webinars

Strategic Shorts: Large-scale Collaboration and the Role of Boards

Focus on the critical role boards play in large-scale collaborations

Strategic Shorts: Large-scale Collaboration and Difficult Personnel Decisions

Videos & Webinars

Strategic Shorts: Large-scale Collaboration and Difficult Personnel Decisions

How theological schools can navigate complex personnel decisions during large-scale collaborations.

Large-scale Collaboration and Change of Control

Videos & Webinars

Large-scale Collaboration and Change of Control

The formal process of transferring control between institutional boards