Nazarene Theological Seminary

Korea Nazarene University recently hosted the second gathering of the Global Consortium of Nazarene Seminaries and Graduates Schools (November 1-3, 2010). Meeting in KNU’s newly dedicated Owen International Centre, consortium members explored ways of working collaboratively for the development and delivery of graduate-level theological education around the world.

This meeting of the consortium had, as a particular focus, issues of accreditation and transfer, and the effect of ‘The Bologna Process’ on Nazarene higher education. It also explored collaboration in academic programs; in human resources; and in physical and technological resources.

This gathering initiated four specific projects: establish protocols for credit exchange and recognition; deliver a series of shared research seminars through video-conferencing; facilitate student and faculty exchange; and develop an online bibliography of key theological resources.

The consortium was conceived by the Board of General Superintendents, and facilitated by Nazarene Theological Seminary (NTS). Dr. Ron Benefiel, NTS President, and Dr. Jerry Lambert, NTS Director of Global Initiatives, secured funding from the Henry Luce Foundation for the project, which has brought together eight graduate institutions from across the globe, including: NTS, (USA); ANU (Kenya); NTC (Australia); NTC (Manchester); APNTS (Philippines); BNC (Brazil); KNU (Korea); and SENDAS (Costa Rica).

Participant schools first met in Manchester, England in 2009; they plan to meet again in Kenya in 2012. Between face-to-face sessions, the deans of consortium schools continue to meet via video-conferencing, the infrastructure for which is itself an initiative of the consortium, linking partner schools.

Dr. Lebron Fairbanks, IBOE Commissioner, commented, “These meetings have brought us close together as institutions as we have worked together on shared projects. And we have become close friends, sharing our successes and our frustrations. This initiative underlines the remarkable strength of the Church of the Nazarene in education: global in scope, yet working as family, with institutions giving time and resources for the good of colleagues across the globe, working not as competitors, but as partners.”