InDepth – Reimagining Theological Education

In recent years, many church leaders have wrestled with a troubling reality: people are leaving our pews in search of spiritual depth they do not find within them. Polls reveal that Americans are more spiritually open than ever, yet fewer are turning to the Church as the place to satisfy this hunger. At the same...Read More

This is a repost from the Churches of God, General Conference site. The article is written by Jacob Clagg, Winebrenner graduate, and focuses upon the work of Pastor Jim Klausing, graduate of Winebrenner. You can read the article by clicking here.Read More

A few months ago I wrote about a gathering at Winebrenner to explore the experiences of students – you can read about that event by clicking here. Today you can hear directly from one of the participants: Hello. My name is Robert Theis and I started Winebrenner spring 2023. Going to seminary was not something I ever thought I...Read More

Winebrenner is excited to welcome David Bumgardner as he joins the Winebrenner staff as a part-time Assistant for Stewardship & Marketing. In this role he will assist in implementing Winebrenner’s mission and vision, offering support in the areas of stewardship and marketing. David is a writer with an extensive professional background in copywriting and religious...Read More

Over the past few weeks InDepth has shared about recent gatherings related to gaining insights into the experiences of a Winebrenner student and some observations about our meeting of the Board of Trustees. For easy access, you can read more by clicking: Discovering the Student Experience (Wednesday, September 17) Stewarding the Student Experience: Governance at...Read More

This past week Winebrenner Seminary hosted a gathering in which we deepened our understanding of the “typical” student experience. We followed a process rooted in “design thinking” and outlined a few weeks ago (click here to read more about the specific actions in each step).  This post is an update with photos to help illustrate...Read More

Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company, is often credited with saying, “If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.” While historians debate whether he ever actually said this, the idea behind the quote carries weight: people often struggle to articulate their deeper needs. True innovation comes not...Read More

Winebrenner Theological Seminary’s “Substantive Change Request” to move the Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling (MACC) degree program to a fully digital delivery has been approved by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). This means that we are now able to offer the Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling (MACC)...Read More

King Solomon is credited with writing Psalm 127, which begins with the words, “Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain.” Over the past decade, Winebrenner Seminary has experienced the faithfulness of God, as expressed by the Apostle Paul who writes to the church in Thessaloniki, “The Lord is faithful. He will...Read More

From July 15-17, the Churches of God, General Conference (CGGC) celebrated 200 years of serving God’s kingdom mission. You can read more about that event by clicking here. Also, the newest president of Churches of God, General Conference, Administrative Council is a Winebrenner graduate, you can learn more about Pastor Don Snyder by clicking here....Read More

People often step away from collaborative efforts because of branding concerns, financial disagreements, lack of imagination, or resistance to change. I’ve encountered all of these. Early in my career, the prevailing mindset was competitive: students chose one school, and that meant another school lost. This zero-sum thinking is reinforced by higher education rankings that reward...Read More

To fulfill His divine purpose, God appointed His Son, Jesus, as King of His singular kingdom. Revelation 17:14 and 19:16 affirm that Jesus is the “King of kings.” His centrality in Kingdom work cannot be overstated. This is why the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) emphasizes spiritual and biblical formation and why the study of...Read More

One Kingdom, One King, One Kingdom Mission A Jesus-centered, biblically grounded approach to organizational leadership leads to conclusions that differ significantly from what I encountered as an undergraduate faculty member. Rather than forcing students into a narrow set of options, we can expand possibilities by integrating theological convictions into our leadership. Scripture reshapes our organizational...Read More

There was a point in my life when I felt like I was giving everything I had to the work supporting children, partnering with families, guiding teachers through difficult seasons. I was passionate, experienced, and deeply called to this field. But I also knew I had hit a wall. I couldn’t grow further in the...Read More

Winebrenner Seminary exists to equip leaders for service in God’s kingdom – it is a common to hear that refrain from those connected to Winebrenner. Central to this mission is how we engage and serve the needs of our students and learners. It’s valuable to pause and consider these needs through the eyes of the...Read More

An unsung Christian laywoman from the Black Baptist tradition I admire is Nannie Helen Burroughs. Remaining single and childless and facing racism and sexism, she emerged as a fierce, loving educator, advocate, and testimony of faith in action. Her speech, “How the Sisters Are Hindered from Helping,” delivered at the 1900 National Baptist Convention exemplifies...Read More

In our blog series The Road to Innovation, Winebrenner Theological Seminary learners and leaders share in detail how we do not just travel the road to innovation but clear the ground and pave the way. As an MDiv student, I was the beneficiary of such forward thinking with the $300 per month tuition plan and...Read More

The Cambridge Dictionary defines innovation as “the creating and use of new ideas or methods.” In the realm of finance and student tuition at Winebrenner Theological Seminary, innovation is put into practice by abandoning the traditional per credit hour charge in favor of a flat tuition fee of $1,200 per trimester. This $1,200 charge may be spread out over four...Read More

As we continue our journey of innovation, I want to highlight the importance of accessibility. At Winebrenner, I have the unique advantage of experiencing the institution from two perspectives: as a student and as the Director of New Student Engagement. I’d like to share my personal story, one I never imagined would lead me to...Read More

In past blog posts in this series, you’ve heard from Winebrenner staff on topics such as The Power of Networking, Partnerships and Collaboration, Innovative Administration, and Teaching Excellence and ICS. Each of these writers has connected their area of focus in the Winebrenner organization to the concept of Innovation. Assessment, the process of gathering and...Read More

