Problem
One of the most important concerns that presents itself to the Adventist Church in Rwanda is how to adequately cope with the rapid growth of new members. There are too few pastors equipped to care for the growing membership. It was the purpose of the present pilot project to design a strategy that would provide theological education and training for pastors currently employed and training for those mature church leaders who are motivated to improve their leadership abilities and skills.
Method
Theological Education by Extension (TEE) was the proposed solution to the problem. A two-tier approach was suggested. The first-tier certificate level would be viewed as professional upgrading/continuing education training. It would accommodate all those needing and desiring training but not aspiring to attain the two-year intermediate-level diploma. The second-tier diploma level would be directed specifically toward the attainment of a two-year intermediate-level diploma. This level would accommodate pastors lacking the ministerial diploma and those mature leaders who are the actual leaders of the rural churches, who need and desire theological training.
Results
Pastors and the newly trained lay leaders would be well equipped to care for their churches within the larger regional districts. As TEE graduates would function in their local churches, there would be a lessening of national church leadership deficiencies and a corresponding increase in competence. TEE graduates would be training the other members and imparting to them the knowledge they have gained. Both the TEE graduates and the members would be stimulated to higher learning levels. In addition, spiritual growth would be accelerated through increased participation of the newly trained members.
Conclusions
The TEE program would integrate national leaders into teaching and administrative positions from the outset of the project. Dependence upon expatriate staff would reduce with each B.A.-level graduating class from AUCA. Extension graduates would be evaluated against their residence counterparts in secondary school. Regular monitoring of the program would insure that the proper academic standards would be maintained. The proposed strategy would give an overall framework and direction for meeting the present and future educational needs of church leaders within the Rwanda Union Mission
