Church-Based Training (CBT)

With the proliferation of churches around the globe, the need for leadership training has far exceeded the capabilities of existing brick-and-mortar institutions

TEE beginnings

Theological Education by Extension began in 1963 in Guatemala among Presbyterians Ralph Winter, Ross Kinsler, Kenneth Mulholland

and Sam Rowen Designed for rural communities in Central America

where leaders could not leave job, family or church Quickly spread throughout the world 20,000 web sites today promote and define With the increased emphasis in RACs some form

of Distance Education was vital to the exploding church

Reasons for being

Residential schools have not provided enough leaders of growing churches

Many people would like to study theology and leadership, but have commitments to family and church

Students who go to residential programs are young, inexperienced resulting in high percentage who do not continue in ministry

Conventional training isolates from actual involvement in ministry, thus are ill prepared

High cost of residential studies obligate dependency on foreign subsidy, further limiting its potential

Technique designed by Ted Ward

Three elements essential to the program Self-study materials to enable student to learn at

home Practical work in the student’s church Regular encounters or seminars to promote

fellowship and motivation to student and teacher Strengths and presuppositions

Seeks to correct weakness of residential seminary by teaching theology in context of ministry & culture by overcoming elitism

Economic advantage Presupposition is that ministry belongs to all

people

TEE objectives

Training is programmed for every level of church leadership

Training includes knowledge, skills and character

Courses are taught not only by outsiders but also local leaders

Flexibility is encouraged Training integrally linked to the local

church

Elements of TEE

Module or paragraph of information

Response question to interact with information in module without copying

the answer from the module

Immediate affirmation or correction of the answer somewhere near

Immediate affirmation or correction of the answer somewhere near

Some concerns for TEE

Maintain the “split-rail fence” analogy of Ted Ward: rails: cognitive + practical + fence post: dynamic reflection and discussion

Missing is the character formation and spiritual development

Jesus taught spiritual truths through actual situations – this is theology in context or culture

Canned curriculum teaches toward canned answers, not practical applications.

Concerns for TEE: Tension between proclamation and dialogue

First dimension is the universal truth revealed in God’s Word.

Second dimension is the application: Proclamation: that which is not open to

debate, applies in every culture and situation

Dialogue: variety of applications and avoidance of paternalism

Concerns for TEE: Center or Periphery

Most TEE programs initiated, directed, funded and managed by expatriate missionaries

Often applications are western focused Credibility and trust often dictates who

leads the program

Three Original Models of CBT

Puritans Reform Congregational

Puritan

Demanded an educated clergy First Theological Seminary in America in

1774 Liberal education plus theological Had to be ordained by a church to be

licensed to receive a salary Very strict so most spent a year+ under

a tutor before ordination

Methodist Plan

Limited ministerial training, but strong motivation to evangelize and willing to travel

Circuit-riding preachers (4,000 by 1844) In-Service training (not training FOR ministry)

Expected to study daily 5 hours Given specific theological books to know Had to study on his own

Multiplied rapidly

Baptist Plan

Most gifted became the pastor Either full-time or part-time If he felt the “call” he could begin preaching

Apprentice system (in-ministry training) became the norm

As gifted preachers acquired more apprentices classroom teaching evolved

Bible schools developed in key churches, then Bible institutes, then Bible seminaries

Problems with Bible Schools Motivation for job security Often functional illiterates – poor

primary/secondary training As late as 1926 40% of American pastors

had not attended college or seminary Most Third-World pastors finished primary,

but barely 20% finished secondary and 3% have college training