Does higher education change the faith of Anglicans and Methodists preparing for church ministries through a course validated by a UK university?

Abstract

ABSTRACTChurches often validate their ministry training through Higher Education (HE) institutions in order to assure the academic quality of their awards. Although academic progress is carefully assessed, and churches have long debated formational aspects of ministry training, there has been little quantitative work that examines whether exposure to HE changes the faith of students. This study reports on the effects on various aspects of faith (such as beliefs about the Bible, biblical literalism, morality, exclusivity, quest orientation, and dogmatism) of a ministry programme delivered to Anglicans and Methodists that was validated by a United Kingdom university. A sample of 91 students completed questionnaires at the start and finish of their period of study, which ranged from one to three years. There was no evidence of systematic change in any of the tested variables that coincided with the period of study.