VST Academy
Taking Theology to Local Congregations
The “VST Academy – Taking Theology to Local Congregations” provides churches with a weekend program that enhances adult theological education. Each of a series of two to four weekends (or more!) features a Friday night lecture, Saturday workshop and an option for Sunday preaching. VST faculty lead these mini courses with/for either a single church or a cluster of churches on topics like biblical literacy, foundational theology, pastoral engagement, and spirituality and ethics. Congregations choose from a menu of mini-courses topics, establishing timing and structure appropriate to their interests. VST plans that an Academy series will be brought to a different location in our wider geographical area each fall and spring.
VST provides the faculty instructor and their travel and accommodation for free to the congregations. The school also gives support through social media, media and announcement formats, and poster design for printing and distribution by the local organizers.
Churches are encouraged to combine courses into focused series, such as an “Introduction to Christianity” or a series focused on “Outreach and Social Ministries” or another series on the arts of ministry for lay people. There is so much choice, you might run an introductory series one year and invite VST back for an “advanced” or more focused series in a following year. Dream big to support great lay education.
The sponsoring congregations hosting a VST Academy have only minimal obligations:
- to provide an appropriate location
- to engage in local advertising
- to arrange for gathering and hospitality for the participants, and
- to commit to having a minimum of participants who register directly with VST for a modest fee for each Saturday workshop. This minimum enrolment plus the registration fee paid by participants are important so that VST can cover its costs for providing the program. We will work with you to establish an appropriate registration fee for the workshops given expected numbers.
For inquiries or information about scheduling a VST Academy series in your area, please contact:
Janice Suhardja
General Assistant