When we think of the term “administration,” we probably don’t automatically think about innovation. Administration may sound boring, technical, or a million miles removed from mission. However, administration is similar to a motor in a vehicle. While we don’t pay much attention to it until something goes wrong, a well-humming and innovative engine makes all...Read More

Part 1: The Power of Networking In this first post of our blog series, “The Road to Innovation: Prioritizing Strategic Goals,” we dive into the critical role of networking and its impact on our strategic priorities for the coming years. Networking is more than just a buzzword; it’s a strategic approach that significantly influences how...Read More

Over the past several years, many of us have felt like change in the only constant. From COVID to denominational splits to political divisions, it can feel like everything around us is unsteady. Hearing the phrase “God is in control” can sometimes add to our sense of uncertainty. We may ask ourselves: Does this mean...Read More

No one organization can accomplish the task of equipping leaders for Kingdom work on our own. The required time, resources, and skills are simply too much, especially in our changing world. We need to partner with one another. In short, we need the body of Christ! Winebrenner Seminary has formed partnerships with churches, regional denominational...Read More

As you read this blog post, likely, most of your Christmas celebrations are already past. Family has gathered, hymns have been sung, presents have been opened, and meals have been enjoyed. In these final days of the year, there is a natural tendency towards introspection about the previous year and the year to come. And...Read More

At Winebrenner Theological Seminary, our faculty and staff are not only devoted to teaching in the classroom but are also actively involved in serving in ministry and professional settings. Dr. Mary Iiames, the Program Director for the Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling, recently worked with youth in her church to lead a special Advent...Read More

One of the primary ways in which Winebrenner Seminary fulfills its mission of equipping leaders for service in God’s kingdom is through through our students. Over the past 12 months we’ve been able to share the stories of several students on InDepth. As we approach the end of the year, the following are a few stories that capture the...Read More

Along with Stewardship and Discipleship, Collaboration is one of three strategic priorities for the coming years at Winebrenner Theological Seminary. Working with other kingdom-oriented schools, churches, and organizations both demonstrates the values of the kingdom as well as helps fulfill the mission to equip leaders for service in God’s kingdom. One of the best way...Read More

Each month, one of our students takes time to send a hand-written note with his tuition payment. In these letters, he has shared with me some of his financial challenges; yet, he is faithful to pay his tuition, on-time, each month. This, at its very essence, is stewardship. This student is aware of his responsibility...Read More

I know there was a time when I didn’t know Dave Draper, but I’m having difficulty remembering those years. Like many reading this, I’ve known Dave for decades and have many stories of him as a teacher, mentor, and spiritual guide. My first formal interactions with him were in the mid to late 1990s when...Read More

Organizational alignment is vital in order to carry out a focused and consistent mission. It’s wise for the rhythm of meetings in an organization to include opportunities to work through various aspects of alignment. For example, internal alignment can reference consistency between structure, personnel, and processes. There is also the consideration of how the mission...Read More

I feel so blessed to be a part of Winebrenner Theological Seminary. Honestly, if you had told me a year ago that I’d be in grad school, I wouldn’t have believed you. It was never part of my plan, and I didn’t think it was something I could achieve. But that’s the thing—it’s not about...Read More

Brent has held the role of President at Winebrenner Theological Seminary since December 2015.  Originally from southwest Pennsylvania, Brent is a graduate of The University of Findlay (BA, Speech), Winebrenner Theological Seminary (MDiv), and Duquesne University (PhD, Rhetoric).  Being from southwest Pennsylvania, all of his sports preferences are correct (see Dr. Sweeney’s post for more...Read More

Rev. Dr. Jim Sweeney is the J. Russell Bucher Professor of New Testament Studies at Winebrenner Theological Seminary, where he has taught since fall of 2010. He also serves as advisor of the seminary’s Master of Divinity program. Over Prof. Sweeney’s years at Winebrenner, he has taught on a wide range of courses in the...Read More

Dr. Imac Reynaga Holmes is excited to become a Winebrenner counseling faculty member. Prior to coming to Winebrenner, Imac lived in the high desert of rural Arizona and is excited to start a new chapter in life as she continues to follow God’s direction every step of the way. Imac has a Bachelor’s degree in...Read More

One of the joys of my position as President of Winebrenner Seminary is to encounter so many who are passionate about following Jesus and leading others in that same journey. I’ve had the privilege of serving on staff at Camp Sonrise Mountain with Pastor John DeVincent for the past few years and consider him a...Read More

It’s hard to believe that August is just around the corner! As summer starts winding down, now is the perfect time to think about the next steps in your educational journey. At Winebrenner Theological Seminary, we’re excited to let you know that it’s not too late to enroll for the fall semester. With affordable tuition,...Read More

Are you looking for affordable, quality education for ministry? Do you need training for service in God’s Kingdom? Are you interested in a school that prepares both women and men for leadership? Winebrenner Theological Seminary values whole person formation, not just information. With four accessible, flexible, accredited programs, including Masters degrees in Practical Theology, Clinical Counseling, and...Read More

Last month, several from Winebrenner participated in “Senior Week” at Camp Sonrise Mountain, the church camp affiliated with the Allegheny Region Conference of the Churches of God, General Conference. Winebrenner’s President, Brent Sleasman, served as “Dean” for the week of camp while the Allegheny Region Director and current Chair of Winebrenner’s Board, Pastor Phil Scott,...Read More

