Edward L. Wheeler, President of the seminary since May 1997, is a former FTE Fellow. In a phone conversation, we asked him about his thoughts on theological education and excellence in ministry. What it means to do theological education has changed. We live in a far more diverse culture than the one I grew up in.
Theological issues are about as diverse as any, and more so.
There's been a decline of civil discourse that's affected a lot of realms, including theology. Theological education helps people to think without giving them a catechism. We have a doctrinal mandate to be open. The idea that a Protestant hegemony will last forever is certainly not present. We have dialogue in a much broader context than before.