Earthen Vessels: Hopeful Reflections on the Work and Future of Theological Schools

The last twenty-five years have seen a remarkable explosion of literature on theological education. This brief, accessible volume is a great entry-point into this conversation and is itself a significant new contribution that will spark fresh thinking and action. The book begins and ends by making a strong case for the future of theological schools--both that they should have a future and that they will. Aleshire makes this case by pointing to how their function of preparing theologically wise leaders for communities of faith is particularly crucial in a time of rapid multidimensional change when the kind of wisdom schools can foster is at a premium. He then goes on to show that these schools--precisely as schools--have great capacities for imagining and effecting profound changes in their own life and work. In the three middle chapters Aleshire provides a short course on issues facing theological schools, reflecting concretely and practically on the current challenges and possibilities for their work in the arenas of learning, teaching, research, administration and governance. What this adds up to is a orienting meditation on the biggest questions and issues currently facing every theological school and everyone who cares about them, whether faculty, students, administrators, board members, church leaders, or those who simply have a thirst for faith's wisdom.