From April 8 – 13, SENDAS representatives were privileged to host a meeting of the presidents and academic deans from the schools that make up the Nazarene Global Consortium of Graduate Schools of Theology. The meetings took place in Costa Rica. Dr. Ruben Fernandez and Dr. Jorge Banos represented SENDAS as the President and Vice-President of the institution.

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The consortium’s purpose is to connect Nazarene seminaries by optimizing the global resources available for theological education. This very unique partnership includes Africa Nazarene University (Kenya), Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary (Philippines), Korea Nazarene University (South Korea), Nazarene Theological College, Brisbane (Australia), Nazarene Theological College, Manchester (England), and Nazarene Theological Seminary (Kansas City; USA).  Funding for the consortium is provided through a generous grant from the Henry Luce Foundation.

Ruben Fernandez said: For SENDAS is a privilege being part of this Consortium and sharing with other 6 great schools of higher education, that are preparing the top leaders and scholars in the Church of the Nazarene worldwide. Every meeting has been very insightful.  Definitively we have learned a lot as part of this strategic alliance and also humbly contributed to the other members from our experience in postgraduate work in the Latin American context for 27 years.

This is the fifth face-to face meeting of the Global Consortium who have met in various global locations including England, Korea, the United States and South Africa.  The participants also meet regularly by videoconference to discuss issues relating to higher education and opportunities to partner together. The challenges to theological education are great, and these discussions allow for the development of ideas and projects to continue the mission of post-graduate theological education.

A number of projects have been initiated or facilitated through the consortium, including the NTS Doctor of Ministry degree being offered in Africa and Latin America.  SENDAS has been a host of this program.

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This week’s meeting explored fundraising, among other issues, and the keynote speaker was Ben Kelley, a representative of the Fund Raising School at Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.

SENDAS is committed to providing excellence in theological education, and the Global Consortium provides a network of leaders who work together for this common cause.