Overview

Discover the beauty of theological institutions and churches working with and for one another, Theological Education demonstrates how churches and seminaries can cooperate through a competency-based learning approach to ministry preparation--that is, competency-based theological education (CBTE). CBTE focuses on the mutual mission of the church and theological education: developing followers of Christ who flourish in their vocations. This first book-length treatment of CBTE lays the groundwork for expansion and refinement as theological schools and churches move together in partnership, exploring: principles that ground successful CBTE cooperation, such as collaborative mission, contextualized discipleship, and holistic assessment; and practices that a CBTE approach requires, such as affordable programs, flexible technology, and continuous improvement. Using the CBTE model means seminaries can provide practical ministry training together with churches who invest in the theological education of those who minister among the

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Reviews

"""Anderson and Henson have delivered a masterpiece for pastoral and church worker development. As a long-time faculty mentor engaged in a CBTE program, I can speak first-hand to how contextual, adaptable, affordable, and theologically rigorous CBTE actually is. It is my prayer that CBTE could deepen trust and collaboration between institutions and local churches in the much-needed task of leadership formation.""--Tim Ahlman ""Pastor, Christ's Greenfield Lutheran Church and School"" (11/27/2023 12:00:00 AM) ""Anderson and Henson provide an invaluable roadmap to an important educational paradigm shift. Their guide is grounded in the missional call to rediscover the heartbeat of theological education - namely, equipping disciple-making leaders for the church. Theological Education introduces readers to the contours of competency-based theological education (CBTE) and provides a pioneer's guide to effectively navigating uncharted terrain. There is much to learn from their collective experience and particular expressions of CBTE.""--Gabe Tribett ""Director of Deploy (CBTE), Grace Theological Center"" (11/27/2023 12:00:00 AM) ""Competency-based models of education are not new, but they are new to theological education. In the moment when theological education urgently needs to be reimagined and recast, this text is right-on-time. Anderson and Henson, from their own ingenuity and experience, provide a detailed map for any seminary or divinity school interested in adapting this praxis-based approach. This book gives us the opportunity to learn from two of the foremost pedagogical engineers of our time. Replete with principles, practices, and design proposals, this book allows for in-depth consideration of this educational model. This book will make an excellent tool for any faculty developing or improving a competency-based curriculum.""--Nancy Lynne Westfield ""Director, Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion"" (11/27/2023 12:00:00 AM) ""CBTE is disrupting (in a good way) our long-standing approach to theological education. It's not a ""fad"" or a ""flash-in-the-pan"" phenomenon. Rather it's a philosophy of education that is fundamentally changing theological education. Anderson and Henson do a tremendous job of articulating how CBTE reimagines the academy by centering on the triad - the church, the student, and the institution. CBTE is producing the next generation of capable and well-equipped ministry leaders. Interested in seeing how you can use CBTE at your institution? This book will most certainly get you headed in the right direction.""--Philip Dearborn ""President, Association for Biblical Higher Education"" (11/27/2023 12:00:00 AM) ""Education should be designed around the learner -- not the institution, curriculum, IT requirements, or business model. In an age where educational institutions and ed tech alike have grown bloated with administrative complexity, disconnection, and unsustainable costs, it's no surprise that students are increasingly opting out of traditional degree programs. This concise read provides a human-centered blueprint for redesigning every aspect of theological education around the learner and their mission within the church. It's an indispensable book for church leaders and educators looking to design a better path for theological education.""--Paul Johnson ""CEO and Cofounder, Pathwright"" (11/27/2023 12:00:00 AM) ""Greg and Kent have done a masterful job of identifying the key problem of seminaries - the disconnect between the academy and the church. What is the reason for the existence of the seminaries if not to develop leaders for the church to help fulfill the Great Commission motivated by His Great Commandment? Unless change takes place seminaries run the risk of becoming irrelevant to the church. The educational philosophy of Competency-Based Theological Education is seen to help restore the relationship between the academy and the church, especially by focusing on the outcomes for the students. This book provokes us to consider new ways of coming together to develop leaders to be more effective for Christ in their context. This is a must-read as we adjust for the present and prepare for the future.""