Auburn Theological Seminary

Programs: Education: auburn uses a variety of innovative approaches and methodologies to equip and sustain individuals, as well as cohorts of leaders, to reach across lines of religious difference to: (1) address today's most pressing issues; (2) develop skills and traits they need to lead in our multifaith, fast-changing world; and (3) use the wisdom of their faith traditions in achieving these goals. The auburn senior fellows program equips and supports game changing leaders so they may expand their national impact on critical issues such as racism and gun violence. The sojourner truth leadership circle enables african-american women leaders at the front lines of social change to learn to care for their mind, body and spirit in order to sustain their leadership. Justice ministry education and the beatitudes fellowship is a leadership and spiritual formation program for organizers, seminary students, clergy, and nonprofit staff. Young leaders from conflict and post-conflict zones learn the art of storytelling, drawing from their religious heritages to build bridges and more peaceful communities. Coachtraining programs advance the christian leadership formation of pastors, helping them thrivve in their ministries. Auburn's coach training program advances the christian leadership formation of pastors, so they may thrive in their ministries. Courses, workshops, and counselling for presbyterian students at union theological and new york theological seminaries help them meet denominational requirements for ordination, an expression of auburn's covenant relationship with presbyterian church (u. S. A. ). Multifaith seminars, community conversations, public events and experiential learning opportunities are public platforms for bridging divides and building a better tomorrow.

media: auburn provides media expertise, workshops, and coaching to equip seasoned and emerging leaders of faith and moral courage, seminary students and faith-rooted activists - and their community partners - to communicate effectively on issues of pressing concern through print, digital, broadcast and radio platforms. Key issues include racial justice, gun violence prevention, marriage equality, economic justice and human dignity. Auburn also connects faith leaders and expert voices to the media and helps journalists and media makers connect with and cover the religious lens on contemporary, critical issues. The table-to-action project equips faith leaders to improve their ability to communicate and work together effectively across sectors toward a shared vision of a better world. Auburn voices harnesses the power of the internet to offer thoughtful discourse on the power of faith and moral courage to mobilize for a more just and peaceful world. Auburn develops and/or distributes curricula, documentary films and videos on social issues and religion, for faith leaders to use in their work to educate and galvanize their constituencies.

action: auburn equips faith-rooted leaders to develop strategies and skills that inspire constituencies, build community and move people of faith and moral courage to take action. Groundswell, auburn's on-line community for social action, includes more than 200,000 participants. It also serves as a free, digital platform that faith leaders and activists can learn to use to inform and engage others to move on issues of pressing social concern. Auburn coaches and assists faith and community leaders to amplify their calls for justice through groundswell on issues such as preventing gun violence and human trafficking, working for a moral economy, countering islamophobia and xenophobia, achieving marriage equality, and protecting the dignity of marginalized people, including immigrants. Auburn also promotes action through curating and sharing outstanding faith-inspired content on the internet. Auburn builds collective impact by convening leaders nationally and locally to develop and launch collaborative, cross-sector strategies for change. Mountaintop is both an offline and online platform for convening faith leaders and their partners to explore strategies that deepen the role of religion in building a more just society. Mountaintop promotes collaboration and networks among leaders of diverse faiths, issues and sectors.

research: auburn's applied research provides greater understanding of the most effective ways to equip leaders of faith and moral courage for today's complex, multifaith world. New research initiatives are exploring bright spots in theological education to identify and disseminate effective new models for leadership development and analyzing public theological engagement with pressing social issues. The center for the study of theological education (cste) is nationally known for applied research on the needs of theological institutions, their leaders, students and stakeholders, including student life and debt, educational and administrative leadership, and the public role of theological schools. Auburn researchers help schools evaluate programs, develop strategies, forge new institutional partnerships, and support their senior leadership. They also develop and implement methods of evaluating auburn's impact. The crosscurrents colloquium convenes religion scholars, sociologists, clergy, activists and others for scholarly research and exploration on contemporary critical concerns. Auburn studies, reports, publications and videos are widely distributed and available in print and/or on-line.