Almost seven years ago, Winebrenner Seminary hosted a conference focused on Sacred Rhetoric: Discourses of Religion. From May 31 – June 2, 2017, over 25 presenters participated in 10 sessions that explored everything from “Prayer as Sacred Rhetoric” to “Sacred Rhetoric and Social Controversy in Media.” Plenary session speakers included Dr. Ronald C. Arnett, recently...Read More

Dr. Kathryn Helleman is a familiar name to many who know Winebrenner Seminary. So, why are we re-introducing her here? For the past few years Dr. Helleman has been serving as the Interim Director of the Doctor of Ministry program and today’s announcement is that beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year the “Interim” will be...Read More

Organizations are constantly organizing and reorganizing around mission and strategy. In that spirit, I am excited to announce that Dr. Martin Johnson has joined Winebrenner as our Chief Academic Officer. You can read the full history of how we reached this point by clicking here.  Read below to learn more about Dr. Johnson: In full-time ministry for over...Read More

Winebrenner Seminary is committed to developing approaches to theological education that fit within the rhythm of life and ministry. We continue to explore ways to appropriately adapt to the rapidly changing needs of our students. You can read more about one such effort during this summer trimester by clicking here.To peak your curiosity, we’ve already...Read More

At Winebrenner Theological Seminary, we understand that not every journey to academic pursuit follows the same path. We understand that people may have diverse backgrounds, experiences, and educational levels. That’s why we’ve created unique pathways that cater to both those who have pursued traditional undergraduate degrees and those who have taken alternative routes. For those...Read More

Over the past few weeks we’ve been sharing about our commitment to affordability. It is a privilege to have so many students invite Winebrenner into their personal spiritual journeys. Students are central to all Winebrenner does, and it’s important to listen to their voices: Winebrenner’s industry-shaking tuition model was one of the most significant factors...Read More

As the Coordinator of New Student Engagement, I often get asked if our seminary’s $300-a-month tuition is real. I understand that many people find it hard to believe, but the answer is yes, it is very real. Beginning with the fall 2020 term, we decided to make a radical change to our tuition rate. Even...Read More

Last fall Winebrenner Seminary launched a search for a new Chief Academic Officer (CAO). You can read that post by clicking here. As an update to that announcement, I am sharing today that we remain committed to hiring a new CAO but are pausing the search until Dr. Andrew Draper begins his term as Executive Director...Read More

I’ve written before that organizations are constantly organizing and reorganizing around mission and strategy; Winebrenner is no different. Last week I shared about Winebrenner’s new Executive Assistant (you can read that announcement by clicking here). Today, I am excited to announce that Dr. Andrew T. Draper will be joining Winebrenner as our Executive Director, beginning March...Read More

Winebrenner is excited to welcome Kim Kintner as our new part-time Executive Assistant, beginning February 1, 2024. Kim brings a diverse background in non-profit and ministry experience and will be assisting with various administrative items, including in the area of funding and stewardship. You can learn more by checking out her website by clicking here....Read More

We are excited to journey with you in 2024! In the coming weeks we’ll be posting more about the start of our new term and some new faces that will joining our mission.Read More

You can now access our updated “Collaboration & Partnership” page by clicking here! One of the ways in which we think about our work at Winebrenner Seminary is to consider those for whom we are creating value. Previously on InDepth I’ve identified the three main groups we engage most frequently – students, collaborative partners, and givers (you...Read More

Last week I shared an update about my recent trip to Cuba; that post focused on the collaborative spirit that emerges from opportunities like this. Today, I want to share a few reflections about my trip and how they are informing Winebrenner’s (as well as my own) understanding about theological education in an international context....Read More

We are interested in your insights and feedback about the direction of Winebrenner Theological Seminary. InDepth has been exploring what we’ve learned over the past five years as well as our strategic direction for 2023-2028 (you can read more by clicking here). You are invited to share stories that illustrate how Winebrenner is equipping leaders...Read More

Today’s post concludes this series focused on what we learned during the 2018-2023 Strategic Plan cycle that focused on collaborative relationships, contextual education, and developing communities of learners. We’ve learned many things and this post focuses on the fifth one – following Clayton Christensen’s notion of “jobs to be done” (he writes about this in...Read More

For the past few weeks we’ve been exploring various projects and ideas that surfaced during the 2018-2023 Strategic Plan. Today, we are exploring some language and framework that emerged during this time period about the ways in which Winebrenner Theological Seminary serves as a “platform with initiatives,” specifically: InDepth: Reimaging theological education) – https://winebrenner.edu/indepth/ –...Read More

Throughout 2018-2023 we prioritized Collaborative Relationships, Contextualized Theological Education, and Community of Learners as part of our “strategic plan.” Last week we launched a new series exploring what we’ve learned during our most recent “strategic plan.” This week I’m sharing some reflections about what we’ve learned about creating alternative pathways to graduate theological education. In October 2019,...Read More

Winebrenner Theological Seminary is continually organizing and reorganizing around mission and strategy. During a recent presentation to the Administrative Council of the Churches of God, General Conference (CGGC), I mentioned that Winebrenner is currently working through multiple personnel changes simultaneously. While I’m tempted to say that “we’re in a time of transition” I don’t want...Read More

We are pleased to share the announcement about Winebrenner graduate Pastor Nate Buck, who will be serving as the Executive Director of the Eastern Regional Conference of the Churches of God, General Conference. Pastor Terry Jansma, President of the Eastern Regional Churches of God, shared the following message introducing Nate’s appointment: “We are pleased to...Read More

