ERIC Number: EJ1470655
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1536-3759
EISSN: EISSN-1539-4107
Available Date: 0000-00-00
Reality Is Always Your Friend: Understanding the Place, Role, and Viability of Online Theological Education
Lucas A. Farmer1; Gabriel B. Etzel1
Christian Higher Education, v24 n2 p180-194 2025
Drawing from research in the field of higher education more broadly, this article describes how graduate theological education continues to experience a seismic shift. The in-person, residential college experience is no longer the only option for students today, and many are gravitating toward taking courses and programs online. However, there is a gap between faculty preparedness and student preference concerning online education, as institutions of higher education have not fully embraced faculty training and development that would best prepare faculty and serve students in the online environment. Thus, this article explores how the culture within institutions of graduate theological education must change to embrace the reality of the current landscape across higher education. To accomplish this culture change, administrators in institutions of graduate theological education should recognize three realities within the field at large. The reality of place indicates online education is moving from the fringe to the forefront; the reality of role indicates online education is moving from being tolerated to being celebrated; and the reality of viability indicates online education is moving from being optional to being essential. As administrators embrace these realities, they will be better equipped to lead their institutions into the future.
Descriptors: Theological Education, Graduate Study, Educational Change, Online Courses, Distance Education, Higher Education, Instructional Leadership, Organizational Change, Religious Education, College Faculty, Pedagogical Content Knowledge, Technological Literacy, Faculty Development
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1John W. Rawlings School of Divinity, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA, USA