IPS Receives Formation Grant from the Association of Theological Schools

The Association of Theological Schools, has awarded the Institute of Pastoral Studies a formation grant to aid in a major initiative to “develop and implement an innovative and nationally-recognized integrated formation program for students and faculty that includes intercultural competency” – which will fulfill part of IPS’ strategic plan.

The goal of the formation program is to incorporate opportunities for personal and spiritual formation in high quality theological ministerial education by developing a variety of personal capacities required for pastoral leadership. Two major components of the grant include engaging faculty in their own personal and spiritual formation and researching best-practices with regard to total integrated formation, specifically attending to intercultural competency.

The formation period begins with a two- day faculty/staff retreat in mid-August as a way to launch the academic year. In conjunction with the retreat, the faculty will continue to focus on the process with readings and discussion at monthly meetings. The process will culminate with a second retreat in April, where faculty and staff will reflect on key learnings discussed throughout the academic year. The outcome will be a pilot integrative formation program for students and faculty incorporating intercultural competencies to begin in the fall of 2018.