REA Annual Meeting 2019

The Promises and Challenges of Independent Centers for Lifelong Learning for Ministry
Joshua Lunde-Whitler (Walker Center for Ecumenical Exchange)

Parker Palmer’s well-worn adage “To teach is to create a space…” holds particular weight for those invested in the lifelong formation of religious leaders who work in institutions that are primarily outside the traditional structures of academia or of organized denominations. This weight, however, does not come from being merely an articulation of a learner-centered pedagogy; rather it comes from the myriad questions that such independent centers and institutions routinely face: What kind of "space” are we, in fact? Are we tied to a physical place, and if so, why is that? How is this space educational? Who is being welcomed into this space, and who is not? What is my role as a leader/teacher here? Where does this organization fit within the landscape of theological/religious education? etc. This presentation will discuss these more or less “independent centers” of lifelong formation, which come in an array of forms. A selection will be examined both in terms of their merits as well as limitations, in order to consider how these centers offer unique value to the overall landscape of lifelong learning. A critical goal of this discussion is to explore some ideas together as to future possibilities for such centers. This is especially important, given the ever-shifting present-day landscape of both theological education as well as religious denominations. Participants should leave this presentation with their imaginations stimulated to consider ways that independent centers and institutions can serve as incubatory spaces which promote lifelong praxis for the common good.



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