The Spirituality of Deconstruction in United States Theological Schools
This study explores how graduate theology students experience and reshape their spiritual practices through "deconstruction," particularly in relation to embodiment, nature, activism, and syncretism, across four types of theological schools. It finds that while institutions often respond ambivalently, the spirituality of deconstruction can simultaneously challenge and revitalize religious institutions amid broader institutional decline. Read more
The Experience of Financial Well‑Being, Shame, and Mental Health Outcomes in Seminary Students
The experience of pursuing a graduate seminary education is rife with many stressors, including the heavy financial burden required to fund a seminary degree. Shame, understood as an experience of being unworthy and inadequate at one’s core, may be a natural reaction to financial hardship, as many individuals may believe their inadequacy is the cause of their financial difficulties. Read more.
Spiritual Formation in Theological Education: A Multi-case Exploration on Seminaries and Student Development
In recent decades, theological schools have demonstrated increased interest in educational models that not only transmit knowledge and skill to students, but also prepare them to have the character and virtue dispositions needed to successfully navigate the moral challenges that await them in future ministry settings. Read more
Problems and Prospects for the Measurement of Christian Seminarian Formation: Spiritual Measurement and the ‘Uncertainty Principle’
Spiritual and ethical formation are a central responsibility of institutions of theological education, and it matters how well these institutions carry out this core task. Yet formation and the measurement of formation face an array of both theological and practical challenges. The present essay surveys these challenges and responses that have been developed to date. Read more