Bethany Is among Seminaries That Change the World

For the second consecutive year, the Center for Faith and Service at McCormick Theological Seminary has named Bethany Theological Seminary to Seminaries That Change the World. The program recognizes schools that demonstrate innovation in theological education, investing in students and programs that uphold community service and social justice.

Examples of investment in these values are scholarships, integration of service and justice into the curriculum, and opportunities for community-based learning. To be selected for Seminaries That Change the World, Bethany provided information about work-study positions at community service agencies held by students, ministry formation placements at nonprofits, and alumni/ae who are integrating faith and service in their work. Bethany offers a Church Service Covenant Grant to students who intend to engage in a ministerial vocation, and the Seminary community has taken steps to create multicultural awareness and engagement on campus. Bethany courses such as Just Peace and Ecological Theology and Christian Responsibility intentionally explore current social issues, and Bethany students have great flexibility to create a customized academic path that integrates faith and service.

The Center for Faith and Service promotes schools named to Seminaries That Change the World in various ways. For the second year, an online Advent calendar features daily reflections by students or alumni/ae from the seminaries. Jonathan Stauffer, a senior MA student at Bethany, wrote this year’s reflection for December 4. Read his thoughts and more about him at www.faith3.org/page4.

Bethany’s partner school, Earlham School of Religion, is also among this year’s honorees. More information about Seminaries That Change the World and the class of 2016-17 is available at www.stctw.org.