About the Selection Process
Anyone who’s ever made a list knows it’s the best way to win enemies and lose friends.
Most lists are generated by “impartial benchmarks” that determine “excellence.” One thing that most lists have in common is their claim to be impartial. Any criteria has in its DNA a bias, the question is always whether we (whether a human list maker or a sophisticated algorithm) recognize the bias, and how it impacts the results.
The Inspiration
The inspiration for Seminaries that Change the World came from Loren Pope, Educational Editor for the New York Times, who brazenly made his own list of colleges he believed “changed lives.” His book, which profiles each of the schools he thought young people should consider when looking for a college, was a best seller, and remains a defining resource for students and their families applying to college. I’ve even heard of parents who handed the book to their kids with the simple instruction, "I don’t care where you go to college, as long as it’s one of the schools in this book.”
Since I was a college student, I have invested my whole self into what we now call service learning and civic engagement. It began as a soccer coach with Cambridge Youth Soccer, which led to a campus wide initiative that affiliated dormitories with nearby residential neighborhoods. From there I went on to play founding roles with AmeriCorps, the Bonner Foundation, National Youth Service Day and with the board at Teach for America.
Somewhere on this journey, it became clear to me that many of the people I was working with who identified as “spiritual but not religious,” were looking for ways to explore their faith. I became increasingly aware of how many of the leaders of the service moment were inspired, sustained, and strengthened in their work by faith traditions and faith communities.
And so I began to search for places where justice minded individuals could both explore their faith and deepen their commitment to service and justice. The result of that search was born into Seminaries that Change the World.
Getting to Know the Schools
Through campus visits, conversations with students, faculty, administrators, and peers, and investigations into programs, mission, curriculum and campus cultures, I have come to know these schools and their people. I have gained confidence in their mission and respect for their efforts. I was not the New York Times Editor for Service Learning or National Service, but I have called upon my own experience and insight, as well as that of my colleagues and peers in the service learning world, to create this list.
In the first year of Seminaries that Change the World, the list of schools was based solely on institutions that I knew. The first list was comprised of schools that I had visited and had made connections with students, faculty and administrators. When we announced the list for the first time in a Huffington Post article, we quickly learned that the site was a much-needed resource for the idealists committed to service and justice we were hoping to serve.
Realizing the limitations of this strategy, we put a tab on the first version of the website and invited schools to apply for the next year’s "class.”
The following year, schools submitted an application that asked for extensive information about the school’s activities around community engagement. In order to ensure buy-in by the school community, a signature page was included that required signatures from the Presidents or Dean, a faculty member, and at least three students.
The Process Today
Much of the application process remains the same today. The questions have changed some, but the idea remains the same. We want to know: Is your school integrating faith and service? Are your students engaged in meaningful justice and service work? Are you supporting them financially, academically, and pastorally to connect their passions for changing the world with their exploration of faith and theology?
In addition to demonstrating their commitment to integrate service and justice with faith and theological exploration, schools are required to make a commitment to work together to advance our common goal. Together, we hope to connect and infuse theological education with service and social justice work, and to collectively challenge stereotypes and break down barriers to theological education.
Unlike some lists, this effort recognizes aspirations as well actual results. We do this because we recognize that theological education is in the midst of a tremendous transformation and that the innovations that are being brainstormed, tested, and launched should be lifted up and celebrated.
I have full faith in the institutions listed and their leadership. I am especially hopeful for their students, who are in a unique position to re-imagine what is possible, articulate a vision for change, and implement a plan to see it though. Together, we will bring the world a new sense of hope, relevance, justice and joy.
Questions on this year's application:
Moving Forward
And what about the class of 2017? What criteria will determine next year's class? That has yet to be determined. What we know is that it will have something to do with each institution’s performance, endurance, flexibility, courage, innovation, and willingness to collaborate. In the year to come, we will expect to see clear articulation of a social justice issue focus at each institution, and an expansion career services programming for students who are committed to careers and ministries of justice and service.
Reminder & Disclaimer
Seminaries that Change the World is a collection of distinct, quality institutions that have put themselves forward and come together in their efforts to attract, train and launch service-minded faith leaders. It is not a list of “the best of,” nor is it exhaustive. There are many institutions that are not listed here that are worthy of consideration. We encourage you to explore them as well. If this site helps lead you to the right fit – a place where you can learn, serve, and develop your sense of vocational call and some skills to get you there – then we will have accomplished our goal.
Most lists are generated by “impartial benchmarks” that determine “excellence.” One thing that most lists have in common is their claim to be impartial. Any criteria has in its DNA a bias, the question is always whether we (whether a human list maker or a sophisticated algorithm) recognize the bias, and how it impacts the results.
