“Is Gordon-Conwell changing? Are you trying to change Gordon-Conwell?” Well, yes, but it may not be what you think.

At a time of pandemic and poverty, racism and rioting, and seemingly irreversible global damage, who has time for theological education?

There is an old cliché that says doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is the definition of insanity. It may be overused but it seems appropriate when talking about theological education.

“It is a battle.” This was a strange answer to a question about spiritual formation. I asked Dr. Richard Ray (Presbyterian leader in publishing, pastoring, teaching and college administration) a very important question.

Context is not everything, but it is a lot. The incarnation reveals to us that when “the Word became flesh,” it took on a particular culture, not a universal culture.

Protests over racism. Pandemic. Strategic planning. What does it mean to begin a strategic planning process at a time of social upheaval?

Please don’t listen to the futurists who proclaim: “Everything is disrupted, and seminaries must be completely changed!” Yes, theological education must be transformed, but it will not be replaced by something totally different.

All of higher education is in an upheaval at this time. All college and seminary presidents are asking questions like: “How are we going to make it financially?” “How can we do education without gathering together?” “What will the new ‘normal’ look like next year?”