Learning from the Laity

“In 1977, I became the director of a project called ‘Including and Empowering Lay Participation in Practice-Based Theological Education,’ at Lancaster Theological Seminary … to explore ways in which laity could participate directly in the education of persons for ordained ministry. The rationale for the project was based on the hypothesis that laity are already the most frequent evaluators of parish clergy. If students could learn to use feedback from laity beginning in seminary, they would have a new resource to make theological education a life-long process.”