Themes in the Journal, Theological Education, 1964–2006: What Do They Say?

Abstract

The study reported in this paper reviewed the themes of the journal, Theological Education, from the beginning of its publication in 1964 through 2006, as a means of gaining an historical perspective on the educational emphases that have shaped graduate theological education over the last 40 years. Theological education in the United States has developed into a substantial field of graduate professional education. The educational practices of seminaries and divinity schools are vital to faith communities across the nation, to the communities of which they are an integral part, and, subsequently, to society as a whole. Theological Education is one of the few published resources of scholarly works in the field of graduate theological education. There has not been a published review of the journal's themes or articles in the last 42 years. The study yielded insights into the prevailing concerns of theological educators over time, the emergence of issues and trends in theological education, and potential gaps in scholarship in the field.