Announcing Asbury’s “Ministry Partners Program” – New for this Fall 2015
by: Bob Landrebe
There’s little doubt about it. Theological education is at a cross roads. The costs of education continue to escalate beyond the ability of many students to study without going into substantial debt. More and more seminaries are choosing to solve that problem by reducing the number of credit hours in their Master of Divinity degrees by 15% to 20% – attempting to reduce total tuition charges for the degree but effectively providing a lesser quality education to entering students who arrive with less biblical knowledge than students from a prior generation.
That is not “Plan A” at Asbury Theological Seminary.
Instead, just imagine . . .
► What if we could make it possible to provide a quality theological education for future pastors without the students going into any debt?
► What if we could provide our future pastors with both a stronger theological and practical understanding of biblical stewardship?
► And, what if we could surround our future students with friends and family who stay in regular communication with their students while they attend seminary?
That’s exactly what our new “Ministry Partners Program” is designed to accomplish. And, Asbury Theological Seminary is launching it for students entering as Master of Divinity students this coming Fall 2015.
Why is this program so relevant for us today?
First, we have a “cost” problem. Seminaries, including Asbury, have not been exempt from this problem. Tuition rates have increased faster than inflation and wage rates. Despite generous gifts from donors for more and more scholarships and the efforts of administrators and faculty to keep costs low, the gap between available funds that students have to pay their bills and the cost of tuition continues to spiral dangerously out of control. All of this results in increasing levels of student indebtedness. Too often, students have little idea how future, hefty loan repayments will unfavorably shape their ministry choices. The Ministry Partners program will provide students with a 100% full tuition scholarship so that they can navigate through seminary without going into debt.
Second, we have a “preparation for ministry” problem. Not much has changed since the Lilly Endowment Inc. conducted two research studies in 1992 and 2002 entitled “The Reluctant Steward” and the “The Reluctant Steward Revised”. Among many important findings, two quotes have remained with me throughout the years – primarily because what was discovered more than twenty years ago is still true today:
► “Clergy have problems talking about money, managing money, and encouraging their parishioners to give.”
► “I think that seminaries need to take the lead in . . . helping (future) pastors become confident, not reluctant, stewards”.
The fact is, most pastors never had a course on stewardship in seminary. So, how can we expect that they teach it in the churches they pastor? Furthermore, a good steward excels in generous giving. Our goal is for Asbury graduates, as future church leaders, to model this principle and see it lived out in the lives of their congregations. The Ministry Partners Program is designed to address this preparation gap by providing all participating students with experience in networking and fundraising, a better understanding of biblical stewardship, and practical tools for personal and church finances.
Third, we have a “sending community” problem. Although many students do enjoy the full support of their home church, friends and family, far too many students get separated from their home community when they “go to seminary”. The Ministry Partners Program is designed to encourage students to invite their church, friends and family into becoming true partners with them in their studies and seminary experiences. Ministry partners receive regular updates from their student. Ministry partners are encouraged to pray regularly for their student. And, ministry partners provide monthly gifts into a pool of “Ministry Partner” funds that are matched by other donors to provide a full tuition scholarship to the Ministry Partner student.
Action Steps: Here a few things you can do to help future students who are sensing God’s call to ministry but wondering how they can afford it:
► If God puts a person on your heart that you believe God may be calling to pastoral ministry, start a conversation with them about it. Encourage them to read J.D. Walt’s e-book Called: Following a Future Filled with the Possible. You can download it for free by going to the Seedbed website here and entering password ATSALUM. This offer is good through the end of March.
► Learn more about the Ministry Partners Program yourself by visiting our website: http://asburyseminary.edu/admissions/funding-your-seminary-education/ministry-partners-program/
► Encourage any prospective student to check out the Ministry Partners Program. It is a great opportunity for them to “go to seminary with a team “– their ministry partner team – and to receive a full 100% tuition scholarship as they gain skills for the ministry that God is calling them to enter!
I agree with this program so pastors’ can be called to serve and not pay back debt. It is hard for me right now to want to give when my husband, a 2001 DMin grad, is still paying back the loans we took out. It is 2015, he is not serving in parish ministry and we have taken several deferments due to not having the income over the years to make a student loan payment and large medical expenses. We are to give out of the fullness of our heart, but when we have to take yet another pause in paying back loans from many years ago, my full heart doesn’t feel so full. I welcome comments or challenges. This does not reflect my husband’s attitude or ideas toward this type of program. Only mine as a disabled spouse.