In Trust Center

Send us a textIn this episode, the Rev. Dr. David Rowe reflects on the sweeping changes affecting higher education and how these pressures are reshaping theological schools. Demographic decline, reduced church demand, and shrinking revenue streams have created intense competition among an oversupply of institutions. Rowe argues that schools must clarify their value proposition by understanding what students actually need and are willing to pay for. He highlights the importance of distinguishing between service, experience, and transformational educational models and aligning each with sustainable economics. He encourages boards to rethink mission, foster experimentation, and explore new audiences to meet today’s real ministry and societal needs.You can find David Rowe at Windermere Consulting here. Daniel O. Aleshire's book mentioned in the podcast is here. 

Send us a textHow do you create a community online, particularly among the shifting landscape of theological education? Pacific School of Religion has been working to answer that with Kwaray, an online learning platform that creates a virtual “neighborhood.” PSR President David Vasquez-Levy and Vice President Byron Chung discuss the distributed learning network, created with funding through Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative. The platform gives schools and groups a way to create their own communities and join others through an innovative platform that can be “white labeled” for school use. PSR has worked to pair technology with deep community engagement as well as stackable credentials and a “zero-entry” approach that lowers barriers to participation. The discussion also explores how schools use adaptive strategies for the shifting educational landscape. You can find out more at Kwaray here and at PSR’s Kwaray website here.

Send us a textCatholic Theological Union in Chicago is shaping a vibrant approach to theological education to help shape the Catholic Church. Dr. Karen Ross discusses how the Pathways for Tomorrow initiative has helped create a living-learning community that empowers young adults—especially from marginalized backgrounds—to co-create the Church of tomorrow. Through scholarships, housing, and leadership opportunities, CTU is forming a new generation of lay leaders whose ministries extend beyond traditional church roles into social justice, education, and community life. Learn about CTU's program on its website here.

Send us a textFederal policy shifts are reshaping higher education, and as details are still being understood, Peter Lake and David Rowe discuss what they mean for theological schools and how leaders can prepare. They explore new regulatory pressures, financial strains, and cultural changes affecting governance and mission. They offer leaders practical insight and encouragement to stay rooted in their theological convictions while navigating uncertain times.Text of Education Secretary Linda McMahon's Sept. 8, 2025, speech at Hillsdale College can be found here.The U.S. Supreme Court case "Sweezy v. New Hampshire" can be found here.

Send us a textCompetency-based theological education (CBTE) is reshaping how future church leaders are formed – and it’s more than just skills training. In this episode, Dr. Susan Reese of Kairos University and Dr. Nathan Hitchcock, CBTE consultant, discuss how this approach emphasizes character, spiritual formation, and lived practice alongside academics. From mentoring and integration with local churches to assessing “heart” competencies like friendship, rest, and resilience, They also discuss issues like assessment and rigor and offer reasons why schools may consider CBTE. The CBTE 2025 conference (in November 2025) was referenced in the show. You can find out more here.  The book "Theological Education: Principles and Practices of a Competency-Based Approach" was also mentioned. It can be found on Amazon here. (The In Trust Center does not earn any compensation from the link.)

Send us a textAs the Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative reaches its midpoint, theological schools are navigating both promising innovations and growing tensions. In this episode, Matt Hufman speaks with Jo Ann Deasy of ATS and Amy Kardash of the In Trust Center about how schools are reassessing mission, sustainability, and alignment. With new programs, nontraditional students, and expanded collaborations, institutions are rethinking everything from board engagement to what success really means. While some schools are thriving through strategic alignment, others face challenges in leadership turnover, funding models, and adapting to shifting demands. The conversation underscores a growing shift from competition to collaboration, and a recognition that long-term vitality requires deep listening, experimentation, and clarity about mission.

Send us a textAs the world of artificial intelligence advances in theological education, leaders can stay ahead and find ways forward. In this episode, the Rev. Tay Moss, who has been a leading voice on AI in the Church and theological education, considers how leaders and institutions can engage AI wisely – balancing innovation, ethics, and integrity. This episode considers what it means to be human and bring a theological framework to new technology, and how schools can use new assessment models and spiritual assessment tools. This episode helps leaders keep up on the emerging trends and provides ways for schools to further explore. Moss has done extensive work in AI, including developing new technologies for churches and teaching on it. He can be reached here. He was previously on the podcast in Episode 78.  

Send us a textWhat happens when federal education policy changes, roiling higher education, without specifically mentioning theological education? The Rev. Dr. David Rowe and Law Professor Peter Lake unpack the ripple effects of new regulations, executive orders, and court cases on theological schools. From accreditation challenges to spiritual care for students and the risk of mission drift, this conversation offers thoughtful frameworks for boards and presidents navigating chaos.  David Rowe can be reached here. Peter Lake can be reached here. The legal case that Peter Lake mentions is Catholic Charities Bureau Inc. et al v. Wisconsin Labor & Industry Review Commission et al. The previous podcast episode can be found here.

Send us a textWhat if collaboration wasn’t a tactic, but a way of being? In this episode, Greg Henson and Tony Blair of Kairos University discuss their recent article “Coworkers in the Vineyard: A Renewed Spirit of Collaboration Within Theological Education” about collaboration in theological education and challenge assumptions about competition, mission, and governance. Drawing on research and firsthand experience, they call for adaptive change, reimagine theological formation, and practice collaboration rooted in trust, not survival. With fresh insights on governance, institutional identity, and discipleship, this episode is a must for boards and executives rethinking what’s possible in today’s shifting landscape. You can find the full article here. It's in volume 24 (2025) of Christian Higher Education.

Send us a textCould theological schools be missing a vital piece of ministry formation? Dr. Darryl Stephens joins the podcast to explore diaconal studies — a growing movement that prepares deacons for ministry beyond the pulpit and into the community. With insights from global models and a new open-access volume featuring 21 authors, Stephens invites schools to broaden their mission, extend their reach, and equip more leaders for today’s multifaceted church. The e-version of the book, "Diaconal Studies: Lived Theology for the Church in North America," is offered without cost here.  A previous open-access book edited by Stephens mentioned in the podcast, "Bivocational and Beyond: Educating for Thriving Multivocational Ministry," is available at Books@Atla Open Press here.