The Inspiration
The inspiration for Seminaries that Change the World came from Loren Pope, Educational Editor for the New York Times, who brazenly made his own list of colleges he believed “changed lives.” His book, which profiles each of the schools he thought young people should consider when looking for a college, was a best seller, and remains a defining resource for students and their families applying to college. I’ve even heard of parents who handed the book to their kids with the simple instruction, "I don’t care where you go to college, as long as it’s one of the schools in this book.”
Since I was a college student, I have invested my whole self into what we now call service learning and civic engagement. It began as a soccer coach with Cambridge Youth Soccer, which led to a campus wide initiative that affiliated dormitories with nearby residential neighborhoods. From there I went on to play founding roles with AmeriCorps, the Bonner Foundation, National Youth Service Day and with the board at Teach for America.
Somewhere on this journey, it became clear to me that many of the people I was working with who identified as “spiritual but not religious,” were looking for ways to explore their faith. I became increasingly aware of how many of the leaders of the service moment were inspired, sustained, and strengthened in their work by faith traditions and faith communities.
And so I began to search for places where justice minded individuals could both explore their faith and deepen their commitment to service and justice. The result of that search was born into Seminaries that Change the World.
Getting to Know the Schools
Through campus visits, conversations with students, faculty, administrators, and peers, and investigations into programs, mission, curriculum and campus cultures, I have come to know these schools and their people. I have gained confidence in their mission and respect for their efforts. I was not the New York Times Editor for Service Learning or National Service, but I have called upon my own experience and insight, as well as that of my colleagues and peers in the service learning world, to create this list.
In the first year of Seminaries that Change the World, the list of schools was based solely on institutions that I knew. The first list was comprised of schools that I had visited and had made connections with students, faculty and administrators. When we announced the list for the first time in a Huffington Post article, we quickly learned that the site was a much-needed resource for the idealists committed to service and justice we were hoping to serve.
Realizing the limitations of this strategy, we put a tab on the first version of the website and invited schools to apply for the next year’s "class.”
The following year, schools submitted an application that asked for extensive information about the school’s activities around community engagement. In order to ensure buy-in by the school community, a signature page was included that required signatures from the Presidents or Dean, a faculty member, and at least three students.
The Process Today
Much of the application process remains the same today. The questions have changed some, but the idea remains the same. We want to know: Is your school integrating faith and service? Are your students engaged in meaningful justice and service work? Are you supporting them financially, academically, and pastorally to connect their passions for changing the world with their exploration of faith and theology?
In addition to demonstrating their commitment to integrate service and justice with faith and theological exploration, schools are required to make a commitment to work together to advance our common goal. Together, we hope to connect and infuse theological education with service and social justice work, and to collectively challenge stereotypes and break down barriers to theological education.
Unlike some lists, this effort recognizes aspirations as well actual results. We do this because we recognize that theological education is in the midst of a tremendous transformation and that the innovations that are being brainstormed, tested, and launched should be lifted up and celebrated.
I have full faith in the institutions listed and their leadership. I am especially hopeful for their students, who are in a unique position to re-imagine what is possible, articulate a vision for change, and implement a plan to see it though. Together, we will bring the world a new sense of hope, relevance, justice and joy.
Questions on this year's application:
- What Scholarships do you offer that recognize and reward an individual's commitment to service and justice work?
- Describe the Opportunities that students have to engage in the world while they are in school.
- Describe any Field Education/Contextual Education placements that connect faith and justice both with churches and with non-profits.
- Briefly describe several courses that integrate current social issues with academic study.
- Profile at least one professor who teaches a course connected to faith and justice/service.
- Select a social justice area where there is particular engagement on the part of the campus, student service, course work and institutional involvement.
- Identify three alums that are integrating faith and service through their ministry.
- Describe any academic degrees that you offer which integrate faith and service.
- Include your institution’s mission statement or any additional statements about the school you would like listed.
Moving Forward
And what about the class of 2017? What criteria will determine next year's class? That has yet to be determined. What we know is that it will have something to do with each institution’s performance, endurance, flexibility, courage, innovation, and willingness to collaborate. In the year to come, we will expect to see clear articulation of a social justice issue focus at each institution, and an expansion career services programming for students who are committed to careers and ministries of justice and service.
Reminder & Disclaimer
Seminaries that Change the World is a collection of distinct, quality institutions that have put themselves forward and come together in their efforts to attract, train and launch service-minded faith leaders. It is not a list of “the best of,” nor is it exhaustive. There are many institutions that are not listed here that are worthy of consideration. We encourage you to explore them as well. If this site helps lead you to the right fit – a place where you can learn, serve, and develop your sense of vocational call and some skills to get you there – then we will have accomplished our goal.
Seminaries that Change the World is a program of The Center for Faith and Service. It was conceived of and built by Rev. Wayne Meisel, the former Executive Director of the Center for Faith and Service.