Beginning with the fall 2023 trimester, Winebrenner Theological Seminary has stepped away from the Title IV Federal Student Aid Program, specifically, the ability to offer federal unsubsidized student loans. Winebrenner Theological Seminary still has the ability to defer loans carried by a student. This decision aligns with a statement that was made in the Back...Read More

The fall trimester is under way at Winebrenner! In the coming weeks we’ll have updates about fall enrollment, our continued commitment to low fixed costs and financial stewardship, and the various ways in which we continue to serve a diversity of students. We’re also in the final stages of preparing our 2023-2028 Strategic Plan and...Read More

If you asked a dozen people to define the word “communication” you would likely receive over a dozen different definitions. A helpful way to gain a better understanding of an often-used word is to examine how the term relates to other familiar words or phrases. Since communication shares a root with both “commerce” and “community”...Read More

“I thought seminary was going to be a really great tool as I prepared to serve in a new way, as I embarked on this new journey, as I followed God’s call, but I don’t think I was ready for how life changing it was going to be. Winebrenner is a place where we can...Read More

This is a repost from the Churches of God, General Conference site. The article is written by Jacob Clagg, Winebrenner graduate, and focuses upon the work of Nancy Boyer, current student at Winebrenner and instrumental in our efforts at providing theological education in Kenya. You can read the article by clicking here.Read More

In partnership with 5Q, Winebrenner is offering an online class titled: Accelerated Leadership Development. Students are able to sign up for this class which is all about Ephesians 4, and the theological foundations of Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Shepherd, and Teacher (APEST) and how to apply APEST for the purpose of discipleship and leadership in your church....Read More

I was recently invited to serve as a guest on the podcast for Coach Approach Ministries (CAM), hosted by Brian Miller, Executive Director of CAM and Winebrenner graduate. During our time we explored various biblical and leadership qualities needed for leading in our current moment. While we don’t explicitly talk about creativity and its relation...Read More

The “whole is greater than the sum of its parts” is a common saying suggesting that we can accomplish more when working together than working individually, even if we’re working toward a common purpose. However, this is only true for an organization when the various aspects are fully integrated with one another. Over the past...Read More

The relationship between a faculty member and student is a vital component of the discipleship journey at Winebrenner; in fact, I’ve previously written about this as a “core interaction” of the overall student experience. The previous post in this series explored some of the challenges for a faculty member; today’s post takes a closer look...Read More

Prior to serving as the President of Winebrenner Seminary, I was a tenured faculty member at a school in northwest Pennsylvania. I loved the rhythm of teaching, service, and scholarship and remain connected to colleagues and students from the years I spent at that university. We would take short trips with our young family but...Read More

Last week we kicked off this series with a fresh introduction to Winebrenner’s mission (you can read that post by clicking here). Even the most well-written mission statement doesn’t fulfill itself. In other words, activities that align with the mission will only emerge when an organization is intentional about doing what is necessary to carry...Read More

If you read InDepth regularly, you’ll frequently encounter words like mission, vision, strategy, values, and culture. Each of these words represents an important area of conversation that contributes to our work at Winebrenner. In the coming weeks (and likely months) we will be exploring how these various parts fit together as we carry out Winebrenner’s...Read More

Over the past few weeks we’ve been exploring various aspects of discipleship. You can read more about some foundational concepts by clicking on the following links: Organizational Culture: Discipleship Discipleship: The Rhythm of Invitation and Challenge Discipleship: Activating our Gifts We live in a digital age in which conversations about outsourcing and automation are a...Read More

Some of the last recorded words of Jesus are found in the book of Matthew 28 when he says in verse 19, “…go and make disciples of all nations…” This is part of a larger passage of scripture often called the “Great Commission” and is considered a key teaching of Jesus. Since we’ve identified discipleship...Read More

One of the ways in which we think about our work at Winebrenner Seminary is to consider those for whom we are creating value. Previously on InDepth I’ve identified the three main groups we engage most frequently – students, collaborative partners, and givers (you can read that full post by clicking here). The number of...Read More

Winebrenner Seminary continues to grow in awareness and understanding of the implications of shifting to a $300/month tuition. As we make preparations for our 2023-2028 strategic planning cycle, we are comprehensively revising our financial policies. Effective with the Fall 2023 trimester we are: Requiring that a student submit automatic payment/withdraw approval; Establishing $300/month as the...Read More

Have you ever stopped to wonder why Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November? (this is for those in the United States; our Canadian neighbors to the north celebrate on the second Monday of October). The obvious reason is that we follow our calendars! Others may know the history and refer to actions...Read More

Winebrenner Seminary is privileged to work alongside multiple organizations focused on serving within God’s kingdom. Currently, Dr. Kathryn Helleman, Director of Winebrenner’s Doctor of Ministry program and Assistant Professor of Christian Ministries, is in Sagana, Kenya, and is teaching Theology I to just under a dozen students. Pastor Nancy Boyer is accompanying Dr. Helleman. I...Read More

As Maria sings in “The Sound of Music,” let’s start at the very beginning: All things belong to God. Our task is to steward – or manage – what we have in a way that gives honor to God. These dual beliefs (all things belong to God and our task is to steward them well)...Read More

I received a phone call last week from a pastor that I’ve known for over 35 years.  We first met when he arrived to serve as the pastor of the church I attended when I was 10 years old.  For five of my most formative years he was present in our church and community.  And,...Read More

One way to think about the role Winebrenner Seminary plays is to ask What problem exists in the life of a student that Winebrenner solves? (you can read more about answering this question by clicking here). In many cases, Winebrenner adds value by contributing to ministry knowledge. As we wrap up this series on InDepth, it’s...Read More

