Dr Ashish Chrispal and Dr Alex Abraham wrote an article called "Breaking Barriers for Theological Education for All: A Global South Perspective". The article describes a large need for theological education among church leaders in the Global South. It also describes the early vision that later led to the formation of GAAMT. This post gives a short summary of the article and a link to the full text.
The Need
The authors begin with the growth of the church in the Global South. They estimate that 90 percent of the leaders of new churches in this region have no formal theological education. They also estimate that around two million such leaders are waiting for training that would help them build strong and healthy churches. Most of these leaders cannot afford seminary study. Many of them also do not meet the entry requirements of seminaries.
The authors tell the stories of two church leaders in South Asia to show this need. The first leader, Pastor Raj, was a painter before he became a church planter, and he cannot read. His congregation grew to around 4,000 people, and his team planted around 200 churches. The second leader, Pastor Madan Lal, studied only up to the second grade. Over 25 years he baptised around 4,000 people and planted many churches and house churches.
The authors ask whether leaders like these would be welcomed in seminaries. They also ask whether anyone would recognise the training these leaders have received, even when it is sound and fruitful.
The Barriers
The authors name several barriers that keep such leaders from theological education and recognition. The first barrier is a mindset that theological education is only for a small number of people. In this mindset, theological education belongs to people who are literate and who can afford the cost.
A second barrier is the size of the need. The authors note that around 50,000 people graduate from seminaries worldwide each year. In the same period, nearly 100,000 new churches are planted in India alone.
The authors also describe theological education that has become mainly academic. They cite a South Asian study which found that most seminary graduates never planted a church. Other barriers include high entry requirements and content that does not address the cultures where leaders serve. The authors also point to teaching that centres on the professor, and to limited practical preparation for ministry. Finally, they note that most theological content is copyrighted and unavailable in local languages, so churches are unable to adapt it.
The Response
The authors describe how church leaders in the Global South are creating their own solutions. These solutions include low-cost training and open-source curriculum. They also include teaching in local languages and giving serious attention to oral learners.
The authors call for several changes in how training happens. Training moves from the institution into the church. It also moves from a focus on academic excellence toward ministry that changes lives. In addition, the authors call for teaching that centres on the learner, and for learning that continues throughout life.
The article then describes early steps taken in South Asia. Two consultations on non-formal theological education took place in Bangalore in 2018. These consultations led to the formation of the South Asia Forum for Non-Formal Theological Education in August 2018. A later consultation in Delhi proposed a global association that could recognise non-formal theological education and set standards for it. The same consultation proposed bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in Christian ministry.
The Connection with GAAMT
GAAMT grew out of the South Asia Non-Formal Theological Education Forum and was established in 2020. Many ideas in this article continue in GAAMT's work today. These ideas include church-based training and recognition based on ministry and character. They also include training in local languages and the open sharing of curriculum. The ministry programs proposed in the article are now reflected in the five qualification levels that GAAMT accredits, from the Certificate of Ministry to the Doctor of Ministry.
Read the Full Article
You can read the full article by Dr Ashish Chrispal and Dr Alex Abraham here: Breaking Barriers for Theological Education for All. The link opens a view-only copy of the article.
