Administrators tackle risk management
Forty-six (46) member schools registered for the Online Conference on Risk Management conducted on November 3-4, 2021. During the first day of the online seminar, the panelists: Dr. Septemmy E. Lakawa, President of Jakarta Theological Seminary; and Dr. Samuel Ngun Ling, President of Myanmar Institute of Theology, gave a presentation on “Managing Risks in Theological Education” in their respective contexts. They cited the current political and financial threats their seminaries are facing, how the national and global crises have affected the school operations, and what measures the school administration had implemented to handle these pressing challenges.
During the break out sessions, participants were grouped by countries where they discussed on the risks and hopes they have on their school’s Mission (purpose) and Money (Resources). Each group was given a chance share the main points of their deliberations afterwards.
Mr. Chris Meinzer, invited resource person, is the Senior Director and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of The Association of Theological Schools (ATS) in the United States and Canada. He expounded on the framework “Mission and Money” which he has developed over the years to help school administrators as they plan to work towards the long-term vitality of their missions.
The administrators expressed the timeliness of the topics considering the current financial, health, and political adversities confronting their academic institutions. The sessions served as a prompt to revisit their individual school’s original God-given purpose, and a reminder of the faith that has inspired these ministries. The insights during the discussions had encouraged, and made them realize the possibilities of pursuing their seminary’s vision despite the present global crisis as they keep in mind the balance between mission and money in their endeavours. The said balance is essential for leaders to set the short and long term direction of the school as they make decisions and design strategic plans that will not only address the existing challenges but also attend to the sustainability of life and work of the seminary in the long run.
