Virtual church

Posted on December 16, 2008 by Israel Galindo

Some of us observe with amusement, and some impatience, the ongoing occasional conversations in theological education about the legitimacy, value, or congruence of online delivery for seminary education. At one time it was appropriate to include in that conversation talk about “emergent technologies,” but that epoch is past. Despite the track record of the effectiveness of online learning in just about every field of education, and the increasing number of schools, from kindergarten to graduate programs, that embrace online learning, theological education as a whole has been left in the dust. Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Education, congregational life, philosophy, technology and education | Comments Off on Virtual church

Aesthetics

Posted on December 15, 2008 by Israel Galindo

I’ll be teaching the educational philosophy course during J-term. It’s a course I enjoy teaching and one I think, when it connects with students, yields enduring understanding. Recently a former student wrote me to share his frustration at the lack of an educational philosophy at his church, and the effects it has on the practice of Christian education. It’s gratifying when we see evidence that students have cultivated discernment and understand the importance of educational foundations—theory and philosophy. Continue reading →

Posted in philosophy | Comments Off on Aesthetics

The Gadget Gene

Posted on December 4, 2008 by Israel Galindo

I suffer from the male genetic malady of the Gadget Gene. If it blinks, lights up, requires batteries, has a button, buzzes, lights up, vibrates, connects to something else via wireless or a cord, and has a computer chip, I’m for it. I’m too much of a generalist to qualify for the lofty status of membership into geekdom, but I can understand the tribal dialect and can hold my own more often than not. I find some comfort in that I know I’m not alone in my malady (see Geekdad). Continue reading →

Posted in books, humor, technology and education | 1 Comment

What are seminarians like these days?

Posted on December 3, 2008 by Israel Galindo

I recently received a surprise call from a former professor of mine. He was gracious and kind to call me to congratulate me on the new job. A former dean himself I accepted the condolences. It was one of those tender conversations of a teacher expressing gratification (if not relief) for a former student’s success. And it was an opportunity for a former student to express gratitude to a mentor and teacher who opened up future possibilities. Those are tender moments, and they happen too infrequently.

At one point in our conversation my former teacher, long retired now, asked, “So, what are seminarians like these days?” Continue reading →

Posted in teaching, theology, vocation | 2 Comments

So what’s it good for?

Posted on November 26, 2008 by Israel Galindo

I recently heard again the pragmatist question “So what’s it good for?” related to systems theory. It’s a natural question whenever matters of theory arise. The best answer, of course, is that it’s a theory and therefore not really good for anything in the pragmatist sense. That is, it’s not very utilitarian. It’s a tool for thinkers not tinkerers. Continue reading →

Posted in bowen family systems theory, development theory | 1 Comment

Self care and self-definition

Posted on November 25, 2008 by Israel Galindo

For ministers, and aspiring ministers, who embrace that part of their calling involves service to others, self-denial, and self-sacrifice, investing in self-care can be a challenge. Whatever its source, feelings of obligation, guilt, or shame; or a lacking sense of boundaries, clergy seem prone to a high risk of burnout related to a lack of self care. There’s no denying that ministry is complex, and therefore, endlessly busy, but those clergy and staff who fail to practice self care fail themselves and their congregations. Continue reading →

Posted in bowen family systems theory, congregational life, personal growth | 1 Comment

“Book illustrator”

Posted on November 24, 2008 by Israel Galindo

Well, I can now cross out “Illustrate a book” from my list of 50-things-to-do-before-I-die (yeah, just 50, I’m not ambitious). I’ve had the privilege of illustrating the latest book by my friend Bill Tuck. He asked me to illustrate his new book on the character of Christ with some of my ink drawings. The book, titled The Compelling Faces of Jesus, is published by Mercer University Press and is available through various outlets. Here is the book description: Continue reading →

Posted in books, liturgical seasons | Comments Off on “Book illustrator”

A classic pastoral triangle

Posted on November 17, 2008 by Israel Galindo

I’ve experienced the third instance in recent months of a classic pastoral triangle. It’s “classic” in the sense that it has all of the components of an “elegant” emotional process triangle: (1) it is generated by anxiety, (2) its source is family of origin relationships, (3) it is directed at the pastoral leader, (4) its content obfuscates emotional process, and, (5) it invites reactivity. Continue reading →

Posted in bowen family systems theory, congregational life, leadership | Comments Off on A classic pastoral triangle

The pastoral leader as resident theologian

Posted on November 14, 2008 by Israel Galindo

Students in my online class have been studying about leadership in the congregation. From their reading (The Hidden Lives of Congregations) they are discussing some of the concepts addressed in the book: (1) the function of leadership is influence, (2) the importance of the leader as resident theologian, and (3) it takes 3-5 years for the pastoral leader to get to a place of influence that does not derive from his or her position. Continue reading →

Posted in leadership, theology | Comments Off on The pastoral leader as resident theologian

Assessment: Yeah, it’s hard

Posted on November 12, 2008 by Israel Galindo

One of the topics in my current online course is educational assessment in the congregational setting. The students are reviewing a model for rigorous assessment of Christian education that my friend Marty and I present in our forthcoming book.* One issue students have raised, legitimately, about the issue of assessment, and the model offered in particular, is that putting a rigorous assessment process in place in the congregation will be a challenge and will seem daunting. I think that’s a valid statement. Continue reading →

Posted in administration, Christian Education, curriculum, Sunday school | Comments Off on Assessment: Yeah, it’s hard