In Trust Center
The In Trust Center podcast is hosted by Matt Hufman. Walk alongside theological school leaders and innovators as they explore issues relevant to North American seminaries, all while helping institutions live out their missions more intentionally. Find more at intrust.org/podcast.
Episodes
106 episodes
Ep. 106: Rethinking board governance in theological education
What actually makes a governing board effective, especially in times of institutional uncertainty, leadership turnover, and rapid change?In Trust Center President Amy Kardash and David Rowe, project director of the Center’s Governance In...
Ep. 105: Finishing faithfully - leadership lessons on closing a school
What does it mean to finish well? The Rev. Dr. Colleen Derr reflects on one of leadership’s most difficult responsibilities: knowing when, and how, to finish well. A former seminary president, Derr draws on her experience leading Eastern Nazare...
Ep. 104: Faith and formation in the AI Age
As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes daily life, theological leaders face deeper questions than efficiency or innovation alone. In this episode, Dr. Meghan Sullivan of the University of Notre Dame explores how AI is already transforming ...
Ep. 103 - Leading Through Deep Change in a Shifting Landscape
Theological education is experiencing significant pressure, but the root challenge may be deeper than enrollment declines or financial strain. In this episode, Aaron Einfeld, Ph.D., discusses how institutions may often misread the moment by int...
Ep. 102 - An inflection point for theological education and an opportunity to lead
As federal policies reshape higher education, leaders of theological schools face unprecedented pressure to adapt while staying true to their mission. In this insightful conversation, governance expert David Rowe and higher education law schola...
Ep. 101 - Regulation, Resilience, and Renewal: A 2026 Outlook for Theological Education
What does faithful leadership look like for theological schools in 2026? In this forward-looking conversation, Frank Yamada, executive director of the Association of Theological Schools, and Amy Kardash, the president of the In Tru...
Ep. 100 - What decades of governance still have to teach us
What are the trends in governance – the new ways to make things work? First, look to the past. Governance expert Rebekah Basinger, Ed.D., reflects on what theological schools can learn by revisiting enduring principles of board leadership. Draw...
Ep. 99: Rethinking value: How theological schools can thrive in a changing world
In this episode, the Rev. Dr. David Rowe reflects on the sweeping changes affecting higher education and how these pressures are reshaping theological schools. Demographic decline, reduced church demand, and shrinking revenue streams have creat...
Ep. 98: Creating a virtual neighborhood through an innovative approach to distributed learning
How do you create a community online, particularly among the shifting landscape of theological education? Pacific School of Religion has been working to answer that with Kwaray, an online learning platform that creates a virtual “neighborhood.”...
Ep. 97: Co-creating the Church of tomorrow
Catholic Theological Union in Chicago is shaping a vibrant approach to theological education to help shape the Catholic Church. Dr. Karen Ross discusses how the Pathways for Tomorrow initiative has helped create a living-learning community that...
Ep. 96: Navigating new realities - policy shifts and theological education
Federal policy shifts are reshaping higher education, and as details are still being understood, Peter Lake and David Rowe discuss what they mean for theological schools and how leaders can prepare. They explore new regulatory pressures, financ...
Ep. 95: Forming leaders inside and out, exploring CBTE's potential
Competency-based theological education (CBTE) is reshaping how future church leaders are formed – and it’s more than just skills training. In this episode, Dr. Susan Reese of Kairos University and Dr. Nathan Hitchcock, CBTE consultant, discuss ...
Ep. 94: Innovating along the way - emerging trends, lessons learned from the Pathways initiative
As the Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative reaches its midpoint, theological schools are navigating both promising innovations and growing tensions. In this episode, Matt Hufman speaks with Jo Ann Deasy of ATS and Amy Kardash of the In Trust Cente...
Ep. 93: Staying ahead of the evolving world of AI in theological education
As the world of artificial intelligence advances in theological education, leaders can stay ahead and find ways forward. In this episode, the Rev. Tay Moss, who has been a leading voice on AI in the Church and theological education, considers h...
Ep. 92 - Faith, law, and the future: Governance in a shifting regulatory environment
What happens when federal education policy changes, roiling higher education, without specifically mentioning theological education? The Rev. Dr. David Rowe and Law Professor Peter Lake unpack the ripple effects of new regulations, executive or...
Ep. 91 - Coworkers in the vineyard: Adaptive change and the future of theological collaboration
What if collaboration wasn’t a tactic, but a way of being? In this episode, Greg Henson and Tony Blair of Kairos University discuss their recent article “Coworkers in the Vineyard: A Renewed Spirit of Collaboration Within Theological Educat...
Ep. 90: Rethinking ministry formation: Diaconal studies and the future of theological education
Could theological schools be missing a vital piece of ministry formation? Dr. Darryl Stephens joins the podcast to explore diaconal studies — a growing movement that prepares deacons for ministry beyond the pulpit and into the communit...
Ep. 89 - Rooted and Ready: Strengthening Theological Schools Amid Regulatory Upheaval
In a time of political shifts and regulatory uncertainty, the Good Governance podcast dives into how theological school leaders can respond with clarity and authenticity. Governance expert the Rev. Dr. David Rowe and law professor Pete...
Ep. 88: A shared future - rethinking seminary administration
As theological schools consider how to prepare for the future, a Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative grant is offering institutions an opportunity for shared services. AdminWise Shared Services, a nonprofit started out of a Lilly Endowment grant, ...
Ep. 87 - The burden of leadership in theological schools
What does it take to lead a theological institution today? Auburn Seminary is relaunching Auburn Studies, beginning with a valuable report on leadership. In this episode, the Rev. Dr. Patrick Reyes, dean of Auburn Seminary, shares key trends in...
Ep. 86: Cultivating generosity in givers and theological education
Dr. Rebekah Burch Basinger sees fundraising as a vital ministry that can shape faith and fuel the work of theological education. An expert in fundraising, Basinger revisits her book
Ep. 85 - The State of the Theological Education in 2025
Theological schools across North America are at a pivotal moment. In this episode, Rev. Frank Yamada, Ph.D., executive director of the Association of Theological Schools, and Amy Kardash, president of the In Trust Center for Theological Schools...
Ep. 84 - Engaging innovation and AI in theological education
Acadia Divinity College in Canada has been experimenting with AI and exploring the future of theological education and the church. The Rev. Anna Robbins, Ph.D., discusses what the school has done (including offering an AI-developed class) and d...
Ep. 83: A misalignment in theological schools – and a way forward
Research by scholars at the Association of Theological Schools suggests a misalignment between how students in theological schools are being trained and what the workforce needs. Dr. Deborah Gin and the Rev. Dr. Jo Ann Deasy of ATS explain the ...
Ep. 82: Lilly Endowment's expanded Pathways Initiative
Lilly Endowment Inc.’s expanded Pathways for Tomorrow initiative will offer up to $325 million to help theological schools accredited by the Association for Theological Schools collaborate and innovate. The Rev. Dr. Jo Ann Deasy of ATS, who ove...