We should look for a track record. But we need to make that education accessible to those who will minister in congregations. Mainline denominations think an M.Div. is what is needed for ministry. Business schools are pointing the way toward a new model. We must not sacrifice ministry for the academy.
Clergy reproduce in their congregation the model of learning they experienced.
People should do their learning on their own and then come for training. We need not to popularize our education but to democratize it for the whole church. Ask what our distinctive contributions are. We have warehouses full of reports. We need to identify the churches that are making a difference and network them, and make what they are doing and learning is accessible to the entire church.