encompassing a university related theological seminary, a bible college, a theological college, or an online school. 4 â 4âhttp://www.ataasia.com/accreditation/.
David vs. Goliath in Theological Education David Alexander: April 2016
Introduction: Accreditation is a primary means of quality assurance in higher education. It can be a significant resource for quality improvement. Accreditation has always been associated with peer judgments about quality. Agencies of theological education aspire to the same standards of excellence as secular schools, but the manner of doing so differs with context.
Accreditation of Theological Education in 3 Contexts: In India, Christian theological degrees nationwide are accredited by the Senate of Serampore College (University), which runs the academic administration of all its affiliated theological colleges. The Council of Serampore College holds a Danish Charter, granted in 1829, and originally had the power to confer degrees in any subject. It currently exercises this right only for conferring theological degrees as recommended by the Senate. (Wati Longchar The Ecumenical Theological Education in Asia and Pacific, MInisterial Formation 101 July 2003 p 6) Degrees from 57 different faculties and colleges are accredited by Serampore.11 The U.S. Department of Education does not accredit any educational institutions and/or programs. Even West Point, the Unites States Military Academy where Army officers are trained, is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, a nongovernmental agency.22 Likewise, Canada does not have a system of national or regional accreditation. Provincial legislation and membership in the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada are substitutes. Some universities seek evaluation from American regional accreditation agencies. This is often the case with Canadian theological schools. They, like their counterparts south of the border, tend to seek accreditation through the Association of Theological Schools 33 This nongovernmental agency is much like the nongovernmental regional associations that grant accreditation to everything from community colleges to great universities.
Accreditation of Theological Education in the Taiwan Context: Until recent years, theological education in Taiwan has not been accredited by government agencies. Ministerial training schools, bible colleges and theological seminaries, to 1 http://www.senateofseramporecollege.edu.in/academics/affiliatedcolleges/ 2 http://www.usma.edu/academics/SitePages/Home.aspx 3 3 http://www.ats.edu 1 2
name a few, have either accredited themselves or made due with recognition by international agencies such as the Asia Theological Association 亞洲神學協會44 which accredits 8 theological colleges here, or the Association of Theological Education in South East Asia (ATESEA) which accredits 65.5 By these means, certain aspects of government control and interference in theological education have been avoided. But in very recent years, theological education agencies such as Dharma Drum Buddhist College, Taiwan Baptist Theological Seminary, Christ’s College and Taiwan Theological College have all met the standards of the Ministry of Education. These schools now offer degree programs that will be recognized as legitimate by Taiwan’s ruling authorities.66 In addition to these freestanding theological education agencies, the School of Christian Theology at Chang Jung Christian University is governmentally accredited. Dharma Drum Buddhist College offers postgraduate, undergraduate and Ph.D. courses in the languages and literatures of major Buddhist traditions.77 Taiwan Baptist Christian Seminary88 and Taiwan Theological College and Seminary99 offer training for ordained and non ordained ministers. Christ’s College does not train ministers, but does offer an accredited undergraduate degree in Christian Liberal Arts.1010 All of these schools are relatively small, none of them having more than a few hundred students total. In contrast, Chang Jung Christian University has over 10,000 students in all of its programs combined. Undergraduate students in its school of Christian Theology are fully integrated into the university’s general education program, taking only specifically Christian and theological coursework under the auspices of the school of Christian Theology. As such, the breadth of education available to them can be seen as very attractive to Christians contemplating studying theology. This size advantage juxtaposes small theological colleges, such as those accredited by ATA and ATESEA in Taiwan, with current and aspiring giants certified by the Ministry of Education. A degree granted by a school recognized by Taiwan’s ministry of education can be considered as a qualification when applying for employment at agencies that require government licensed employees. A person without a degree, or with a degree from a school notrecognized by Taiwan’s government, may not even be allowed to take the licensing examination. In effect, this makes a Master of Arts degree from Dharma Drum Buddhist College, Taiwan Theological College and Seminary, Taiwan Baptist Theological Seminary or Chang Jung Christian University’s School of Christian Theology much more valuable than a similar degree from any of the other schools in the data list (below).
