Congratulations to the 2012 GRACE Award recipient Albert Kwabi.

Albert is an M.Div. student with a concentration in Christian Education Formation. An international student from Ghana, Albert plans on completing his course of study by writing a thesis on theological education in Ghana. The GRACE Award is given to the student pursuing the M.Div./C.E. concentration who shows the most promise of exemplary contribution to the profession of the pastoral educator.

Below are introductory comments for my D.Min. sudents entering our new program on contextual leadership:

Last week the director of a consortium of theological schools visited me for a consultation. In the course of our conversation I shared with him my “rant” on formation related to the under appreciated significance of context. My rant typically goes something like this:

“Formation is one of those concepts people in seminaries fall in love with, but rarely understand or know how to apply. My challenge to seminaries that fret overmuch over the matter of “formation of clergy” is to stop worrying and cease trying to do what they cannot accomplish. Seminaries are good about the formation of seminarians, churches form clergy.”

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A student in my online class asked a great question:

< <... How do I encourage members to reflect and think theologically?.... I'm having a hard time coming up with an example of what that would even look like in a church setting. I know it's important, and I use the practice myself at times, but I can't figure out how to transfer it to a congregation or group setting. Could anyone offer me some insight?....>>

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Today someone asked how the job is going, two years into the deanship. If it’s between “10. The best job ever;” or, “6. I’d rather shoot my eye out with a nail gun;” and “3. I’m recommending my worst enemy for this job;” I’d say most of the time it’s a “7. It’s a challenge.”

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The new book by GRACE members Israel Galindo and Marty Canaday, Planning for Christian Education Formation: A Community of Faith Approach (Chalice Press) is immediately available in print and e-book format.

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You can read a review of Galindo’s new book, Perspectives on Congregational Leadership at the Resource Center website. While there, visit other spots on the website for updates on resources for you and your congregation. Especially if your church is not a member of the Resource Center, explore the website for information on the huge benefits of membership.

The upcoming book by GRACE members Israel Galindo and Marty Canaday, Planning and Organizing for Christian Education Formation: A Community of Faith Approach (Chalice Press) will be released in March of 2010.

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Today was Orientation for the entering students at the seminary. A great bunch of folks. I was intrigued by the diversity in the group, including the span in ages and life experiences. The group served to confirm the reality that the term “non-traditional student” hardly means anything in theological education any more. God is at work calling people from all walks and stages of life for the Kingdom. And it is humbling to witness that people are responding. And more humbling still, the realization that for some of us, the calling is to prepare those who’ve answered the higher calling.

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For more information visit the Baptist Theological Seminary website.

An Episcopalian priest played golf regularly with the local Baptist minister and two of his members. The priest kept inviting the Baptists to visit one of his services until they were embarrassed at not having gone. So they committed to being good neighbors and picked a date to visit, but arrived late to the service.

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