What if innovation in theological education isn’t about launching the next new program, but about reshaping how we think, lead, and work together?
Recently Winebrenner’s President was invited to participate in a conversation related to the integrated nature of innovation — a way of being that reshapes structures, habits, and shared purpose across an institution. Key insights from the conversation include:
- Innovation is a long-term formation, not a one-time initiative
- Integrated structures reduce silos and strengthen mission alignment
- Shifting from permission-withholding to permission-giving leadership unleashes creativity
- Enrollment growth and cost reduction at Winebrenner came not from adding programs, but from redesigning systems and shared practices
- Organizational discipleship matters as much as academic strategy
You can watch/listen by clicking the video below (or, scroll down to read a summary of the discussion):
For those who prefer to read instead of watch, here is a summary of the conversation:
The conversation explores how theological education can move from traditional, fragmented models toward a more integrated, mission-centered approach. The speakers discuss how innovation is often misunderstood as the creation of new programs or structures when, in reality, it should emerge from cultivating deeply interconnected systems and relationships within an institution.
They emphasize that integration requires breaking down silos so information flows freely across all areas—academics, operations, governance, and partnerships. When teams share data and decisions transparently, institutions can better align around their shared mission, resulting in stronger collaboration and reduced inefficiency. Examples include improved communication, less redundancy, and measurable outcomes such as increased enrollment, reduced costs, and streamlined budgets.
A central theme is the shift from hierarchy and control to empowerment and trust. Innovation flourishes in cultures that give permission rather than require it—where every member of the community acts with shared purpose and accountability rather than waiting for direction from the top.
The conversation also examines how many theological educators have been shaped more by academic professionalization than by discipleship. This has led to disconnection between theological schools and the Church. The path forward, they argue, is to root every part of institutional life—teaching, administration, finance, and partnerships—in the identity of being disciples of Jesus.
Alignment becomes the key to integration: every interaction, whether with a student, donor, or board member, should reflect the same discipleship-centered mission. True innovation, then, is not about expansion but about coherence—embodying a faithful, integrated way of being that serves both the Church and the world.
Thank you to the In Trust Center for Theological Schools for the invitation to participate!