Terminology and Scope: Terminology: “Agency of Theological Education” will be used as a catchall phrase encompassing a university related theological seminary, a bible college, a theological college, or an online school 4
4http://www.ataasia.com/accreditation/ 5 http://atesea.net/atesea/?p=113 6 6http://english.moe.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=552&CtNode=415&mp=1 7 7 http://www.studyintaiwan.org/~DDBC 8 8http://www.tbts.edu.tw/about.php 9 9 http://www.taitheo.org/ 10 10 http://www.cct.edu.tw/ 5
以小
Scope: Only Master of Arts degrees (not Master of Divinity degrees) will be considered. For the sake of simplification, ALL Master of Arts degrees offered by agencies of theological education (whether in Biblical Studies, Christian Studies, Mission, Pastoral Counseling, Theology or others as may be uncovered) will be considered equal.
A Theorist and a Theory: Malcolm Gladwell: 麥爾坎‧葛拉威爾 The Canadian writer and social critic Malcolm Gladwell, author of several books and staff writer at The New Yorker since 1996, has been seen as a modernday renaissance man. He prefers a more modest description, “I’m just a reporter, conditioned to believe that if you make enough phone calls and talk with enough people, you can come to a basic understanding (of an issue).1111 In July 2002 he reported on “The Talent Myth”, discussing managerial and administrative techniques that companies, both winners and losers, have used. He found a misconception held by managers and executives who are all too ready to classify employees without ample performance records, resulting in hasty decisions. In particular, he found that many companies believe in disproportionately rewarding "stars" over other employees with bonuses and promotions. This results in 1)the quick rise of inexperienced workers with little indepth performance review; 2) promotions THAT are often incorrectly made; 3)placement of employees into positions they should not have, and; 4) keeping more experienced employees from rising. Under this sort of system, he points out, narcissistic personality types are more likely to: 1) climb the ladder; 2) take more credit for achievements, and; 3) take less blame for failure.1212 Gladwell is an intellectual provocateur who forces readers to confront and reappraise deeply held assumptions of which they were previously unaware.1313 A “Gladwellian” perspective might be useful when boards, administrators and faculty senates at Taiwan’s many theological education agencies (seminaries, bible colleges and other schools which train people for ministry) enter into the arena of competing for new students with universityrelated theological and divinity schools here. Gladwell examines the struggle of underdogs versus favorites in David and Goliath 1414 He starts from the biblical story of David and Goliath, in which a young lad in a loose garment defeats a wellarmed giant. Traditionally, the lad is seen as the underdog in the fight, who wins by dint of his faith in God. But Gladwell sees things quite differently. David is shown to be the one with the natural advantage. His lack of armor makes him fleet of foot, his choice of weapon makes him able to fight from a distance, and his small size presents a harder target to hit. Goliath, in contrast, though a giant, can hardly move because of his armor, cannot fight from a distance because his sword can only reach so far, and presents is an easier target to hit. . Without discounting the role of God in the story, Gladwell points out the ways we most people who have been educated as we have been through Sunday school and consequently 11
11 http://www.sacbee.com/entertainment/books/article60136741.html#storylink=cpy 12 http://gladwell.com/thetalentmyth/ 13 13 http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/sep/29/malcolmgladwelldavidandgoliathinterview 14 14 時報出版 訂閱出版社新書快訊 新功能介紹 2013/12/23 12
mistake David’s battlefield victory that day as having come primarily through the help of God in whom David showed such faith. By laying emphasis on Goliath’s size and power, we ignore his vulnerabilities. The discussion leads to Gladwell’s conclusion that in all affairs of life we should aspire not to be a Goliath, but dare to be a David. Nimble through our weakness, we should exploit the vulnerabilities of the strong and refuse to play the game by their rules.1515