--Henry Tan ""President, International Leadership Consortium"" (11/27/2023 12:00:00 AM) ""Greg and Kent invite you on a journey towards understanding the heart and philosophy of Competency Based Theological Education. They are practitioners, explorers, and shepherds who share from their winding path and history of commitment to continuous improvement in offering student-driven, mentor-supported, and human-centered technologically based contextual education. They don't shy away from big issues of affordability, accessibility, and educational quality. Readers will be invited to rethink everything from mission to assessment to governance in a quest to reconnect the Academy and the Church. It's been a fascinating journey to track, and I trust what they offer will ""fan the flame"" and invite further exploration.""--Amy L. Kardash ""President, In Trust Center for Theological Schools"" (11/27/2023 12:00:00 AM) ""Greg and Kent's expertise shines brightly in this groundbreaking work. Their book is a valuable resource for educators in the evolving landscape of competency-based education. It offers essential principles, practices, and practical suggestions for learning design. Their emphasis on formation, context, and community is especially timely and needed in this field. I'm grateful for the wisdom they've shared, and this book is a must-read for anyone looking to understand and implement competency-based education effectively.""--Dr. Charla Long ""President, Competency-Based Education Network"" (11/27/2023 12:00:00 AM) ""If you serve as a board member or administrator at a seminary or theological school, Anderson and Henson have done you a huge favor. Read this book to locate thoughtful insights and practical design ideas for restoring relevance and accessibility to the seminary experience, for renewing the relationship between the academy and the local church, and for renovating programs in the face of inevitable change. After reading it, you may continue to invite students to campus, but you will also discover ways to deliver seminary to students in every context.""--Gary G. Hoag ""President & CEO Global Trust Partners"" (11/27/2023 12:00:00 AM) ""Kent and Greg were among the original pioneers of the CBTE movement in North America, and both have generously shared their insights and experiences with other theological educators for the past 10 years. The story, philosophy and resultant practices behind CBTE have been outlined through countless presentations and white papers, but in this book they are finally available as a thoughtfully articulated whole. Greg and Kent have done an excellent job of capturing the heart and core elements of CBTE, challenging us to refocus our telos on the ends of theological education and accept necessary disruption to the conventional means.""--Ruth McGillivray ""Executive Vice President, Northwest Seminary and College"" (11/27/2023 12:00:00 AM) ""The fundamental mission of CBTE is one every educator across disciplines can benefit from understanding: each learner must leave our learning experiences with more than skills. This book outlines how CBTE lends itself to not only measuring one's grasp of content and enduring understandings, but ensuring learners possess the character traits and dispositions that make us uniquely human: compassion, empathy, kindness, humility. These are the dispositions and competencies that take us beyond the skills of today and move us toward a better society.""--Lisa McIntyre-Hite ""PhD Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer C-BEN Solutions"" (11/27/2023 12:00:00 AM) ""These two pioneers of competency-based education for theological schools have done the community of theological educators an outstanding service by gathering and sharing their insights with us. Through their extensive experience they have counseled numerous schools, tested innovative ideas and processes, and not least of all provided learning for their colleagues on the ATS staff. Through this volume, they are sharing their ever growing expertise with a broader audience. While some schools might not be willing nor able to implement full programs of CBTE, most can benefit from some or all of the ideas presented here. Perhaps most importantly, Kent and Greg help us to identify and wrestle with fundamental questions about the goals of theological education, the ways it is provided, and what might be some contours of its future shape.""--Stephen Graham ""Strategic Director of Context and Continuity, Director of Accrediting, Association of Theological Schools"" (11/27/2023 12:00:00 AM)"

Author Information

Kenton C. Anderson is the President of Providence University College and Theological Seminary. He is the author of Integrative Preaching (Baker Academic) and Choosing to Preach (Zondervan). Creative founder of Immerse, the first fully competency-based master's degree accredited by The Association of Theological Schools.

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