Rev. Dr. Kavito Zhimo
Theological education is a requisite qualification to inter into Christian ministry. It continues to take the Galilee model in which, Jesus called out his disciples and trained them for a purpose that they would continue His mission till he comes back. Therefore, theological education is inextricably linked with God’s purpose for the church and its mission to the world.
However, there is an indication that quality theological education has declined over the years amidst the mushrooming of theological colleges in the region and easy theological degrees available. Dimapur is becoming the hub for theological colleges with about 25 theological colleges and is increasing every year. The question is: Is theological education meeting the needs of the churches and society today? Or is it becoming more of academic exercise? And is it true that theological colleges are becoming a dust bin or for that matter rehabilitation like centre?
This article is a signal call for the churches, institutions and students to become aware about the reality of theological education today as this would greatly affect the quality level of Christian ministry. While also guide the students to be vigilant in their endeavor to gain higher theological degrees.
1. Who should go for Theological study
The fundamental requirement from a theological student is to have a burden for God’s mission. Mission does not reside in degrees, books or in class rooms alone; it goes beyond what academic knowledge can provide. It is a special call to adopt ‘kenosis’ self-emptying service and be in solidarity with God’s people, while theological education provides tools to face such challenges. Therefore if the student of theology is not imbued with such a call it ends up with degrees that are professionally academic exercise. What if the student of theology fails to be a witness to their fellow brothers and sisters in despair? Truly, our theological stand is depilated if we find easier to confess that Jesus Christ is the King of Kings then to confess that He is also a servant King “diakonia” who washed His disciple’s feet 2000 years ago.
My observation over the years as theological educator makes me to say this: there are those in the seminaries with passionate commitment to mission but some are simply studying to fulfill their parent’s commitments. Some, who feel alienated from the society, seek refuge of the seminary to regain their prestige and career. Others are studying theology in the hope of healing their own spiritual wounds. While some who join the ministry with minimum qualifications exhausts their resources and feel the need to upgrade their degrees. Such mixed outcome has resulted in producing many graduates yet only few willing to serve as cross cultural missionaries, work amongst the poor and oppressed and in the rural areas. The core issue here is that every student of theology must question, do I have a call? If not where am I heading?
2. On the role of Theological Colleges?
Amidst religious plurality, globalization and the rise of materialism there is a danger of crude and adulterated theology which might try to compromise with the uniqueness of the Bible or the centrality of Biblical faith. Students may be introduced to many new and fascinating theories and doctrines yet without substantive tools for ministry. Therefore, students should not be attracted by the seminaries before carefully studying the doctrinal stand of the college.
The question is: Do theological colleges provide an environment for the students to pass out with a degree that is spiritually sound and academically confident enough. Amidst such speculation there is a debate on the question of spiritual formation and academic excellence.
Spiritual formation
Spiritual formation of the students in theological institution is often debated at institutional level, church level and even among the theological students. In fact, any theological colleges that do not give emphasis on spiritual development of the students are in danger. By saying this, I do not mean to spiritualize the contents of courses nor courses on spirituality and spiritual formation should predominate. My experiences in theological colleges as a student and as a teacher makes me to say this; spirituality is evoked and developed more by modeling than by explicit teaching. However, spiritual direction requires an unusual degree of sensitivity. It is true that life of the faculty and staff greatly determines spiritual direction of the seminary. But it is also a community affair where teacher and student make their spiritual experiences available to be modeled and not just imposing on each others to follow.
Academic excellence
Striving for academic excellence should be the motto for every institution. But academic merit must not be something that produces a mind that is negatively critical of our faith and belief. For such an outcome leaves graduates with shaken confidence in the Gospel of Christ and a faith that seems to be spiritually insolvent. Therefore, mere academic excellence without spiritual formation in the life of students will adversely affect the society and the ministry of the church. It is agreed that there is a need for balancing between academic excellence and spiritual growth. For instance, theological graduates with first class academic excellence may not fit into the church ministry for they end up with very little relevance to their real ministerial context. Theology can never be a purely theoretical science, one that is existentially uninvolved. Theology divorced from theological action seriously impediment the ministerial formation of the students.
3. On the question of Theological Degrees
The standard qualification to enter into a basic theological degree in India as per Senate of Serampore College (university) and Asian Theological Association (ATA) is 10+2 for a Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.), degree which is of 4 years course. After which a person can opt for higher degree like Bachelor of Divinity (B.D.) or Master of Divinity (M.Div.) which is of 2 years if a person gets second class in their previous degree and 3 years for those with third Division and 3 1/2 years for secular graduates. A person intending to specialize in any field of studies starts only at Master of Theology (M.Th. of 2 years course) leading to Doctoral studies which takes a minimum of three years to complete. On the whole a person spends a minimum of eleven years residential studies to earn a full fledge Doctor of Theology (D.Th. or Ph. D.).
But today, the sacral identity attached to theological studies is gradually loosening its grip due to globalize system of education. There are many colleges and universities offering distance education through which one easily gets theological degrees without entering a theological college. The fact is that a theological study is a training process and not simply a theoretical or academic exercise. Therefore, whether theological degrees offered through correspondence relate sufficiently and realistically to our pastoral ministry? If not, what will be the requisite qualification to enter into Christian ministry? This leads us to the issue of “contextualization” and appropriate use of theological degrees for ministry.
4. On the Relationship between Church and Theological College.
Theological colleges are a creation of the church’s mission and therefore church must constantly remind the institution of their reason for existence. Church organization or seminary board must evaluate and monitor the functioning of the institution to see if its doctrinal principals are in accordance to the belief of the church.
Today many theological colleges are functioning independently without the guardianship of the churches. But it is a sure sign that theological colleges are theologizing text out of context. Theological colleges must understand that they are not merely a training institution but a direct agent of the church and its mission to the world.
There should be a list of theological colleges approved by the churches and that are suitable to their ministerial context and doctrinal basis. The church must scrutinize the candidates before they undertake theological studies. For this, Mizoram Synod system can be used as a model. A candidate undergoing theological education is first given a year of probationary service in the church ministry. Having completed a year of test, a candidate is send to a theological college recognized by their Synod with full scholarship. In this way the candidate service is secured while the institution and the churches continue to develop complimentary relationship. Should this be followed by all denominational heads then we do not need so many theological colleges to accommodate the growing number of theological students.
In the light of the above discussion, I would offer some suggestions:
1. The teaching faculty should be well equipped both academically and spiritually to take up teaching ministry to avoid providing shabby model before the students.
2. Theological teachers should have first-hand pastoral experience as they are training students who would then become pastors.
3. A theological study is a residential course; therefore, class rooms, proper library, hostels and office buildings should be well furnished if not presentable and hygienically sound.
4. Theological education is the brain factory of the church. Therefore, denominational authority should lay down criteria for running a theological college.
5. The financial implication of the college need to be seriously addressed. No theological college can become self-sufficient from its students fees. Therefore, colleges that do not have proper affiliation and suitable endowments to sustain themselves must critically question themselves not to genocide the career of its employees and students.
6. Theological staff and students must be involved in the church life during vacations and weekends. Theological education must be closely tied to the life, witness and ministry of the church. Teachers and students must always put their theoretical knowledge in the test in real life situation of today’s church.
7. Nagaland as a Christian dominated state with almost 90% Christian should have a department of Christianity under the Nagaland University. This will facilitate higher theological research levels designed to meet and produce contextualized theologies. This will also help theological colleges in Nagaland to strive for quality education.
8. Theological colleges should be burdened with a definitive goal that theological education is a Missiological task and that both teachers and students together are key to the fulfillment of this goal.