Theological Master of Arts Degrees offered in Taiwan: Taiwan Theological College and Seminary 台灣神學院 offers a two 2year programs leading to the Master of Arts degree. 二 年 文學碩士(MACCC) 教會音樂碩士組 二 年 文學碩士 (MACM)。 台灣神學院. is accredited both by the Ministry of Education AND by ATESEA。 Taiwan Baptist Theological Seminary 財團法人中華浸信會基督教台灣浸會神學院 offers two different tracks leading to the Master of Arts in Christian Studies. One track can admit up to 22 students per year, and the other up to 3. 財團法人中華浸信會基督教台灣浸會神學院 is accredited by Taiwan’s Ministry of Education and the ATESEA. Chang Jung Christian University 長榮大學 has, in all, over 10,000 students. It’s School of Christian Theology長榮大學神學院 offers the Master of Arts degree in Theology。 Its accreditation is granted by the Ministry of Education. The Methodist Graduate School of Theology 衛理神學研究院offers Master of Arts degrees in ministry, divinity, pastoral counseling and practical theology. The Methodist Graduate School of Theology 衛理神學研究院 is accredited by both ATESEA and ATA. Tainan Theological College and Seminary台南神學院 offers 2year courses leading to the Master of Arts degree in Theology, Church Music and Religion and Social Work. 台南神學 院 is accredited by ATESEA. Yushan Theological College and Seminary 玉山神學書院offers the Master of Arts degree in Religion宗教文學碩士班。 玉山神學書院 is accredited by ATESEA. Holy Light Theological College聖光神學院 offers Master of Arts degrees in Christian Studies and Biblical Studies. 聖光神學院 is accredited by ATA. Central Taiwan Theological College中台神學院 offers Master of Christian Ministry Degree. 中台神學院 is accredited by ATA. China Evangelical Seminary 中華福音神學院offers Master of Arts in Religion Master of Christian Studies 聖經碩士科（M.A.R.）、基督教研究碩士科（M.C.S.）中華福音神學 院 is accredited by ATA. China Reformed Theological Seminary 改革宗神學院 offers Master of Arts in Old Testament, New Testament, Christian Studies, Biblical Counseling,改革宗神學院 is accredited by ATA. Logos Theological Seminary 台灣正道福音神學院 offers Master of Arts in Christian Studies, 台灣正道福音神學院is accredited by ATA. China Lutheran Seminary中華信義神學院 offers Master of Arts in Care and Counseling, 中華信義神學院is accredited by ATA. Fu Jen Catholic University’s 天主教輔仁大學 Faculty of Theology became an independent institute, detaching from the Fu Jen Catholic University late in 2015. It offers the Master of Arts in Theology （M.A.in Theology）
15
15 http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/sep/29/malcolmgladwelldavidandgoliathinterview
Application: In an economy of theological education such as those in Korea (where theological universities, not university related schools of theology) or the USA (where theological seminaries are found in consortia, universityaffiliated and freestanding formats) a large size can appear to be an advantage. A larger school will have a larger library, with more books on its shelves. A larger school’s administration will employ more staff members. A larger school’s board of directors will include persons from diverse corporate and ecclesiastical backgrounds. A larger school has a greater ability to attract a diverse faculty of highly trained and widely published scholars. All of these factors add up to a formidable force. But each of these strengths can also be a vulnerability. 1) A big library is expensive to heat, cool and maintain. More books aren’t always the best books, and much time spent by staff in cataloging incoming volumes, maintaining the current collection and culling that which is no longer worthy of inclusion makes the library itself a drain on resources. 2) A large staff taking care of administrative work requires a large number of managers to supervise them. A ratios of one manager per 8 staff workers (manual, clerical, information technology, etc.) is considered ideal.1616 But managers do not produce work, they cost resources, and when good, cost a lot. When poor, they consume without compensatory benefit to the school.1717 3) A board of directors drawn from diverse corporate and ecclesiastical backgrounds can mean they represent the money behind the school more than its mission. A board may include members who, theologically, are at variance with the faculty, and may take legitimate board actions to frustrate creative faculty initiatives. 