ABSTRACT
The question of how to do theological education has perhaps never been more contentious. Since the late twentieth century, questions raised internationally about theological education have seen a new surge in writing about training for ministry, at a time when the world into which ministers will be sent is becoming increasingly hostile or indifferent to Christian truths. This article surveys recent literature, in particular the strong voices calling for applied skills and personal spirituality alongside academic standards, and argues that more time, not less, is crucial for theological education in such a complex context.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.
ORCID
Kirsten Birkett http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4919-0928
Notes
1 There is a more fine-grained discussion to be had about what the purpose is, depending on particular theological convictions; see Edgar Citation2005 for an example of this kind of discussion. This paper remains at the level of broader principles.