The Slow Decline Of Theological Colleges

It has been a tough time in recent years for theological training institutions. The gradual decline in demand coupled with the tsunami effect of Covid has placed enormous pressure on colleges, and our Baptist colleges haven’t escaped the fallout.

At the 2024 QB Assembly, the vote to approve a ‘merger’ with Morling College was passed.  The Assembly didn’t exactly have a choice. The merger is better described when being undiplomatic as an acquisition, and Malyon, after a 120-year legacy as the Queensland Baptist theological college will now become a campus of Morling.

As someone who grew up in a country that doesn’t have separate states, I think it seems like a sensible decision, but for others in the Sunshine State, it is a matter of great mourning. It has never made sense to me that Australian Baptists have separate state denominational bodies, with all the replication that it requires, and separate colleges either.

Better Together

I’ll never forget my first day working for the National denomination as the communications manager. After my staff induction, the National Director (a Kiwi), asked me if I had any questions. “Yes”, I replied, “where can I access the national mailing database?”. My boss burst into laughter, slapping his thigh in paroxysms of laughter, getting louder and louder. With tears streaming down his face he helped me understand that this is Australia. Each State is a separate entity and nobody was prepared to share ‘their’ database contacts with anyone else, even if it was a body belonging to the National denomination. This included the missions and aid organisations. I set about hacking together a database which I may or may not have shared with other national entities who found themselves in a similar boat.

Since then, much progress has been made, and the various separate financial entities have combined to form Baptist Financial Services (except here in Queensland of course), as well as Baptist Insurance Services. Mailing lists are still protected with about as much import as the Crown jewels, and national entities have to negotiate the different ways in which each State communicates to its own database to get important news out. Joining the previously separate theological entities into a singular entity with campuses makes perfect sense. The change is difficult, and it means the loss of jobs and the introduction of a season of upheaval for many. The end result will enable theological training to continue, with less replication and greater consistency for students.

Supply and Demand

Theological colleges are not immune to the law of supply and demand, and demand has changed dramatically in recent decades. Our theological colleges were established for a singular purpose: to train ministerial candidates for a life of ministry in the Baptist church. Candidates would enter college, eventually emerge out the other end, nominating for accreditation or ordination, and then find a church. Students would typically live on the college campus, and attendance in pre-digital days was strictly physical. Flexible study options don’t require students to be on campus anymore. 

Alternative theological training options have bitten into the ‘Baptist market’, such as ACOM and Alphacrusis, and there was no longer a guarantee that someone preparing for a life of ministry within the Baptist church would use a Baptist theological college. In fact, our largest Baptist church in QLD, until just a few years ago, hosted a campus from a rival theological training institution outside of the Baptist denomination. This was despite the existence of our own theological college. 

Crucially, the demand for full-time theological training for ministerial candidates dried up. At Malyon College currently, there is a grand total of only 4 full-time students, all other students are doing a range of different study loads, including many completing just one unit per semester. Several years ago the college hit a tipping point whereby 60% of students were online only, and most will never set eyes on the college itself in person.

Meeting the Market

One thing I haven’t seen colleges do is chase untouched aspects of the market. I learned how to do this the hard way, after investing in opening a gym. I needed to convince 1 household in 6 from my local catchment area to come down to my gym, hand over their driver’s licence, and their bank account details. Once they had joined I then needed to ensure that they stayed by implementing a retention strategy which led to a referral rate of 64%. That meant that 64% of new members came from referrals.

My strategy was to avoid chasing after the same segment of the market that the big 24/7 fitness chains were after, namely 18-34-year-olds. I determined that my highest value customer was female, aged between 44 and 54. They would typically purchase a membership for the entire family, on average 4, plus they would purchase group fitness or PT sessions.

This segment of the population was easily intimidated by the typical marketing used by gym chains. This typivcally consisted of cosmetically enhanced gym bunnies in Lorna Jane tights and crop-tops and square-jawed men with washboard abs. The typical messaging of the industry was missing the best part of the market, the hidden market.