The Book of Proverbs yields a wealth of wisdom. One verse, in particular, guides much of my belief surrounding Winebrenner Theological Seminary’s efforts to affordably offer an accessible and quality graduate education – Proverbs 22:7 (NIV) states, “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.” Winebrenner’s offering of a...Read More

The fall trimester is under way at Winebrenner! In the coming weeks we’ll have updates about fall enrollment (spoiler alert…this is another fall of record enrollment!), our continued commitment to low fixed costs and financial stewardship, and the various ways in which we continue to serve a diversity of students. Check back next week to...Read More

This week we are continuing with an update about a recent graduate. Winebrenner Theological Seminary exists to equip leaders for service in God’s kingdom. For the first 70 years of Winebrenner’s existence that meant that most students were either looking for education to further their development as a local church pastor or pursuing a degree...Read More

On Saturday, July 30, 2022, Winebrenner Theological Seminary held its annual Commencement. This year, twenty students graduated, including six from the MA in Clinical Counseling, two with a Master of Divinity, and twelve with the MA in Practical Theology. One attender called the ceremony “warm and friendly.” Since it marked the first major group to...Read More

The Old Testament character of Abraham is key to three major world religions – Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Within Christianity, we see many places that Abraham is noted for his faith – specifically, Hebrews 11 shares many actions which Abraham completed “by faith.” Going further, Paul writes that he is a wonderful example of faithfulness...Read More

In Galatians 5, “faithfulness” is included as one of the “fruit of the Spirit.” An organization that is Jesus-centric should produce similar fruit, including faithfulness. So, how can we think about faithfulness within a context focused upon theological education? Our daily tasks work toward some goal, whether we are intentional about it or not. Unfortunately,...Read More

The past few weeks we’ve been exploring what is often referred to as the “Parable of the Talents.” This story told by Jesus exists in two versions within the New Testament – Matthew 25:14-30 & Luke 19:11-27. Before sharing some concluding thoughts about this story, here is a summary of what we’ve explored so far...Read More

We are continuing our exploration of Matthew 25:14-30. A few basic coordinates are helpful as we unpack this passage in relation to stewardship and theological education. A helpful way to interpret a parable of Jesus is to find who or what represents God in the story – in this case, God is represented by the...Read More

You may have encountered the following sentence at some point in your life journey: “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity.” This not only makes for good theology but also for good business practice for faith-based organizations (as a side note, the origin of this sentence is in dispute but I’ll openly acknowledge...Read More

Over the past few years we’ve provided some insights into various shifts we’re making at Winebrenner Seminary. You can read more about our approach to benchmarking and decision-making: Shifting Benchmarks & Decision-Making: From External to Internal Markers Shifting Benchmarks & Decision-Making: From External to Internal Markers, Part 2 Shifting Benchmarks & Decision-Making: From External to...Read More

In viewing education through the lens of discipleship, a clear understanding of the purpose of interventions in education emerges. In general, interventions in education include the steps teachers and/or institutions take to remove barriers to students’ learning. Similarly, discipleship is about following Jesus and walking with others to help them come to Christ, and yes,...Read More

What first comes to your mind when I say the word addiction? What mental images start to formulate and what associations start to surface? Prior to enrolling in “Addictions and Counseling” last trimester, I often immediately associated addiction with the words: drugs and substance abuse. Not too far behind, images of needles and middle school...Read More

Several series within these blog pages have covered seminary education as discipleship. As the idea has been discussed with faculty and staff at Winebrenner Seminary, several major questions repeatedly arise. One such question is “what is the role of content in the classroom context?” Answers range from seminary education as discipline of the mind to...Read More

It has been said that our present moment is simply a combination of the decisions and choices we have made in the past and, in many ways, that is true for Winebrenner Seminary. Over the past six years we have made multiple decisions – some major and many small – but there are three that...Read More

Creativity is a central part of what it means to be human. As Spring approaches (slower in some areas than others!) we will be met by a variety of flowers and new growth that will all look unique and beautiful in their own ways. If God desired all of his creation to look the same,...Read More

I attended Winebrenner Seminary in the 1990’s. I don’t recall the tuition rate at that time, but I do remember and appreciate the support I received to make my education possible. The Illinois Conference of the Churches of God, General Conference supplied one-half of my tuition costs. My home congregation, the East Harrison Street Church...Read More

Innovation: this is the focus of our current blog series on reimagining theological education. Walk with me, if you will, for a few moments into the real life of three of our current students. Jim had a 25 year career in the medical field. Jim knew early in life he was called to serve God’s...Read More

One of the saddest conversations I’ve had in my time at Winebrenner was with a recently retired seminary administrator. We were discussing some of the approaches we’re taking at Winebrenner and the topic of partnerships emerged. His shocking comment was “we collaborated when we had to but most of the time we tried to do...Read More

In the opening sections of God Dreams Will Mancini explores various ways an active imagination is vital for us to be fully human and experience God’s work in our lives and communities. Mancini’s focus is on how we can develop a God-inspired vision for local churches and ministries. Too often, he writes, our visions and...Read More

We started this series with the question: What does it mean to bring our local churches, communities, and organizations into greater alignment with God’s kingdom priorities?  Juan Martinez is a recent Winebrenner graduate who is actively working for the purpose of helping his context look more and more like the Kingdom. One of the joys...Read More

