Bethel Theological Seminary : 2001 Seminar

Institution Name: Bethel Theological Seminary

Address:
3949 Bethel Drive
St. Paul, MN 55112

Phone: 651-638-6180

Key Contacts:
George K. Brushaber, President
John R. Cionca, Professor of Christian Education and Pastoral Ministry
Leland V. Eliason, Provost and Executive VP
Denise Muir Kjesbo, Children and Family Ministry
Brian Labosier, Professor of Biblical Studies
Donald J. Verseput, Associate Professor of New Testament

Bethel’s project focused on the question, “How does faculty learn to function as a team in order to address and facilitate formation issues and formational growth within the lives of students?” Bethel used its grant to present a weekend workshop for faculty from all three campuses. The workshop included a presentation and panel discussion on the capacities of faculty as a team, a close study of the characters in the Seminar narrative, a fishbowl discussion, and a time for faculty to share formation stories. During the course of its project, Bethel learned a number of things about the teaching and learning challenges related to formation and integration. (1) The nature and content of the formal curriculum shapes the questions that are most important to the institution. Therefore, improving curricular effectiveness is a primary strategic initiative for the next five years. (2) Integration and formation are dynamic, organic processes that can create their own momentum if the energy is properly channeled and not squelched. (3) Institutional formation demands and creates community. (4) The unplanned curriculum trumps the planned curriculum every time. Life becomes the most powerful evaluator of formation and integration.