Most of the people taking up personal training in my gym were referred by a doctor. They came through my door to improve their health, not just to look good. We banned all forms of advertising that we thought would alienate our market and began to target them through messaging that was designed around their quality of life, healthy living, and having more energy for children, grandchildren, work and active retirement living.

We also worked hard to be a safe and inviting third space in the community. We fostered a welcoming culture and routinely moved on members who acted like meatheads. Anyone who worked against the culture we tried to create was ‘helped to find a better fit’, cough cough. I still find it staggering to drive past a gym and see the “join now and get one-month free” sandwich board and the stereotypical imaging they use. It doesn’t communicate any value and on top of that alienates potential customers.

It may well be that theological colleges are committing the same mistakes the fitness industry is: missing the market entirely and trotting out the same marketing targeted to an audience that hardly exists anymore.

Here’s some ideas that I’ve stress-tested recently with an experienced theological college lecturer, see what you think:

1.  New Target Acquisition

The traditional market of theological colleges (aspiring pastors who want to study full time) has dried up. This means colleges either close up shop (bad option) or change tack. It would be tragic to see the training capacity of theological colleges to evaporate. The end result would be bad for the whole Baptist movement. We need an ongoing capacity to be able to provide effective ministry training underpinned by a sound theological base.

So the first decision is one of principle: like any business, if the market has moved on you find and meet the market. Making decisions like this can be emotional, and people struggle to let go of the past. Ultimately business is business, and where there are jobs and assets involved you cannot separate the business aspect from the ministry aspect. Business decisions aren’t emotional, and aren’t based on hope. Recognise that the market has changed, gireve, move on and pivot. If you don’t you will go extinct.

2. Pivot to Lay Leadership Training

The majority of our leaders in the Baptist church as lay leaders. We offer them a big fat zilch when it comes to training. It’s a lemming-like mentality but we’ve existed with it for generations now. We pay the price for it in terms of the health and culture of our churches. I write at length about it here in The Priesthood Of Some Believers, Part 1 – Pants On Fire and The Priesthood Of Some Believers, Part 2 – Finding Solutions.

When I say lay leadership training, I’m not referring to some generic certificate or diploma of Biblical studies. I’m talking about specific courses developed to help elders and deacons to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to perform their leadership tasks effectively within the context of a congregational governance church. Here’s some areas of training that would go a along way in helping equip our leaders:

It’s axiomatic that providing training and equipping to lay leaders in a range of key learning areas would make a significant difference to the health and functioning of your church. The list below isn’t exhaustive but I would have found working with an eldership trained in these areas (or in ongoing training) to have been an entirely different experience in my pastoral career. 

If I was to design a Diploma of Lay Leadership here’s some key areas of consideration:

• Understanding Baptist history and principles is important for leaders, particularly with regards to the operation of congregational governance. Having a firm grasp of Baptist history will help lay leaders appreciate fundamental principles that set us apart as a movement.
• Basic expectations and responsibilities of elders (deacons, Board members). This will help fill the void and help lay leaders aim up at becoming the best they can be.
• Theological training to understand entry-level doctrine and hermeneutics. This can be done by incorporating the VET level training offered through Baptist theological colleges Malyon College in Brisbane alreadyhas a Certificate IV in Christian Ministry and Theology which provides an excellent body theological grounding which can be incorporated into a more specific course for lay leaders. 
• How to work effectively with pastoral staff. Understanding how to maximise the working relationship between pastors and lay leaders is essential for a functional leadership community. Pastors need to provide leadership but they also need to be accountable. A lay leadership team with a clear understanding of these issues will be better equipped to manage and maintain excellent relationships with paid pastoral staff.
• How to find, hire, maintain and fire pastoral staff. It’s essential for lay leadership to sharpen their knowledge and improve processes used in the human resource management of staff. There are similarities with normal workplaces and unique differences. The ecclesiastical setting of pastoral employment is a niché setting that requires specialist knowledge.
• Change management strategy for church settings including managing Constitutional change. Churches are in a constant evolution of change, and therefore so are Constitutions. If you don’t manage change effectively your church will be in constant conflict.
• The effective preparation and conduct of healthy church meetings. All too often things go south in church meetings. We all bear scars from the dreaded church meeting. Having a fail-safe blueprint for the preparation and conduct of church meetings will help prevent trauma and transform meetings away from dread and into positive, constructive events that advance the vision of the church. Training in this key area will help avoid the constant trauma that is generated in churches.
• Conflict resolution strategies and skills. Your church will always have conflict as long as it has people. Conflict can be managed well and have healthy outcomes – this is a key aspect of discipleship and how we learn to function as the people of God. Without specific training we cannot achieve this.
• Mental Health First Aid training and advice on being trauma aware and having trauma-informed care practises is essential for lay leadership. Oversight is a key aspect of lay leadership function, and having even a basic level of mental health awareness will serve the people of the church well.

