Radical Transformation in Preparation for the Ministry.

RELIGIOUS education; THEOLOGY; RELIGIOUS leaders; HOLY Spirit; RELIGIOUS doctrines; MINISTRY & Christian union

The ancient question formulated by the North African Church Father Tertullian, 'What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?', would today be rephrased 'What does the training center/academic program have to do with the church?' This question must be answered. This article takes an in-depth look at the emphases in current theological education to determine whether future Christian leaders are receiving the best possible training for doing ministry. Improvement requires change, and some major changes are suggested here. Such changes can be achieved only through the Holy Spirit. Theology needs to be seen as a verb, not just as a noun, if men and women are to be adequately trained for servant leadership of the church. The Lausanne Covenant of 1974 provides a unique summary of how theological education should be integrated into Christian ministry. Theological education must be understood as a process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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