Practical Considerations  

Several practical considerations come into play in choosing the seminary that is right for you. What geographical location do you prefer? This is not just a matter of north, south, east, or west, near or far from your current locale. It also implies a decision about a rural or urban setting. Some people’s ministry is enhanced by separation from the hustle and bustle of life. Seminary for them might best be a “wilderness experience,” like Paul’s in the Arabian Desert. For others, immersion in study also means connection to the diverse people who live in a large city. Their ministry is expanded by the living laboratory such an urban setting can provide.

A related choice involves what kind of seminary community you prefer. Do you want a school which draws a student body primarily composed of people similar to yourself? One that primarily serves people of one gender or ethnic group? Or do you want to study with scholars and students drawn from diverse settings and backgrounds?

An important part of a seminary education has to do with the kind of community to which you have been called. It’s not just the books you read that make a difference, but the people you sit next to. People from varying backgrounds and life experiences ask different questions. The kind of theological reflection you engage in as part of a community of scholars has a lot to do with how diverse that community is.