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
92 episodes
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...
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Season 4
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Episode 92
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31:38
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...
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Season 4
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Episode 91
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35:56
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...
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Season 4
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Episode 90
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36:00
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...
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Season 4
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Episode 89
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32:05
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, ...
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Season 4
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Episode 88
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39:21
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...
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Season 4
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Episode 87
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32:37
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
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Season 4
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Episode 86
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43:07
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...
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Season 4
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Episode 1
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44:08
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...
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Season 4
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Episode 84
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43:13
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 ...
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Season 3
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Episode 83
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47:28
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...
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Season 3
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Episode 82
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37:34
Ep. 81: Creating a Pathway for underserved students into theological education
The Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in Springfield, Missouri, is using Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative grants to create new ways for people from underserved communities to get a theological education. In this episode, the Rev. Drs. Serg...
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Season 3
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Episode 81
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22:59
Ep. 80: Eden Theological and moving to a network model
Eden Theological Seminary President the Rev. Dr. Deborah Krause and Vice President for Institutional Advancement the Rev. Dr. Mary Schaller Blaufuss discuss how the 175-year-old seminary is moving into a new model of education. Using a Pathways...
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Season 3
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Episode 80
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41:09
Ep. 79: How leadership can change with Tod Bolsinger
A congregational leader and strategist, the Rev. Tod Bolsinger, Ph.D., discusses the need for adaptive leadership in theological education. Bolsinger shares insights from his latest book series, including tackling the challenges of leading thro...
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Season 3
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Episode 79
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30:59
Ep. 78: AI's potential for theological education
The Rev. Tay Moss, an Episcopalian priest, media producer, and educator, has produced an AI-drive webpage to help people explore the Anglican church – AskCathy.ai – and in this episode explores the potential of AI for theological schools and ho...
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Season 3
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Episode 78
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33:48
Ep. 77: What a president needs to know
The Rev. Nancy Claire Pittman, Ph.D., is retiring as president of Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, Oklahoma, after a long career in both the church and theological education. She reflects on the changes at Phillips and the transformation...
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Season 3
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Episode 77
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46:24
Ep. 76: Creating a new ecosystem in theological education
The Rev. Dr. David Vásquez-Levy, president of Pacific School of Theology in Berkeley, California, discusses how the school is using its Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative grant to create a new ecosystem that includes not just technology but also ...
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Season 3
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Episode 76
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36:06
Ep. 75: Future-proofing theological schools?
Rick Staisloff, a consultant with a long history in higher education, explores how theological institutions can thrive amid change by embracing strategic partnerships and shared services. He stresses the importance of aligning with student need...
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Season 3
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Episode 75
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31:31
Ep. 74: The many facets of shared governance
The Rev. Heather Hartung, Ph.D., has been a student, minister, faculty member, dean, and member of a theological school board. She now serves as a director of accreditation with the Association of Theological Schools. In this episode of the pod...
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Season 3
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Episode 74
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40:16
Ep. 73: Overcoming scarcity to blaze a trail
The Rev. Dr. Joanne Rodriguez, executive director of the Hispanic Theological Initiative, was honored with the 2024 Women in Leadership Trailblazer Award by the Association of Theological Schools. She didn't intend to go into theological educat...
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Season 3
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Episode 73
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36:11
Ep. 72: Rooted in Hope - How the Pathways project is growing
The Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative was designed by Lilly Endowment Inc. to create ways for theological schools in North America to train ministers for Christian churches. The Rev. Dr. Jo Ann Deasy, director of institutional initiatives ...
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Season 3
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Episode 72
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37:44
Ep. 71: Governance and the practice of holiness
An award-winning author and longtime pastor's wife, Karen Stiller admits to a struggle with the concept of holiness. In her new book, Holiness Here: Searching for God in the Ordinary Events of Everyday Life , Stiller addresses the...
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Season 3
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Episode 71
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37:40
Ep. 70: New approaches to decolonizing theology and Indigenous healing
NAIITS, an Indigenous Learning Community, is using Pathways for Tomorrow grants to explore ways to decolonize theology and provide trauma-informed education for the Indigenous community. Shari Russell, the director of NAIITS, and Mike Hogeterp,...
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Season 3
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Episode 70
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28:58
Ep. 69 - Pathways to healing: McCormick's trauma-informed education initiative
McCormick Theological Seminary is using a Lilly Endowment Inc. Pathways for Tomorrow grant to explore how to help people heal from trauma. The Heart-Work Rising Trauma Healing Initiative is exploring theological education that will help student...
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Season 3
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Episode 69
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30:19
Ep. 68 - Engaging the immigrant church
At China Evangelical Seminary North America (CESNA), leaders are looking at ways to engage leaders and congregants of immigrant churches. They've done so with new programming aimed at helping congregations, including a Center for Public T...
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Season 3
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Episode 68
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28:33