Studies from Auburn Seminary

I was recently happy to exchange e-mails with Dr. Sharon Miller of New York's Auburn Seminary, and she brought my attention to some studies Auburn has done on theological student debt and on the funding of theological schools.

I would encourage everyone to visit http://www.auburnsem.org/study Click on "Publications." I was especially interested in "Manna From Heaven," a 1995 study done by Auburn on student debt (and available as a PDF), as well as the 2005 follow-up study, "The Gathering Storm."

For more information on funding of theological schools, check out the studies "Lean Years, Fat Years," and "Seek and Find?"

My thanks to Dr. Miller for pointing out these useful publications.

Interesting report on "Our Common Calling"

I just ran across this document from the UCC on providing resources for seminarians: http://www.ucc.org/synod/resolutions/pro24-1.pdf This is a General Synod document from 2003 which addresses the critical problem of seminary costs and graduate debt load. Does anyone out there know if this document has made any impact on the UCC or its theological schools?

Christian Century Article

Here's an interesting article I have run across concerning this topic. It happens to come from a 2004 issue of Christian Century and certainly describes the continuing financial pressures on our new clergy: http://calbears.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1058/is_16_121/ai_n6159321