It is quite common to hear or read someone from Winebrenner exploring what it means to equip leaders for service in God’s kingdom. That’s a very good thing since that phrase reflects the language of our mission statement. We also frequently discuss our strategic commitments of collaborative relationships, contextual education, and communities of learners. Again,...Read More

In a previous InDepth post, you heard from Master of Divinity student, TJ de la Garza (click here to watch his video).  I invited TJ to share an update to his story as we continue through this series on stewardship. “We hath now a greater dependence on the grace of God than we had before…”...Read More

Organizations should continually organize and re-organize around mission and strategy. While many tend to prefer constancy and stability, it’s not a bad sign when an organization like Winebrenner Seminary continually is changing and growing…as long as the mission remains central to the changes. We are regularly inviting students, collaborative partners, and donors to join us...Read More

The Churches of God, General Conference (CGGC) recently highlighted the partnership between Winebrenner and the CGGC Global Reach in the fall 2021 issue of the Global Advocate.  You can read the full article by clicking here.Read More

I recently finished reading The Starfish and the Spirit by Lance Ford, Rob Wegner, and Alan Hirsch.  There are many great ideas within that book but the one that comes to mind most often is central to the overall message of the book – every initiative within a true Kingdom organization should carry the key elements (or...Read More

Several months ago while exploring the various aspects of the “business model canvas” I introduced Winebrenner’s efforts to develop a digital platform (you can read that post by clicking here).  As a follow-up, I’m excited to share that we are ready to announce Co-Mission! In the coming weeks I’ll be sharing more about the purpose,...Read More

Earlier in this series Amy Kinney, Winebrenner’s Director of Enrollment Management, noted that Winebrenner has started the fall 2021 term with record graduate enrollment (you can read the full post by clicking here).  But, high enrollment by itself is what Eric Ries, author of The Lean Startup and The Startup Way may call a “vanity metric”...Read More

Here’s the headline: Winebrenner Theological Seminary experiences record graduate enrollment in Fall 2021. But there is so much more to this amazing story than just numbers; there are stories. Stories of students, stories of overcoming challenges, and mostly, the story of an amazing, provider God, the author of all stories. In the fall of 2018...Read More

In January of 2020 God called me into the classroom of Global Vision Christian School PA Campus as the Biblical Studies teacher for international senior high students. Having a Bachelors of Arts of Religious Studies with a Pastoral Emphasis through University of Findlay and Winebrenner Theological Seminary was not going to be enough for in...Read More

Over the past few months I’ve attended the funerals of three former members of Winebrenner’s Board of Trustees.  Each was a well-respected man in their particular sphere of influence and recognized for serving the Seminary with some level of distinction.  The time spent traveling to the funerals and back home provided an opportunity to reflect...Read More

I was recently in a meeting when someone used the term “entrepreneurial” to describe what they’ve seen taking place at Winebrenner over the past year or so. I received this as an incredible compliment and affirmation of the ways in which our faculty, staff, and administration have responded to the unique challenges of 2020 and...Read More

Organizational leaders are challenged to proactively move the mission forward while simultaneously being responsive to changing circumstances.  This dual commitment requires an understanding of creativity and innovation, something that I’ve written about previously (you can access by clicking on any of the following): Creativity Precedes Innovation: An Introduction Creativity Precedes Innovation: From Chaos to Creativity Creativity...Read More

What is your Winebrenner program? I’m in the Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling program What was your immediate thought when you read the good news about the $300/month tuition rate being affirmed by the Board? Thanks be to God! What does this decision mean for you right now? It means that I can continue...Read More

We are shifting our focus of attention toward key partnerships in order to explore the level of organizational interdependency required to make a business model “work.”  The authors of Business Model Generation suggest that “it is illogical for a company to own all of the resources or perform every activity by itself.”  Various types of...Read More

I was talking with another seminary president recently about Winebrenner’s 2018 decision to sell our building facility to The University of Findlay. While, on the surface, that decision may seem strictly financial, it has greatly enhanced our ability to carry out the entirety of our mission. In business terminology, we’ve been able to leverage the...Read More

There’s no question that we are living through challenging times and no evidence that the future will be any simpler to navigate. It’s very common to encounter the words revenue and sustainability in the same paragraph or conversation.  In order for an organization’s mission to continue indefinitely into an uncertain future there must be financial...Read More

What was your immediate thought when you read the good news about the $300/month tuition rate being affirmed by the Board? That’s so exciting! What does this decision mean for you right now? I’ve been on the fence about continuing in my program for a few different reasons. One of those reasons is the financial...Read More

In this post I’m continuing to work through the various aspects of the business model canvas (BMC) that I introduced several weeks ago. If you’re just joining the conversation you can read about the first two aspects by clicking here: Customer Segments & Value Proposition. Before exploring Channels I want to provide a few thoughts...Read More

It’s becoming more and more common to hear “we need to change our business model” when discussing theological education.  What, exactly, does that mean? One of the earliest references introducing the “business model canvas” to theological education was Robert Landrebe’s article “To create the future, selectively abandon the past” from a 2014 issue of In...Read More

Every decision at a seminary is based upon certain assumptions about finances and economics. Every decision at a seminary has implications for finances and the larger economic context. This is not to say that our financial and economic models are the most important aspect of what we do; I affirm the mission of discipleship as...Read More

This post continues exploring a shift from external to internal markers and benchmarks. For those who read our Shifting Tuition posts (you can access the first in the series by clicking here) you are aware that Winebrenner Seminary is making a shift toward a recurrent/subscription payment model. During our most recent Quarterly Planning meeting we...Read More

