Expanding on previous research funded by the John Templeton Foundation and partnered with the Association of Theological Schools, Calvin University’s Nagel Institute for the Study of World Christianity is using a $1.9 million grant to explore the impact of a seminary education on the spiritual, character, and virtue development of Christian leaders worldwide.
Calvin announced the project, funded by the Templeton Religion Trust, July 10. It’s the “next phase of a groundbreaking multi-year project titled ‘Forming Religious Education and Leadership towards a Global, Ecumenical, Culturally Decentered Vision of Spiritual Maturity and Flourishing,’” the announcement said.
Project lead David Wang, from Fuller Theological Seminary, is continuing earlier research, focused in North America. “The initial phases of the research—six years, three grants from the John Templeton Foundation—did not involve the Nagel Institute, Wang said, noting, “I wish we had found each other earlier in the process, but grateful that we did eventually.”
A key grant partner in the first and continuing phases of the research is the Association of Theological Schools. Data “from more than 1,200 seminary students attending 18 North American seminaries representing Eastern Orthodox, Evangelical, historically African American, Mainline Protestant, and Roman Catholic traditions” was collected in the first phase, the Calvin announcement said.
Wang said when they were looking to expand globally Tite Tienou, a project adviser from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, suggested that he reach out to Joel Carpenter, founding director of the Nagel Institute who retired in 2019 and is still a senior research fellow with the institute, “because they have extensive experience doing re-granting initiatives with institutions around the world.”
Wang said, “This is a project that is mobilizing not just individual scholars and leaders, but mobilizing and networking networks of seminaries and scholars (including) the Asia Theological Association, the Pan African Catholic Theological Network, the Center for World Catholicism, Princeton Seminary’s Overseas Ministries Study Center, NAIITS (formerly North American Institute of Indigenous Theological Studies), World Council of Churches, Duke Divinity’s Center for Reconciliation, (and) Fuller Seminary’s Missiology Lecture.”
Expecting to have about 20 sub-contracts to complete the project over five years, Wang said the work will include “a series of edited books, special issues of academic journals, and presentation and paper prizes within each of our partner networks.” In the first two months of the project, which began in May, “we have already brokered about eight contracts,” Wang said.
Current director of the Nagel Institute, Damaris Parsitau, is one of the sub-grantees. Emailing The Banner from Nairobi, Parsitau said her part of the work is to “study women's spiritual formation in the global south, Africa specifically.”
“I aimed to explore women's spiritual formation through their lived experiences,” Parsitau said, planning this summer “to spend time with my family and engage with women in Kenya and beyond to delve into this crucial aspect of their Christian lives.” She will be joined by “a team of highly qualified women from East, West, Central, South, and the Horn of Africa to examine women's spiritual formation from their own experiences,” Parsitau said. “Our research includes the voices of women with disabilities, including neurodivergent women and church ministry to children with special needs.”
Parsitau joined the Nagel Institute in August 2023.
About the Author
Alissa Vernon is the news editor for The Banner.