Responsive Theological Education in Asia

Dear friends and colleagues, While the Institute for Excellence here in Bangalore this week has been focusing on financial sustainability as one of the pillars of effective theological education, my interaction here in India with various seminaries has directed my thoughts to another key quality.  To be effective in Christian leadership development, a seminary must be “responsive.” The seminary must respond to its context.  Who are its students?  What is being taught in the curriculum it offers?  For what purpose?  How is its education provided? – what we call the “mode of delivery.”  Who are its teachers?  Where and when do they teach? I prefer“responsive” rather than “relevant.”  Relevant seems to be reactive instead of proactive.  It seems to focus more narrowly on the needs of the church and society rather than a broader range of issues to which the effective seminary responds.  And, relevance seems to answer to the immediate and perceived need, but not necessarily to longer-term and less obvious needs that will sustain a mature church into the next generation. What brings this characteristic of effective theological education to my mind is how I have been so pleased to see it displayed by so many seminaries that are represented here this week. Let me illustrate responsiveness by mentioning some of variety that is represented here: TAFTEE must be one of the largest programs of “theological education by extension” (TEE) in the world.  It has 11,000 active students in its lower level certificate program, scattered around India, and in a wide variety of denominations. A seminary in Sri Lanka has 20 extension centers located around the island nation, with over 200 students. Several seminaries have broken away from English as the traditional language of education to offer full degree-level programs in local vernacular languages, increasing accessibility to higher education. Innovative programs are being offered, such as a Masters in Organizational Leadership; or a foundation course in the planning stages called “Abundant Life” aimed at new believers to be offered by TEE in 15 languages. SAIACS, our host school, is considering offering a new masters program in a “hybrid” model, combining distance education with an intensive module on campus lasting several weeks, a model that they have successfully implemented in a Doctor of Ministry degree. How can Overseas Council come alongside seminaries which want to become even more responsive to their contexts? Warmly in Christ, Scott

Responsive Theological Education in Asia

Dear friends and colleagues, While the Institute for Excellence here in Bangalore this week has been focusing on financial sustainability as one of the pillars of effective theological education, my interaction here in India with various seminaries has directed my thoughts to another key quality.  To be effective in Christian leadership development, a seminary must be “responsive.” The seminary must respond to its context.  Who are its students?  What is being taught in the curriculum it offers?  For what purpose?  How is its education provided? – what we call the “mode of delivery.”  Who are its teachers?  Where and when do they teach? I prefer“responsive” rather than “relevant.”  Relevant seems to be reactive instead of proactive.  It seems to focus more narrowly on the needs of the church and society rather than a broader range of issues to which the effective seminary responds.  And, relevance seems to answer to the immediate and perceived need, but not necessarily to longer-term and less obvious needs that will sustain a mature church into the next generation. What brings this characteristic of effective theological education to my mind is how I have been so pleased to see it displayed by so many seminaries that are represented here this week. Let me illustrate responsiveness by mentioning some of variety that is represented here: TAFTEE must be one of the largest programs of “theological education by extension” (TEE) in the world.  It has 11,000 active students in its lower level certificate program, scattered around India, and in a wide variety of denominations. A seminary in Sri Lanka has 20 extension centers located around the island nation, with over 200 students. Several seminaries have broken away from English as the traditional language of education to offer full degree-level programs in local vernacular languages, increasing accessibility to higher education. Innovative programs are being offered, such as a Masters in Organizational Leadership; or a foundation course in the planning stages called “Abundant Life” aimed at new believers to be offered by TEE in 15 languages. SAIACS, our host school, is considering offering a new masters program in a “hybrid” model, combining distance education with an intensive module on campus lasting several weeks, a model that they have successfully implemented in a Doctor of Ministry degree. How can Overseas Council come alongside seminaries which want to become even more responsive to their contexts? Warmly in Christ, Scott

Institute for Excellence in India: Update 3

Dear friends and colleagues,

In my previous update I described some of what makes North East India unique in comparison with the rest of the country.  Whereas the “mainland” of India is dominated by Hinduism and Hindu culture, for 150 years the tribal people of North East India have shown remarkable receptivity to the Gospel.  Large Baptist church buildings, usually located on the highest plot of each mountain village, dominate the skyline.

