My own view is that there needs to be some consolidation (mergers) of some of the fundamental seminaries. There are too many and they are not leveraging economies of scale.
Southern Seminary and TEDS because of their size provide greater value per tuition dollar (not saying they are better!)
Tim Scottsays
Can’t help but note the irony that these articles come from a faculty member of a seminary that started another seminary (Central Seminary, Virginia Beach). Perhaps admitting a mistake?
My own seminary (Providence) is connected to a college (that was actually how they started some years ago now) is currently making significant changes to personnel and to overlap of programming in order to function fiscally and provide sufficient classes/offerings for drawing more students. Both were good articles that I’ve thought about before myself. I think it is possible that there will be days ahead when many of these schools will be either drastically altered or merge into others or simply be closed. The days ahead can only tell where theological education will head.
Eric Whitesays
For accuracy’s sake in response to Tim Scott: Central Seminary in Minneapolis did not have a part in starting Central Seminary of Virginia Beach. It lent the school its support as it does to any “sister” institution, such as Detroit Seminary or Calvary Seminary in Lansdale, PA, besides others.
Tim Scottsays
Eric,
My apologies if I have misrepresented you’re school’s involvement in the founding of Central East. I guess I have been mislead by many conversations I have had with others who have suggested the contrary, and the fact that the school bears your name, has shared faculty and library rescources, etc. I erroneously equated that with formal involvment in starting the seminary. As I stand corrected, please disregard my prior comments.
Eric Whitesays
Tim, It is a common misunderstanding–I once thought the same. As a staff member of Central Seminary of MN, I had to research the relationship between the two schools during our accreditation process. The two institutions have always enjoyed close ties, but Virginia Beach began on its own.
My own view is that there needs to be some consolidation (mergers) of some of the fundamental seminaries. There are too many and they are not leveraging economies of scale.
Southern Seminary and TEDS because of their size provide greater value per tuition dollar (not saying they are better!)
Can’t help but note the irony that these articles come from a faculty member of a seminary that started another seminary (Central Seminary, Virginia Beach). Perhaps admitting a mistake?
My own seminary (Providence) is connected to a college (that was actually how they started some years ago now) is currently making significant changes to personnel and to overlap of programming in order to function fiscally and provide sufficient classes/offerings for drawing more students. Both were good articles that I’ve thought about before myself. I think it is possible that there will be days ahead when many of these schools will be either drastically altered or merge into others or simply be closed. The days ahead can only tell where theological education will head.
For accuracy’s sake in response to Tim Scott: Central Seminary in Minneapolis did not have a part in starting Central Seminary of Virginia Beach. It lent the school its support as it does to any “sister” institution, such as Detroit Seminary or Calvary Seminary in Lansdale, PA, besides others.
Eric,
My apologies if I have misrepresented you’re school’s involvement in the founding of Central East. I guess I have been mislead by many conversations I have had with others who have suggested the contrary, and the fact that the school bears your name, has shared faculty and library rescources, etc. I erroneously equated that with formal involvment in starting the seminary. As I stand corrected, please disregard my prior comments.
Tim, It is a common misunderstanding–I once thought the same. As a staff member of Central Seminary of MN, I had to research the relationship between the two schools during our accreditation process. The two institutions have always enjoyed close ties, but Virginia Beach began on its own.