Theological Education: Holy Calling To Scholarship.pdf

Theological education should integrate "godliness with good learning," combining intellectual knowledge with spiritual formation, as the study of theology should contribute to sanctification. Theological education has often prioritized professionalism and administration over spiritual formation, but it is essential to reclaim the truth that theological education is about more than gaining intellectual knowledge, including the "skill of living well." A model of theological education that presupposes a believing community of scholars and students who learn, pray, and worship together is necessary, and spiritual formation should be the foundation of effective ministry. Theological reflection and spiritual renewal should be a seamless whole, and theology should be intimately related to spirituality to avoid becoming removed from daily discipleship and life. Theological education should involve a deep spiritual formation, including the whole person, and should enable students to develop their own patterns of spirituality, learning from different continents and theological traditions. An open theological approach to scholarship, encouraging independent research skills and lifelong learning, is essential, and contextual theology, rooted in Christ and related to culture, is necessary to communicate the gospel effectively in a post-Christian society.