Discerning a Call to TheoEd Executive Leadership
July 7 - August 4, 2025 • $1999.00A course for underrepresented and underserved professors interested in executive leadership at a theological school
ENROLLMENT NOW OPEN
Take your next most faithful step in executive leadership
In this 4-week course, you will explore and discover if you are called to serve as a Chief Academic Officer (V.P. of Academic Affairs, Dean of Faculty, Dean) or President. Specifically, you will learn from executive leaders in theological and higher education what theological executives think about and do and participate in a cohort of high-performing peers discerning a potential call to executive leadership.
To help you identify your gifts for this work, you will receive a 360 leadership assessment tool ($500 value) from the Center for Creative Leadership as well as coaching sessions ($250 value) to help you interpret the findings from your 360 leadership assessment and identify your growth areas.
By participating in this course, you will better understand the role of higher education in the 21st century, learn the kinds of things theological executives do, and map your career trajectory, which includes determining what additional leadership roles you might pursue to prepare yourself and take your next most faithful step on the journey of becoming a theological executive. The world needs wise, courageous, and faithful theological executives like you to shape the next generation of leaders for the church, academy, and society.
Do you want to use professional development dollars toward this course? FTE can provide invoices upon request. Contact Heather B.P. Wallace for details.
FTE Instructor for Theological Executive Course
Stephen Lewis is the president of the Forum for Theological Exploration (FTE) and creator and co-founder of DO GOOD X, a start-up accelerator for under-represented, faith-rooted social entrepreneurs. He has more than 25 years of experience in corporate and nonprofit leadership as an organizational change strategist and a leadership development specialist, focused on inspiring the next generation of faith-inspired leaders and entrepreneurs to live and work on purpose. Stephen holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in banking and finance from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a Master of Divinity from Duke University. He co-authored Another Way: Living and Leading Change on Purpose (2020) and A Way Out of No Way: An Approach to Christian Innovation (2021).
Executive Mentors for Theological Executive Course
Dr. Charisse L. Gillett became the 17th president of Lexington Theological Seminary in September 2011. Her appointment is historic as she is the first woman and first African American to lead the Seminary as president.
She holds a doctorate in education and educational specialist degree from Northern Illinois University, a master's in education, and a Bachelor of Arts with a major in social work from the University of Northern Iowa. She has led Lexington Theological Seminary through a period of transformation in its academic programs, enrollment, finances, and strategic vision. She has spearheaded the receipt of over $3.8M in grants and a successful capital campaign of $4.8M in gifts.
She is a member of the Board of Directors for the Association of Theological Schools and Commission on Accrediting. In 2018, Dr. Gillett received a $15,000 Reflective Leadership grant from Leadership Education at Duke Divinity to think carefully about leading during a crisis. Reflections on Leadership in an Era of COVID-19 and in the Midst of a Reckoning on Racial Injustice were published in the Journal of Higher Education Management 2021 by the American Association of University Administrators.
Dr. Gillett is the daughter of a retired 42-year veteran of the United States Postal Service and a retired 30-year Chicago Public School Teacher. She credits her parents with inspiring her to work towards her dreams. She's married to Rev. Dr. Donald K. Gillett, II, the General Minister and President of the Christian Church in Kentucky. They have four children and one granddaughter.
Dr. G. Sujin Pak is the Dean of the Boston University School of Theology and an expert in the history of Christianity. She focuses on the early modern period, the Protestant Reformation, and the history of biblical interpretation. She has taught courses on Christianity, the Protestant Reformers, the history of biblical interpretation, and medieval female mystics.
Pak is the author of The Judaizing Calvin: Sixteenth-Century Debates on the Messianic Psalms (Oxford University Press, 2010) and The Reformation of Prophecy: Early Modern Interpretations of the Prophet and Old Testament Prophet (Oxford University Press, 2018), as well as several articles appearing in leading journals.
Dean Pak strongly advocates diversity and equity and prizes these values in her teaching, research, and administrative work.
In her leisure time, Pak likes to run, hike, take long walks, and read novels.
Course Modules
Discern a potential call to executive leadership, and explore why executives are necessary to shape the next era of theological education. Identify your gifts and skills needed to pursue becoming a theological executive.
Explore leadership opportunities in the academy and what it means to step into those roles at this time. Learn more about the different things theological executives do from stories of under-represented leaders, and develop a road map for yourself.
Reflect on the work of theological executives through case studies and discussions. Explore different positions and roles you can pursue in the academy.
Identify your own gifts for this work, and new insights into your your leadership. Use what you learn from this course to help you prepare and take action toward your next most faithful step on the journey toward pursing a theological executive position.
“ This course was an invaluable, safe, sacred, courageous discerning lab for participants to breathe, be seen, see, hear, and glean from God’s best to become the best self they were ordained to be. This course does not sugar coat the calling and work that is required to be a theological executive. ” Dominique A. Robinson, 2024 Course Participant
The Forum for Theological Exploration (FTE) is a leadership incubator that inspires diverse young adults to make a difference in the world through Christian communities. Since its founding in 1954, FTE has provided resources, events, networks, grants, and fellowships to cultivate tomorrow's leaders, pastors, and theological educators. FTE provides a forum through which gifted, purposeful students, young adults, and partners explore their passion, purpose, and call.
This course is designed for underrepresented and underserved scholars in theological education and religious studies who are discerning a possible call to executive leadership in the academy.
The course is $1,999. In addition to the course material and gatherings, participants receive a 360 leadership assessment tool ($500 value) from the Center for Creative Leadership and coaching sessions ($250 value).
FTE created this course to identify, resource, and support underrepresented and underserved scholars called to executive leadership and impact change in higher education. Since its founding in 1954, FTE has been committed to diversifying and cultivating the next generation of theological scholars, educators, and leaders.
Upon completion, you will gain relevant resources to discern and prepare for your next most faithful step toward becoming a theological executive. These resources include a free 360 leadership assessment and coaching to help you identify growth areas and achieve leadership goals.
This course has four Zoom gatherings along with online materials and case studies.
The course is four weeks long but has pre- and post-work for the 360 process.
This is an online course with gatherings taking place virtually.
Yes, there is an app for that. NovoEd has a mobile app, and Zoom is used for community gatherings.
FTE may choose to upload part or all of the Community Gathering discussions, but we'd recommend contacting the course teaching team with any questions you have during the course.
Individuals in administrative leadership roles in theological and higher education, such as a Chief Academic Officer, Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dean of Faculty, Dean, or President.
FTE partnered with CCL to create a custom leadership assessment tool for religious studies and theological higher education institution leaders. The tool helps individuals turn feedback into actionable insights, set goals, create action plans, and make positive behavioral changes. Click here to learn more about CCL and its industry-leading leadership assessment tool.
Yes, if you meet the requirements outlined in the course you will receive a certificate that you can post to your LinkedIn profile and download to share.
FTE can create invoices for professional development funds. Contact Heather B.P. Wallace for more information.