It’s a fair question. But not the question I started with. Twenty years ago I started asking a more basic question: Why seminary? My conclusion was that the seminary exists for the church (not the other way around). That means that the burden is on the seminary to adapt to the changing needs of churches.
So, why online seminary? Because of a major shift in the way churches hire staff.
Thirty years ago, most students went to seminary to get their credentials so a church would hire them. Today, a growing number of students go to seminary to sharpen their ministry skills so they can be more effective in the church position they already hold. Why the change? More churches fill staff positions from within their own church.
Before: seminary, then church position
Now: church position, then seminary
Once someone is plugged into a church staff position, seminary options are few unless a seminary campus is nearby. Answer? A seminary program that is totally, completely, 100% online.
February 1, 2009 at 10:04 pm |
I would take that one step further. On-line seminary gives people the option of continuing their regardless if they are on staff at a church or in a volunteer position. The idea of being able to continue your education to be more effective in ministry is important.
Then there is the added benefit of taking classes with people from all walks of life around the country or around the world. The learning is so valuable when you get to share ideas and discuss what you are learning with other students. The on-line classes give you a greater opportunity to learn from people in ministries of a wide variety of types and sizes.
Bonnie
February 6, 2009 at 8:48 am |
Bonnie – I continue to be amazed at the extent to which cross-pollination occurs in our classes! At first, I thought of it more as “value added”; now I see it as a core component of our learning design. Thanks for commenting! -Sam