In God’s workings, the churches of NE India are strongly missional in outlook.  In the 1950’s the Indian government believed that Western missionaries were supporting the independence movements in this region, and expelled all Westerners.  The NE churches understood that the leadership of the church was now in their hands, as was the responsibility  of the unfinished task to carry the Gospel to parts yet unreached.  The result was a strong missionary movement, entirely resourced by the Indian Baptist congregations.

Local congregations are generous in their missions giving.  It’s not unusual for a congregation to devote half of their budget to cross-cultural missions.  These are not wealthy churches by Western standards, and so their generous commitment is all the more remarkable and exemplary.

Laiu Facchai, the Indian missionary I mentioned in my last update, now directs SIM’s sending office here in NE India.  Over the past two years they have been the vehicle for sending out 18 new missionaries.  The Baptist associations in this region are responsible for many, many more.

While it is difficult to obtain long-term visas for missionaries from the West who wish to work in India, missionaries coming from NE India obviously have no such problems.  And, so the churches in this part of India have a unique opportunity to share the gospel with their Hindu neighbors in the mainland.

Seminaries here play a strategic role in promoting missions among their student bodies.  Students go on short-term mission trips.  God’s redemptive purpose for all nations is taught in Bible and theology courses, as well as courses focused particularly on the practice of missions.  It seems that a sizeable proportion of students have cross-cultural ministry as a calling for ministry after graduation.

This missions movement is not of the old paradigm, “from the West to the rest” (if that ever was the old paradigm).  Rather, it exemplifies what is happening in many parts of the world where Christ is worshipped as the Lord of all nations.  The new paradigm is “from every where to every where.”

In a few hours Dr Ashish and I will be returning to Bangalore, in South India.  The Institute for Excellence, which begins tomorrow will be hosted by SAIACS, the South Asia Institute for Advanced Christian Studies.  Three dozen leaders of seminaries from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal will be learning to think about what it means to have a financially sustainable seminary, and how to move increasingly in that direction.  Following the example of total indigenous support for missions in North East India, Christian leadership development should also be “owned” by the churches themselves.  Pray for the Lord’s hand to move among us this week.

Warmly in Christ,

Scott

Northeast India: a culture defined by tribe and clan

Dear friends and colleagues,

North East India (NEI) is the backwater of this great country.  On a map you’ll see how it’s connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of land bordered by Nepal and Bangladesh, and then opens up to become seven states known as “the tribal areas.”  While those in NEI are Indians by passport, the region is undeniably distinct from the rest of the country, and not only in its remote geography.

Economically, it is impoverished compared to the great cities of South and North India like Bangalore or Delhi.  Electricity goes off regularly during the high demand times in the evening.  Buildings are more modest in size and construction.  And, people prefer jeep-type vehicles to better negotiate the mountain roads.

The facial features of the typical NEI resident appear to be more closely related to those of Chinese or Southeast Asian extraction.  My new friends here tell me they are often mistaken as foreigners when travelling to other parts of their own country.

The culture in these parts is tribal in character.  While most of India is dominated by Hinduism with its caste system, here tribe and clan identity are more significant cultural markers.  Even the church is not exempt from this influence.  Every tribe, for instance, no matter how small in number, wants to have its “own” Bible college or seminary, regardless of the proximity of another seminary offering similar programs.

The most remarkable feature of NEI is the widespread receptivity to the Gospel, which was brought to these parts by Baptist missionaries 150 years ago.  Today Christianity is the “default” religion in the entire region and in some areas 9 out of 10 people would claim to be Christians.  For the most part these are evangelical congregations, though nominalism is a significant challenge.