In this brief video, Master of Divinity student TJ de la Garza shares how God led him to higher education and how Winebrenner Theological Seminary’s $300/month payment plan is allowing him to pursue God’s call on his life without placing his family in debt.Read More

Winebrenner Theological Seminary exists to equip leaders for service in God’s kingdom. We are prioritizing collaborative relationships, contextual education, and creating communities of learners in an effort to fulfill our mission during 2018-2023. This short series focused on Shifting Tuition explores how a recurrent, or subscription, approach to tuition pricing is a mission-based strategy that...Read More

If you ask 10 seminary leaders to describe the process they used to arrive at their current tuition pricing structure you will receive at least 10 different answers.  Unfortunately, if you catch someone in an honest moment, you may even receive a few who respond “I don’t really know.” One of the common refrains you’ll...Read More

After finishing her undergrad at the University of Toledo with a major in psychology and a minor in counseling, Maddy Mooney entered the Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling (MACC) program at Winebrenner Seminary fall 2019. Maddy had previously thought she would go into occupational therapy. But after interacting with missionaries at a Christian retreat,...Read More

At Winebrenner, COVID-19 has certainly served as an accelerator. Many ideas we’ve talked about in the past are moving ahead more rapidly than they would have without COVID-19. At the same time, Winebrenner’s foundational relationships have not decreased or taken a back seat as a result of COVID-19. Our relationships with our donors are a...Read More

The “operating system” that I’ve been developing over the past few posts exists within the larger context of a theological education system that includes certain assumptions about the economics of higher education. Jumping to the conclusion, the current economic assumptions that many seminaries are built upon is unsustainable over the long-term (this belief has been...Read More

Recently, I was invited into a meeting about curricular redesign when I suggested that our philosophy of education may actually be more important than the way we deliver our education. I followed this statement by suggesting that we consider more flexibility and customizability for students. The response and challenge to what I proposed in that...Read More

Over the past few posts we’ve explored how our mission guides our overall purpose and approach to how we carry out our day to day activities.  There are so many ways in which we can go about “equipping leaders for service in God’s kingdom” that it’s helpful to prioritize some activities over others.  Those priorities...Read More

For Chaplain Dawn Balduf, the coming of COVID-19 has created both heart breaking challenges as well as unexpected opportunities. A 2017 graduate from Winebrenner’s Master of Arts in Family Ministry program, Dawn serves full time as a chaplain at Mercy Health – St. Charles Hospital in Oregon, Ohio. (She is also the part time assistant...Read More

“God has used my life experience and my pain to teach others and especially to help others through counseling.” That, in a nutshell, is why Nicole Walker is pursuing her Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling (MACC) degree. Thanks to the incredible healing God has achieved in her own life, Nicole now wishes to come...Read More

Alex Rompilla has not been called to what we would term “traditional” ministry. He does not feel called to pastor a church, lead worship, author Christian books, or embark on a speaking circuit. Rather, Alex is uniquely called to evangelism and community outreach, working alongside the body of Christ as the Holy Spirit directs and...Read More

Over the past year or so I’ve had a variety of conversations with those who are actively engaged in collaboration, others who are seeking collaboration, and some who are just curious about how seminaries and other organizations can work together for kingdom purposes. In addition to my role as President at Winebrenner I also serve...Read More

On Wednesday June 22nd I sat down to speak with the Teaching Pastor from Celina First Church of God, Craig Flack. We spoke for close to 2 hours, and in that time Pastor Craig spoke to me about his successes, his struggles, and his beliefs. At risk of giving the rest of the story away,...Read More

This blog entry is the second in a series on our students and alumni at Marion Correctional Institution (MCI). Because this unique community of learners cannot represent themselves through this platform, other voices will share about their journeys, both to faith in Christ and into ministry. This second entry, written by Winebrenner volunteer Mary Jo...Read More

Since the emergence of COVID-19 in early 2020, I have been saying that while we are surprised, we’re not unprepared to deal with this moment. Over the next few weeks I will share some specifics that allow me to say we’re not caught unprepared. This week, I’m focusing on the steps we’ve taken over the...Read More

For the first 18 years of Tim Eding’s life, I don’t believe anyone would have guessed he was called to ministry. Not his family, not his friends, not even himself. By his own admission, he said “I grew up a heathen”. While Tim’s mother had been involved in the church, and had even had Tim...Read More

On Thursday, May 1, I received an email with the subject line “READ THIS” (all in capital letters suggesting that this was an important message).  Like many other schools of our size, Winebrenner Theological Seminary was just becoming aware that our name is on a list of schools eligible to receive funds from the US...Read More

During a recent conversation with the President of another seminary, we discussed which strategy is the better choice during this unique moment in higher education: expand/revise curricular offerings or expand the pool of prospective students. My conversation partner’s school is expanding the curricular offerings by introducing a new graduate program focused on “faith and leadership...Read More

Winebrenner Seminary’s current Strategic Plan highlights collaborative relationships as one of three strategic priorities for 2018-2023. This internal commitment combined with the external challenges facing higher education in our current climate serve as an invitation to rethink how we seek alignment with our educational partners. As we consider our collaborative partnerships, it’s helpful to consider whether these are progressing...Read More

If creativity truly precedes innovation, then it’s worth asking “Where is creative energy being invested today?” as a way to predict where the next innovation could emerge. Here are three brief highlights to provide insight into where creative energy is being focused right now at Winebrenner: Bachelor Equivalency In our ongoing efforts to reach the...Read More

