Wow, that’s very encouraging to hear. I am a student at Biblical, and just finished up a class with Dr. Dunbar. I’m starting in the Lead MDiv program there in the fall. Seems like I’ve made the right choice in schools!

Very exciting to hear. I hope practical issues are being addressed as much as theological, educational, etc. As my own series on “urban seminary” explored, I know so many young leaders who need and long for seminary, but are held back due to aspects of the current system (i.e. academic hoops, finances, etc.).
Really looking forward to your thoughts!
Peace,
Jamie

wish i could be there with you
i think there is still something to be said for a two-track system. when i was last in basel, switzerland, they told me they were keeping both tracks in place – the emerging and the traditional. they suggested students stay as long as they can inthe traditional ministry track and only then switch over to emerging church traininng. it was too hard, they said, to go backwards from emerging to traditional.
anyway, glad to hear of some american seminaries getting geared up for house church, cyberchurch, monastic (i am assuming biblical are gearing up for these) and other forms of emerging church. quite rare in the seminary setting in USA where the goal of church is gettting enough congregants in a room to pay the bills and the pastors salary.

I will be waiting eagerly for the posts! I am working on DMin at ACTS Seminaries at Trinity Western and would love to focus my dissertation on the future of pastoral training, but my ministry context does not allow that specificity. Alas, I will have to watch you have the discussions. Do well, Scott, we are counting on you.
Where I am still wrestling is, What is the picture of the pastor in the post-modern world? What will he/she look like? What’s the metaphor? With the guidance of folks like Stan Grenz, Miroslav Volf and others, I am contemplating the postmodern pastor who models himself/ herself after the relationships of God in the Trinity.

Andrew,
One would think that ideally it would take only ten families to pay a pastor’s salary. Consistent giving to the work of mission could transform the way we do church. At the same time, the church as organization needs to be more missional in the way we spend money.

Scot, as you know, this is something I care very deeply about. I’m looking forward to hearing what you will share!

Looking at the LEAD program, and thinking about emerging structures in seminary education, I’m a bit concerned that languages are being abandoned. Not only does that leave the original languages to the specialists, broadening the divide between translation and pastoral ministry, but it also fails to understand something that, Scott, I think you pointed out once: the importance of language in understanding the context and in shaping the way thought (and story) develops.
I’m looking forward to your thoughts on seeing the current developments. It’s great to see folks stepping and and trying to do it differently.

I am moving to Philly on Friday.
I am happy to hear that some folks are giving serious consideration to theological and pastoral training for the future.

Scot -
We’ve chatted before about the great stuff going on at Biblical. I’m always encouraged to hear about input from folks such as yourself. I graduate from the LEAD track next weekend, and I can attest to everything you’ve said here. The folks at Biblical are top-notch and are serious about missional engagement. Thanks for your encouragement of that vision.
Scott

I was thinking that for an emergent seminary, Biblical might benefit from a name change. “Biblical” kinda sounds blah to me, doesn’t sound emergent. I haven’t the foggiest idea for an alternative though.

One of the more missional seminaries that I’ve seen is Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary in Fresno, California. It’s small — relatively unknown — but they have a solid faculty. They have a nearly seamless integration between missiology, theolgy, ethics. It’s an Anabaptist thing. I think this particular manifestation started to emerge in about 1955.
http://www.mbseminary.edu