Theological education and training is an enterprise that takes place in one form or another wherever there is a group of Christian churches. In the West the training ismost often associated with academic process and is quantifiable through educationalmethodology that emphasises rationalism and reductionism.
This fact, amongst others, has spawned a debate on the validity, viability and even thesustainability of theological education. Those involved in this debate include churchleaders, the administrators of theological colleges and training programmes, facultyand students.
Establishing the major components of this debate builds a foundation for this thesis toexplore a means by which a conceptual and theological base can be found that willassist in developing the viability and validity of the theological training enterprise andthe preparation and formation of Christian leaders. This conceptual base is identifiedas a missional rationale for theological education.
The thesis addresses the important components of this missional rationale and, basedupon careful research, makes recommendations for the inclusion of this rationalewithin the task of training people theologically. Drawing upon the experience oftheological educators leading Colleges within the evangelical tradition of the churchin the United Kingdom the thesis is examined through a window defined by theirrespective colleges and their understanding of the task of training people for ministryin a missional way.