OK, that was a bit unprofessional (shouting in large caps like that). But I, the faculty, staff and administration of Northern Seminary are extremely excited to have Scot McKnight join us on faculty starting August 1.
Quietly, over the last few months we at Northern have been adding the pieces to form a seminary uniquely positioned to shape and form leaders for the future of Mission in N America. This requires a kind of theological education that is:
a.) practical yet theologically substantial enough to prepare students for the challenges of a vastly changing N. American culture, b.) flexible and deliverable so that students don’t have to leave their ministry contexts and spend three years in an incubator, c.) affordable so that students can go into mission not demanding high salaries from large churches, d.) spiritual forming so that students don’t come out of seminary knowing alot about God/Christ but little about walking within Him in His Mission. I think we are well one the way in all these areas and we have more to come in areas b.) and c.).
So now, with brother Scot coming on board, I couldn’t be more “psyched” about the faculty and culture God is shaping at Northern. Our faculty now contains as regular faculty a.) Bob Price evangelism and urban ministry, b.) Cherith Fee Nordling Theology and Biblical Studies, c.) Claude Marriotini Old Testament (currently writing a bombshell of a good book on slavery and the OT), d.) Michael Quicke (renowned writer practicioner on preaching/leadership and worship – check this out), e.) me, David Fitch, in Culture, Theology and Ethics, f.) Ricky Freeman Pastoral Ministry and Formation, g.) Karen Walker Freeman Dean and Spiritual Formation, and now h.) Scot McKnight Biblical Studies. In addition we have key roles played by affiliate faculty members like Wayne Gordon of CCDA and Lawndale Community Church, Ruth Hayley Barton of Transforming Center, Sam Hamstra teaching Church History, Carla Waterman who leads us in the lineage of Robert Webber and more.
The things that excite me about this faculty are:
- A Theological Center that pushes an evangelical commitment into a Kingdom Gospel-Centered Trajectory.
- A Rich Diversity Among us
- An ability to lean into the issues that we must face in the decidedly new challenges of a Post Christendom Missionary cultural situation in N. America.
Here’s a seminary with a small compact but uniquely gifted faculty, with a community teaching culture that cannot be matched with a theology that can meet the challenges of Mission in N America. In addition we have a growing cadre of adjunct faculty that are committed to Northern beyond teaching a course or two. They get what we’re about. Truthfully, 5 years ago, if I would have tried to dream up a seminary where I would want to be, I couldn’t have done better than this.
To all this we invite Scot McKnight and we look forward to what God shall bring the next ten to fifteen years in training theologically engaged reflective practicioners for God’s Mission in N America.
Welcome aboard Scot!!
Missio Alliance Comment Policy
The Missio Alliance Writing Collectives exist as a ministry of writing to resource theological practitioners for mission. From our Leading Voices to our regular Writing Team and those invited to publish with us as Community Voices, we are creating a space for thoughtful engagement of critical issues and questions facing the North American Church in God’s mission. This sort of thoughtful engagement is something that we seek to engender not only in our publishing, but in conversations that unfold as a result in the comment section of our articles.
Unfortunately, because of the relational distance introduced by online communication, “thoughtful engagement” and “comment sections” seldom go hand in hand. At the same time, censorship of comments by those who disagree with points made by authors, whose anger or limited perspective taints their words, or who simply feel the need to express their own opinion on a topic without any meaningful engagement with the article or comment in question can mask an important window into the true state of Christian discourse. As such, Missio Alliance sets forth the following suggestions for those who wish to engage in conversation around our writing:
1. Seek to understand the author’s intent.
If you disagree with something the an author said, consider framing your response as, “I hear you as saying _________. Am I understanding you correctly? If so, here’s why I disagree. _____________.
2. Seek to make your own voice heard.
We deeply desire and value the voice and perspective of our readers. However you may react to an article we publish or a fellow commenter, we encourage you to set forth that reaction is the most constructive way possible. Use your voice and perspective to move conversation forward rather than shut it down.
3. Share your story.
One of our favorite tenants is that “an enemy is someone whose story we haven’t heard.” Very often disagreements and rants are the result of people talking past rather than to one another. Everyone’s perspective is intimately bound up with their own stories – their contexts and experiences. We encourage you to couch your comments in whatever aspect of your own story might help others understand where you are coming from.
In view of those suggestions for shaping conversation on our site and in an effort to curate a hospitable space of open conversation, Missio Alliance may delete comments and/or ban users who show no regard for constructive engagement, especially those whose comments are easily construed as trolling, threatening, or abusive.