Description:
This book brings together theological insight and educational research in support of practical methods that align with transformative ends. The authors' experience testifies that this is a tested methodology crucial to theological education.
Brief description: ROBERT W. FERRIS is a Professor Emeritus at Columbia International University (CIU), South Carolina, USA. Before joining the CIU faculty, he and his wife, Sue, served for twenty-one years as missionaries in the Philippines in theological education. His specialization is in integration of theology and higher education curriculum and leadership.
Review Quotes:
Ministry Education That Transforms is much more than a manifesto on theological education. It is the fruit of reflection of theological educators with experience in different cultures and of their practice across cultures. It is an invitation to remember that the call of theological education is transformation, fostering the appropriation of God's truth to shape the worldview, character and practice of seminary students and of the church. This book is a must-read for those who view education not as training, but as formation, and want to learn more about transformational perspectives and methods.
Elizabeth Sendek
President, Seminario Bíblico de Colombia, Medellin, Colombia
I have known the authors of Ministry Education That Transforms for more than fourteen years. I can report that the lives of hundreds of faculty members in Eastern Europe, and those of their students, have been transformed through the principles and methods described in this book. The authors present methodologies and practical examples for rethinking seminary education. Here you will find a balance between high academic requirements and focus on equipping graduates for effective ministry in the church. The book stays on solid theoretical ground, yet with a practical orientation which enables theological schools in the Majority World to avoid many mistakes.
Sergiy Sannikov, PhD
Emeritus President, Euro-Asian Accrediting Association
Into the rather placid waters of a theological educator's teaching experience, this book tosses the question, "What for?" It demands that we rethink our reasons for teaching and asks that we re-purpose teaching towards transformation. Significantly, the transformation needed encompasses both tutor and taught, since to the student, "the faculty is the curriculum." Here is a book that prepares educators to prepare their students to serve the church. May its ripples increase!
Havilah Dharamraj, PhD
Academic Dean, South Asia Institute for Advanced Christian Studies, Bengaluru, India
Traditionally, faculty development was seen only from the perspective of credentializing professors. Recognizing this as problematic has led to solving a big flaw in theological education. Ministry Education That Transforms represents the essence of a training project that has taken theological education to a next level, helping seminaries to be transformational and not just content providers. The GATE curriculum provides a critical answer to a real need in faculty development.
Josue Fernandez
Regional Director for Latin America and Caribbean, Overseas Council
Many of us have heard critics say that theological education is neither theological nor educational. The reason this perception exists is the lack of teachers' training for theological educators. This book, Ministry Education That Transforms, is written by educators who also are theological thinkers. I highly recommend the book to those who want to see students participate in our ministry of transformation. So much of our theological education has lost its missional and ministry focus and hence we fail to see the church as a transformed and transforming community. This book is practical and has a strong theological foundation. I am convinced it will help teachers see their role as agents of transformative learning, resulting in a future more promising and a church leadership more focused on God's mission and ministry.
Ashish Chrispal, PhD
Senior Consultant, Overseas Council
As a GATE Associate, I highly recommend this book for use by educators and institutions who desire to see transformation of their graduates and the communities they are called to serve.
Rev Emmanuel Chemengich, DMin
Executive Director, Association for Christian Theological Education in Africa