Spiritual formation is at the heart of theological education. While academic excellence and ministerial skills are essential, the true measure of theological training lies in the transformation of students into spiritually mature, virtuous leaders who can serve the Church and society with integrity.

In this session, we explore key insights from longitudinal research on spiritual formation in formal theological contexts. What impact does theological education have on character and virtue development? How can different educational settings—both formal and non-formal—nurture authentic spiritual growth? And most importantly, how can we assess and measure this transformation effectively?

Join us as we engage with empirical research, key findings, and the challenges of assessing spiritual formation, with a special focus on pre- and post-COVID-19 trends.

Description

This session, “Spiritual Formation in Theological Education: Insights from Longitudinal Research,” presents groundbreaking findings from an empirical study on spiritual formation in theological institutions. The research, conducted over an extended period, examines the character, virtue, and spiritual maturity of seminary students who will become future church and ministry leaders.

Key topics include:

• The impact of theological education on the spiritual and character formation of students.
• The challenges of assessing spiritual growth in theological settings.
• Findings from longitudinal research on seminary students’ spiritual development.
• Markers of spiritual maturity—what observable qualities indicate genuine formation?
• Comparing pre- and post-COVID-19 trends in spiritual development.

This session will equip theological educators with practical insights and research-based strategies to foster and assess deep spiritual growth in their students.

Outcomes

By the end of this session, theological educators will:

1. Understand the long-term impact of theological education on students’ spiritual, character, and virtue development.
2. Identify key factors and contexts that contribute to authentic spiritual growth in both formal and non-formal theological education.
3. Gain insights into empirical research findings on spiritual formation in seminaries.
4. Recognize the challenges of assessing spiritual formation and explore potential solutions.
5. Learn about observable markers of spiritual maturity and how to discern the spiritually mature from the immature.
6. Analyze pre- and post-COVID-19 trends in theological education’s role in spiritual formation.

This session is essential for theological educators seeking to enhance the spiritual and character formation of their students and develop more effective methods for assessing this transformation.