Abstract:
Theological education is in crisis having lost an important dimension with its main focus on
quality academics often abstracted from real life. This study aimed to propose that the
formation of spirituality is fundamental to theological education and that theological
education should be a holistic formation. The setting of this study is re-imaging theological
education in the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC), a denomination in the process of missional
transformation, but it is also applicable to theological education in general. This study
focused on the relation between theology and spirituality, the significance of missional
spirituality in theological education and a probable model for the formation of a missional
spirituality. The study found that theology and spirituality are interdependent, and
theological education should thus focus on all the different areas of learning and formation,
that is, minimum knowledge base, pass-on-able habits and skills, and attitudes and beliefs.
Theological education should ultimately cultivate a missional spirituality, forming
missional leaders for the church. Leaders who are equipped are able to equip others for
God’s mission. Theological education is not about obtaining a degree but in essence a
process of formation and transformation. Wright asks: if the gospel is not transforming you,
will it transform anything else? Transformation to be able to transform – a missional
metanoia.
CONTRIBUTION : This study provides a probable model for holistic theological education and the
formation of a missional spirituality.
Description:
Special Collection: From timely exegesis to contemporary ecclesiology: Relevant hermeneutics and provocative embodiment of faith
in a Corona-defined world – Festschrift for Stephan Joubert, sub-edited by Willem Oliver (University of South Africa).