Dean Stone's January Reflection
At Perkins, we understand that ministry today takes many forms. Our graduates serve as pastors and chaplains, nonprofit leaders and educators, organizers and innovators, spiritual directors and community builders. They lead congregations large and small, accompany people in emergency rooms and waiting rooms in moments of profound transition, and help communities imagine new possibilities for faithful witness. Preparing students for this wide range of callings and vocations requires more than a one-size-fits-all approach to theological education. It calls for creativity, flexibility, and deep engagement with real-world contexts.
That is why Perkins continues to expand innovative pathways for formation, including hybrid intensives that bring students together for focused, immersive learning while allowing them to remain rooted in their communities, as well as robust internship opportunities that integrate classroom reflection with hands-on ministry. These models invite students to test ideas, practice leadership, and discern calling in real time—bridging theory and practice in ways that are both rigorous and deeply personal. Our faculty are reimagining pedagogy, our staff and administrators are building supportive learning ecosystems, and our partners across churches, healthcare institutions, and community agencies are helping us cultivate spaces where students can grow intellectually, spiritually, and professionally.
None of this happens in isolation. It is made possible by a community that believes in the transformative power of theological education—alumni who mentor and model faithful leadership, donors who invest generously in our mission, and friends who champion Perkins in countless ways. As you turn these pages, I hope you catch a glimpse of what you help make possible: a school leaning forward with hope, theologically grounded, and boldly forming leaders for a changing world. Thank you for being part of the Perkins story—and for helping us shape the future of ministry, one student at a time.