There is a massive undiscovered market sitting within our churches. We have a substantial training framework through our colleges and an embarrassment of riches in terms of insanely educated lecturers. Make the pivot and reap the rewards, not just for the colleges, but primarily for the health of our movement of churches.

3.  Worship Leader Training

The most influential people shaping our congregational worship outside of trained pastors are untrained worship leaders. Other than being able to hold a note, it doesn’t take much to become a worship leader in your average Baptist church. In your larger churches you need to have been standing at the front of the talent and genetics line in order to get a gig, but in either case you don’t need or get training. You just copy what the others do, and of course you watch a lot of YouTubes displaying how the market leaders are doing it. 

Remember, the worship music scene is a multi-million dollar industry. Worship has been commodified in the modern church, and the industry shapes how worship leaders lead rather than training in our ministry training colleges.

The result is often, but not always,  a liturgy driven by emotive, extempore urgings from passionate worship leaders.  The modern worship pattern is referred to by many as ‘Jesus is my boyfriend worship’ (derived from the ubiquitous worship songs using romantic language and imagery to describe our relationship with God), rather than liturgical forms (including extempore), that are driven by scripture and theology.

Disclaimer: I always find worship leaders to be genuine believers, deeply passionate about their faith and always energised about using their gifts in the church. My criticism isn’t worship leaders, it’s the lack of grounding and training we give them before we put them on a stage to direct the worship and liturgy of the gathered church congregation.

A current advert for a 450 member church looking for a new ‘Worship Ministry Director’ in SE Queensland has the following key competencies required:

• Gifted in ministering in worship
• Experienced musician with skills in one or multiple instruments, vocals, music theory and music technology
• Willingness to build Gospel-centred relationships
• Ability to create, innovate and implement ministry strategies
• Team builder, leader and player

As you can see there is nothing about any theological qualifications.

Chuck Fromm writing in www.worshipleader.com summarises well the potential role of the worship leader:

At its best, worship glorifies God, interprets the Text, touches the un-churched, educates both the singer and those he sings to, and tells personal and biblical history within the community of God. 

Throughout history, music has served many functions in the Church. While it extols God and worships Him, it also forms His people and corrects questionable doctrine. 

Some of the earliest examples of Christian hymnody were written to counteract Gnostic and Arian heresies: Chrysostom sought to overcome the perverting influence of Arian hymnology with solemn doxologies. Hilary of Poitiers, the first hymn writer of the Latin Church, also composed orthodox hymns to oppose the spread of the popular Arian hymns. Ephraim, leader of the Syrian church, introduced to public worship a body of poetry that countered the heretical poetry of the Gnostic Bardesanes. St. Ambrose, the father of Latin Church song who clashed with the Arians in 386, is quoted as saying,  “…some claim that I have ensnared people by the melodies of my hymns. I do not deny it.” 

