Recapping World Cafe 2010
Recapping World Café 2010 – Alumni Responses
Asbury Seminary was pleased to host the 2010 World Café this past August, on the Florida Dunnam Campus. In an effort to help develop Asbury Seminary’s strategic plan, we have heard from faculty, staff, students and alumni. Alumni are a very important part of the seminary, and so we’re listing their feedback from the conference, and what the twenty-four alumni have to say about where Asbury is going.
These are straight from the Harper Room, World Café 2010:
Q1: What role might grad level theological education play in the renewal and revitalization of the Western Church?
Vision and Practice from non-Western people and experiences
More practical experiences
Spiritually transformative education
Multi-generational leadership within the church
Spiritual formation for renewed and revitalized leaders
Biblical living -
- Create environment that provides community revitalization
Empowerment/ leadership/ discipleship à training for students
Seminary to learn to be a “go to” instead of a “come to”
Recognize the directions of Jesus (not our own)
Intentional mentoring process for students
Inductive Bible Study and ways to teach that to others for revitalization
Experiencing other cultures/ missions
Intimacy with the Lord as life and taking that into the world
Focus on relationships/counseling (forgiveness)
More emphasis training on the “nuts and bolts” of ministry
Teaching people to be self-motivated learners
Do we have a revitalized seminary? A WHOLE experience? What does that look like?
Table Comments:
- Planning – all aspects of a mission trip (national and international)
- Personalities and Empowerment – relating to people who think differently
- Grow leaders – teach seminary students to teach laity
- Technology – good, but should be used to build a flesh and blood relationship
- Passion – dedication to the gospel with verve of Jehovah’s Witnesses
- Modeling- see Christians thru eyes of the world when building community model
- Stewardship – teach how to manage finances, morals, priorities, etc.
- Bridge gap with churches doing their own theological training
- Mentor program between alumni, students, and laity
Q2: What contributions might ATS make to the creation and delivery of Theological education structures and resources aimed at the lay leadership of the church?
Need to identify within churches through alumni concerns
Create a new way of measuring results within the church
Seminary a conduit to conference and churches to train laity
Mentoring Senior students could become mentors to churches
Create a “KNOWLEDGE BASE” among alumni
Create a partnership with the local church that is mutually beneficial
Seminary to offer Wesleyan perspective, resources, supplements
Collect common needs of a church laity (different denominations) and offer
Classes/workshops to particular areas
Focus on training students to equip others
Create points of entry for non-degree opportunities/ 1-Day seminars/ retreats
Are we willing to “Go To”?
Table Comments:
- Develop a Spirit-led program that goes with the education in ministry
- Move from Greek model to Hebrew model; from informational to relational
- Focus on Christian walk, and let that to the talking
- New measuring system for success – not just numbers, baptisms, and missions
- Laity spiritual formation classes/minor/certificate program
- Laity coming to seminary as speakers (laboratory churches)
- Laity training for missions over secular degrees (lawyers, doctors, etc)
- More supplemental programs in FL campus for laity
- Off-Site training in local churches for laity by area/conference
- Develop Alumni network so that information and experience can be shared
- Help students in discerning their calling – improve K.C.W. course
- Invite Laity to experience ATS and classes
- Local Seminars
- ATS Function as conduit to get speakers for lay persons
Q3: What Masters’ level degrees will most effectively serve the globalized church in a post-Christendom westernized world of the 21st century?
Global immersion
Cross Cultural training
Social Media technology
Non-profit Leadership
Ministry based business administration
Leadership/Missions
Comparative Religion à broader and deeper understanding of world Christianity
Strong field work/ practical experience
Anthropological degree à go be contextual
- (generational / ethnic/ differences) cultural adaptation
Conflict management
Organizational Psychology
Specialized tracks within degree programs
Exploring co-ops with universities and ministries
We need to go and ask the world what they need
Miscellaneous Alumni Information
- Alumni should be invited to campus as a resource
- Invite Alumni over a lunch hour to give practical and current information
- Student/Alumni Service Center
- Purposefully connect studies with where a student is serving / alumni
- Focus or understanding of world religions
Table Comments:
- Develop demographics of the communities of the church/mission
- Study generational and cultural differences within the community
- Exposure to ministries different than what church has experienced
- Dispel the idea that Seminary is only for pastors/ministers
- Teach Laity how to do research / offer online sources, e-books
- World-wide History and Philosophy – make connections from then to now
- Ministry certificates in Media, Recovery Ministry, Chaplaincy, etc.
Q4: In what areas of learning would co-curricular approaches be best applied?
Instructional media in a laboratory setting
Homiletics/ Worship/ Music
IBS/ Exegesis/ Preaching (writing sermons)
Could we have preaching class on what we did in IBS?
Connect cross culturally what we learned
Mentored Ministry/ Laboratory churches à plan entire week of service put in action
Writing/ ministry class
Create 10-12 hour minor concentration within degree program
CPE/ Spiritual Formation
CPE/ Pastoral Counseling
Denominational requirements all in one class
Spiritual Formation/ prayer
A holistic co-curricular perspective
Make clear connections between classes
More communication between departments and professors
To help make “connections”
Table Comments:
- Develop a team program for church planting teams
- Study abroad through partnerships in/with other schools
- Master’s program courses in urbanization, rural ministry – specific regions
- Master’s program in comparative religion, business, technology media
- Non-profit leadership training
- Training for reaching the “burned-church” / disenfranchised or put-off people
Any additional thoughts or input? The Office of Alumni appreciates alumni, and their comments on these questions are certainly welcome – send them in to via e-mail titled, “World Café Feedback” to alumni@asburyseminary.edu
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