While in Nigeria one of the first missionaries I met from a non-traditional sending country was Liau Facchai.  Liau and his wife Debbie were serving with SIM in a seminary in Ghana, West Africa.  It came as somewhat of a surprise to me to know of a missionary who had come from India, a country known to me previously as a destination of missionaries, not as a sending country!  “Some day I’d like to see for myself this significant pocket of Christian faith, sending forth the Light, even while surrounded by a sea of Hindus, Muslims, and Buddhists.”  And, by God’s grace, I finally have the opportunity.

For three days two dozen seminary leaders from NEI have gathered to learn how to strengthen their relationship with their congregations and denominations.  It’s been a very encouraging time of discussion, reflection, and presentations.  While somewhat constrained by a traditional system of theological education (originating with the college started by missionary William Carey almost 200 years ago), the seminary principals here have voiced their intentions to respond more effectively to the real needs of Christian leadership.

Tomorrow Dr Ashish and I will be making our way on a four-hour journey over mountain roads to visit one of the seminaries taking part in this mini-Institute.  On Monday we’ll return to Bangalore where next week we’ll be holding our regular Institute for Excellence.

Warmly in Christ,

Scott

(Dean of OC Institutes)

Juxtaposition of Mercy: William Carrey, Mother Theresa and Kali

Dear friends,

Dr Ashish Chripal (our Overseas Council Regional Director for Asia) and myself have made a brief stop-over on our way to Northeast India for a mini-Institute for the 8 Baptist seminaries in that remote district.  But, in Kalkota (the current spelling of the name), the ground has proven to be spiritually dry and hard.  Kalkota is the largest metropolitan area in all of India, with 20 to 25 million people (give or take a few million!).  This is the city where the “Father of Modern Missions,” William Carey labored for seven years before seeing the first convert.  Mother Theresa served Kalkota’s poor and marginalized.  Despite centuries’ of Christian witness, in word and deed, those who follow Christ make up less that 1% of the city’s residents.

Photography by Jessica Samples

Yesterday Ashish and I had the opportunity to visit one of several places where Mother Theresa served.  It’s a modest two-storey colonial style building with the name “Home for the Sick, Dying, and Destitute” painted above doorway.  It doesn’t stand out, buy you’ll also see a three-foot crucifix above the building, off to the side.  Here Hindus would bring those at the very bottom of the social ladder, the sick and destitute who had no hope for medical care. Here the Sisters of Mercy care for them in the last days of their earthly, caring for them and treating them with dignity, as those who are also share in God’s image.

In remarkable contrast, the adjacent compound is the temple to the goddess Kali, one of millions in the Hindu pantheon.  Kali is known as a blood-thirsty deity, and every morning goats and chickens are sacrificed as offerings, the blood brought to the idol and placed on her long tongue.  In our afternoon visit we were caught up with a jostling crowd of hundreds of devotees passing through the six-foot wide hallway to get a glimpse of her image and throw flowers as offerings.  Her worshippers hope she will be satisfied with these offerings, because then she will bless them with health and wealth.  She may give the barren woman a child, or protect the accused in court of law.  Basically, she is a “god in my pocket,” as Ashish described it, there to do my bidding if only I can satisfy her.

The juxtaposition is like day and night.  In one building, there is a display of Christian love.  The crucifix reminds us of the true God who satisfies His own righteous and holy demands, at His own great cost, by the offering of His son.  We can bring nothing to the table – our God has done it all on our behalf, at the same time displaying His love and satisfying His justice.  The Sisters of Mercy, in imitation of God’s love, care selflessly for the sick and dying, who bring nothing in their hands and will never be able to repay the kindnesses freely given to them.  On the other hand, in the temple next door, worshippers bring their blood offerings, hoping to placate a fitful goddess, who might repay their sacrifices and offerings with health, wealth, protection, or whatever other desire might be within her power to grant.

Pray for us, over the next few days, that in our gathering of seminary leaders from Northeast India, that the Lord will be working in our midst.  Our aim is to see a stronger working partnership between church and seminary in the training of Christian leaders for India – leaders with vision, integrity, and competence.

Warmly in Christ,

Scott

(Dean of the OC Institutes)