Over the past few days I’ve received several emails offering to “help” Winebrenner Seminary in light of the Coronavirus (for Winebrenner’s response to COVID-19 click here).  These emails are from organizations that I’ve never heard of and who likely purchased my email address with no prior knowledge of our seminary.  While I fully appreciate the adage...Read More

Several years ago, I had the privilege of hearing Danielle Strickland, author of A Beautiful Mess, speak about the importance of chaos.  Prior to the creation account in Genesis, chaos was present.  In addition to various biblical accounts, she witnessed this cycle of creation emerging from chaos in her own life, both organizationally and personally....Read More

I write this entry from Embu, Kenya, while sitting in a class on leadership taught by Pastor Dale Miller, Winebrenner graduate and pastor in the Eastern Region of the Churches of God, General Conference (CGGC). Other courses include a study of the book of James (taught by Winebrenner graduate, Tom Myers), OT Wisdom Literature, Finance,...Read More

During the fall 2019 trimester, Winebrenner Seminary entered into a partnership with the Kingwood Church of God, in southwestern Pennsylvania, to offer a course in Ministerial Person taught by Dr. John Nissley. The project was made possible through the generosity of the Allegheny Region Foundation and the Kingwood Church of God. Several weeks ago, I...Read More

As a mission-centric organization, we are constantly evaluating and assessing our ability to carry out our mission of equipping leaders for service in God’s kingdom. In this spirit, our Seminary hosted a gathering on October 8, 2019 titled “Pathways to Graduate Theological Education.” An introduction to this event, along with extensive content, can be found...Read More

Winebrenner Theological Seminary is actively working to remove obstacles for prospective students by focusing on education that is affordable, accessible, and of high quality.  We have clarified three specific areas for potential collaboration with kingdom-oriented seminaries and ministries to create pathways for students to experience seminary-level education: Advanced Standing We have criteria for students from non-degree/non-accredited institutes (both church-based and...Read More

When Ross Wiley moved to Northwest Ohio to oversee the expansion of his family’s restaurant business, he and his wife Elisha believed their time in the region to be temporary. They had planned to stay just long enough to establish a few new restaurants and then to head back to the West Coast or wherever...Read More

As a work in the March 5, 2019 edition of the online journal, New Directions for Higher Education, this article can only be accessed via pdf. Please click the button below to access the article. The entry is written by Winebrenner President, Dr. Brent Sleasman. The image for this entry is from Pixabay and was...Read More

Change is often so challenging. How do we go about making this work? What’s this going to cost me? What if it doesn’t work? What if people don’t like me? Those concerns are reasonable. But think how you’d feel if you’re a man for whom education isn’t readily accessible? What if you’ve been a Christian...Read More

Last week marked the beginning of the 2019-2020 academic year. Of the classes meeting, 56% are fully online. We no longer can define the location of a community of learners in terms of building names and room numbers. Students are gathering in Zoom chats, in discussion boards, and on the ground in Findlay, Ohio and...Read More

As we consider the future direction of Winebrenner Theological Seminary, I want to take a few moments and reflect upon one of our three strategic priorities: our commitment to develop a Community of Learners. Often, when we hear or read the term “community” within a faith context, we see it as a standalone noun or...Read More

Are you one of the estimated 46 million Americans who have some college education, but not a completed undergraduate degree?* Have you also spent time or are currently serving in a ministerial or pastoral context? Do you feel God’s call and desire a seminary education, but are uncertain you are educationally qualified? If you answered...Read More

Is a seminary education really necessary today? This question arises more than you might think. “We live in a world with Google. Do you really need a seminary?” “The most successful pastors I know didn’t attend seminary. Why do I need it?” These are just a couple of the reasons offered against seminary education that...Read More

Many significant financial changes have occurred at Winebrenner since I arrived in March 2016. Winebrenner’s continued work toward financial stability is not unlike that of other theological seminaries in the United States, including Fuller Theological Seminary (one of the three largest seminaries in the United States according to the Association of Theological Schools) who, in...Read More

When God called Angie Swonger into Winebrenner’s Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling (MACC) program, she was not at all the “traditional, straight-out-of university” graduate student. Having already been an educator for over 20 years, Angie was also serving in her local church as an ordained pastor (Church of God, Anderson).    It was 2015 when her senior pastor approached...Read More

Katie’s journey into seminary education and Christian ministry has involved some rather dramatic turns and a whole lot of trust in God. A 2003 electrical engineering graduate from Ohio Northern University, Katie went on to pursue her Masters of Engineering at the University of Toledo. Following in the footsteps of close family members, her long-term...Read More

Winebrenner Theological Seminary is launching a new blog series called InDepth that is intended to provide some insight and analysis into where we are, where we are heading, and how we’ll get there.  Although anyone is welcome to read these posts, the entries will be written primarily for our audience of current faculty, staff, administration, Board members, as...Read More

In his own words, Juan Martinez entered the Marion Correctional Institution (MCI) in Marion, Ohio as a “blasphemous agnostic.” He was angry at the world and at God. If God existed, He certainly did not like Juan. If so, He would have intervened in Juan’s life and kept him from the path that led to prison.   ...Read More

When God began to prompt Joel Pollitz towards vocational ministry, Winebrenner Theological Seminary was his natural choice. The seminary is theologically open to his denomination and the campus is commuting distance from his hometown of Toledo. In addition, the seminary’s mix of online classes, week long intensives, and on-campus courses fit well into his already busy schedule.  ...Read More