When people hear the phrase "theological education", many of them picture a seminary campus with classrooms, libraries and degrees. This picture is familiar, and it shows only one part of how the church learns. Throughout its history, the church has learned in more than one way.
Theological educators describe three broad kinds of theological education. These are formal, informal and non-formal theological education. Each kind plays a role in the life of the church, and each works in a different way.
Formal Theological Education
Formal theological education usually takes place in institutions such as seminaries and Bible colleges. These institutions work in a similar way to universities. Students meet entry requirements and follow a set curriculum. Learning is usually measured through written exams and grades, and it leads to accredited degrees.
Formal theological education has served the church for generations. It has produced scholars and careful interpreters of Scripture. It also has limits. Students often have to leave their ministry setting to study, and the cost is high. For these reasons, many church leaders around the world are unable to follow this path.
Formal theological education focuses on academic formation. Its strength is the depth of study it offers. Its weakness is the distance between the classroom and everyday church life.
Informal Theological Education
Informal theological education is the learning that happens naturally in the church. It takes place through preaching and Bible studies, and through mentoring relationships and daily conversations. Most Christians learn their faith in this way.
Informal learning is relational and lived. It usually follows no syllabus and leads to no certificate. Because it is unstructured, it is hard to measure. Even so, it remains essential for spiritual growth.
On its own, informal learning rarely gives clear preparation for leadership. Churches that rely only on informal learning often find it hard to form leaders with consistency and confidence.
Non-Formal Theological Education
Non-formal theological education sits between formal and informal learning. It is intentional and structured, and it follows its own pattern instead of the systems of universities or seminaries. Learning is planned and guided, and it stays flexible in form.
Non-formal theological education usually takes place in churches or community settings. Students continue in their ministry while they learn. Learning happens alongside their service and their everyday responsibilities in the church. In this way, students learn theology while they practise it.
Non-formal programs often have clear aims, and they know what kind of leaders they hope to form. They use activities that support these aims, such as guided study and mentoring relationships, along with supervised ministry. Learning is shaped by real questions that come from ministry.
Assessment in non-formal theological education looks different from academic grading. Growth is observed over time, and readiness for responsibility matters more than written performance. The main concern is whether a person can serve faithfully and teach responsibly. Another concern is whether the person can lead others with wisdom.
Non-formal theological education has been central to the growth of the global church. In many parts of the world, it has been the main way that leaders are formed. It allows churches to train people who cannot leave their communities or pay for formal study. It also keeps formation close to mission and to accountability in the church.
Non-formal theological education offers its own distinct pathway. It works alongside formal theological education, and it goes further than informal learning. It combines clear aims with flexibility and service in the community.
GAAMT and Church-Based Ministry Training
GAAMT serves the church by accrediting the non-formal theological education offered by local churches and church networks. We work with churches that take responsibility for forming their own members through structured and intentional training. GAAMT accredits church-based programs, and it leaves the accreditation of seminaries and Bible colleges to other agencies.
The word "non-formal" can sometimes sound negative, as if something is missing. For this reason, GAAMT prefers to speak of church-based ministry training. This phrase helps churches describe positively what their training is.
GAAMT sees the local church as a full and natural place of learning, where theology is lived and tested. When training stays within the church, learning remains connected to worship and community life. It also stays connected to the church's mission in the world.
For GAAMT, church-based ministry training is a distinct model of theological education. It begins with the conviction that faithful churches can raise faithful leaders. It also holds that theological education belongs at the heart of the local church.