4) A large faculty comprised of highly trained and widely published scholars may not be the best teachers. They may also be better known to people in their fields than to the prospective students whom the school must attract in order to remain “in business.” Smaller agencies of theological education may suffer from small libraries, fewer administrative staff members, unprofessional boards made up of alumni and smaller faculties comprised of practitioners or scholars who have studied at less prestigious institutions and who publish little at all. But all of these are advantages. 1) Tuition fees can be lower because the amount of what students pay to support library, nonacademic staff and managers is less. 16Jae Alexis Lee. ,How many managers per employee should a midsized company have? https://www.quora.com/Howmanymanagersperemployeeshouldamidsizedcompanyhave 17 17There are now two nonacademic employees at public and two and a half at private universities and colleges for every one fulltime, tenuretrack member of the faculty. (Jon Marcus New England Center for Investigative Reporting) 16
2) A smaller campus may mean that the school can outsource many of its maintenance functions and save on costs. 3) Boards drawn from alumni may be more committed to the mission of the school than to the maintenance of its endowment. 4) A small faculty of practitioners who focus on forming ministers for service to the church, rather than on publication for advancement in the academic world at large, might produce better outcomes for the churches served by a seminary. 5) A smaller faculty means a smaller quorum for the many committee meetings that are regularly held to operate an institution. Nonscheduled or emergency meetings can be held spontaneously, decisions can be made quickly, and because the same people serve on different committees, there is less mystery between functioning groups. 6) A flatter administrative structure can work more quickly. A person who “wears many hats” can make a decision in one capacity and see to its implementation in another. A smaller library can lead to better use of online and electronic resources, better computer equipment and staff more highly trained in its use. 7) A smaller faculty can be supplemented by lowcost adjuncts drawn from practitioners in various fields of ministry and by the wide range of online educational resources now available in Chinese and English from around the world.1818 8) A smaller agency of theological education could offer a wide range of certificate programs wherein students from outside the school join the core of students in ministerial training programs while pursuing individual goals in the fields of theology, biblical studies, religious studies, practical theology and music. By attracting these students, many of whom would pay full tuition, the students pursuing ministerial formation would have their education effectively subsidized.
Recommendations: As Tainan Theological College and Seminary receives accreditation from Taiwan’s Ministry of Education, it should not pursue size and weight in this nation’s market of theological education, but posit an ideal size for its programs of ministerial formation (which remain at the center of the school’s mission) while making the most of its smallness to create, promote, offer and market innovative programs which will be of benefit to Taiwan’s people and the churches in this land.
Appendix: Online Theological Courses Available in Chinese https://zhtw.coursera.org/learn/xinlixueshenghuo 18
18See appendix
https://zhtw.coursera.org/learn/zhichangsuyang https://zhtw.coursera.org/course/socialpsychology http://buzzorange.com/techorange/2015/04/30/chinapolicymooc/ http://www.ewant.org/admin/tool/mooccourse/mnetcourseinfo.php?hostid=7&id=282 http://www.ewant.org/admin/tool/mooccourse/mnetcourseinfo.php?hostid=7&id=284 http://www.ewant.org/admin/tool/mooccourse/mnetcourseinfo.php?hostid=7&id=296 http://www.ewant.org/admin/tool/mooccourse/mnetcourseinfo.php?hostid=6&id=312 http://www.ewant.org/admin/tool/mooccourse/mnetcourseinfo.php?hostid=6&id=313 http://76.10.144.18/ Chinese Online Scool of Theology https://www.cgst.edu/hk/cht/Homepage/index# Chinese Graduate School of Theology Hong Kong http://www.abs.edu/live/zh/content.php?section_id=1300§ion_lvl=3§ion_past_id=3,135,172&main= 3&ck=1 Alliance Seminary Hong Kong http://www.cesnac.org/v7/cgibin/tc_elearning.cgi China Evangelical Seminary Online http://www.cls.org.tw/elearn/elearn.htm China Lutheran Seminary (Hsinchu) Online courses.