As the fourth century Bishop of Milan, Ambrose’s compositions, which made use of popular Greek melodies, facilitated spiritual awakenings as well as combatted heresy. 

Now, as then, of course, there is opportunity to introduce heresy or misinformation about God as well as to correct it. But now, those who filter and promote our worship songs are not necessarily pastors, scholars, or believers with sound theology. The criteria can be more, “Does it have a good hook?”; “Is it catchy?”; “Will it sell?” Not, “Does it support the ‘Text’ at the center of our faith and community?”; “Does it form Christ in the singer?”; “Can most people even sing this song?” 

Training the current and new generation of worship leaders will have a transformative effect on the experience of worship in our churches and and on the wider ministry of the church itself. 

4. Youth and Young Adults Pastor Training

What is a youth pastor or young adult pastor? Is it just a young pastor who has to start out in those roles before assuming a much broader role as an associate, solo or senior pastor? Is it a training ground for future ministry or a specialisation in and of itself? A specialised training course for children, youth and young adult pastors would benefit the church greatly.

5.  Adapting Current Courses

It wouldn’t take too much to add augment the undergraduate courses already on offer to turn them into specialised courses meeting the needs of elders, deacons, worship leaders, children’s, youth & young adult pastors.

A quick glance at the undergraduate courses at Malyon College shows a few possibilities:

The Certificate of Theology and Certificate of Ministry already provides a basis on which to build specialist training.

The Certificate of Theology has the following basis:

1. Introduces students to the sources and content of the Christian story and message and provides training which emphasises application and articulation of this story and message in the contemporary world including professional and vocational life.
2. Introduces students to specialist disciplines by which Knowledge of God is developed and articulated:
   • Bible & Languages (OT/NT/BB/LA)
   • Christian Thought and History (TH/CH/PE)
3. The course Provides a grounding for ministry by establishing a foundation in theological knowledge and reflection
4. Through an elective unit students can:
   • Synthesise Christian understanding with particular occupational and/or life interest
   • Develop practical ministry skills

The Certificate of Ministry has the following:

1. Introduces students to the sources and content of the Christian story and message and provides training which emphasises application and articulation of this story and message in the contemporary world including professional and vocational life.
2. Introduces students to specialist disciplines by which Knowledge of God is applied to guide Christian practice:
   • Evangelism & Missiology (EM) and/or
   • Pastoral & Church Focused Ministry (PC) and/or
   • Developmental and Educational Ministry (DE)
3. The course integrates studies in the Bible and Christian tradition with practical experience and include supervised practice-based learning where appropriate.
4. Through an elective unit students can:
   • Synthesise Christian understanding with particular occupational and/or life interest
   • Develop practical ministry skills

Now imagine those courses developed into specialisations such as Certificate or Diploma of Lay Leadership, Worship Leading, Church Care, etc.

6.  Breaking New Ground

Counselling forms an important part of the life of pastors in a range of areas in the life of the church. However, it’s rare to find pastors who have any sufficient training in counselling or mental health. The result is that pastors and ministry leaders are often dealing with issues that are above out of their lane of training and ability. That can be dangerous for the people being cared for.

It would be great to see access improved to the training that theological colleges offer on a range of courses that address the massive gap in the knowledge and training of ministry leaders and pastors.

I’ve had to find solutions outside of the theological college community in order to undertake my Master of Counselling studies as I couldn’t find the flexibility of funding models to that suited me as a part time, online student. Typically theological colleges do not currently host CSP (Commonwealth Supported Place) courses for counselling courses. Some can offer the accredited courses (such as Morling), but not the support of CSP funding or the online flexibility.

Short courses specialising in change management and conflict resolution within an ecclesiastical context would significantly enhance our capacity to handle conflict and change well. This is a pain point that is often the source of significant trauma for people in church.

I would love to see our colleges flourishing and over-subscribed with students, and I would love to see the resulting effect on the life of the church and the upskilling of both full-time and lay ministry leaders.