July 21, 2025
by Greg Henson, Kairos University President and CEO
When people talk about innovation in theological education, the conversation often circles around building new programs or identifying new “markets” for what schools offer. As a result, the conversation often sounds almost identical to what one might hear in a company trying to sell more of its product. Given this scenario, it isn’t surprising that people wonder if talk about innovation in theological education is merely about chasing the latest trends or adopting flashy terminology. I understand that reaction because I have seen innovation in theological education be reduced to “ideas for new products.” We have fallen into the same trap as many in the corporate world (which is ironic because most literature on innovation will say product innovation usually fails to have lasting impact).
When I talk about practicing innovation, I am speaking of something fundamentally different. I am describing an intentional practice rooted in our calling to follow Jesus faithfully, to discern deeply, and to steward wisely what God has entrusted to us. As a result, it seems important to start with Scripture.
We Innovate Because We Are Sent
In John 20:21, the risen Christ tells his disciples, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” As followers of Jesus, we are sent into the world as participants in the mission of God. We participate in the work of innovation because we have been sent by Jesus to participate in God’s grand renewal project by the power of the Spirit. We cannot rest in our places of comfort and power. Instead, we must follow Jesus into the world as we participate in the creativity of God – welcoming the change it requires of us.
We Innovate Because Discernment Is Ongoing
Secondly, innovation matters because discernment never ends. In John 16:13, Jesus promises his followers that the Spirit will guide us into all truth. This guidance is not a single moment of revelation. Instead, it unfolds continually as we walk together in discipleship. Following Jesus requires attentiveness to what the Spirit might be saying to us, even when those messages come through difficult questions, painful realities, or voices that challenge our comfortable assumptions.
Discernment, therefore, requires humility and openness. Over the past fifteen years as I have traveled and sat with leaders in diverse contexts, I have seen how deeply challenging this can be. It is far easier to hold tightly to familiar answers and practices. Yet, if we desire to remain responsive to the Spirit, we must nurture communities where listening and questioning are encouraged. Because of this, innovation becomes a natural outcome of communities that regularly pause, listen, and respond to the fresh insights of the Spirit. We participate in the work of innovation because following Jesus is a formational, long-term, ever-unfolding, developmentally-oriented endeavor that requires ongoing communal discernment. That is to say this work requires continual change.
We Innovate Because We Are Stewards
Thirdly, we innovate because we have a responsibility as stewards. In Matthew 25:19-21, the parable of the talents reminds us that stewardship involves actively putting what we have been given to fruitful use. We are called not simply to preserve resources and traditions but to put them to work in meaningful and impactful ways.
In theological schools today, resources can feel scarce. In many places, enrollment numbers have stagnated or declined, financial deficits persist, and student debt remains a profound concern. Nevertheless, stewardship calls us to look beyond scarcity and to ask important questions about how we steward God’s resources in fresh and faithful ways. Innovation, therefore, is not primarily about having more resources. It is about faithfully and creatively stewarding the resources we already hold, discerning together how God invites us to use them in this particular moment. We participate in the work of innovation because we are stewarding vast storehouses full of God’s resources. We must not strive merely for sustainability or survival. Faithful stewards are productive conduits (as opposed to protective managers) of God’s blessing. This requires ongoing attentiveness to the way God’s resources are being utilized and the fruit we are seeing, thereby encouraging ongoing change.
But Why?
As we reflect on these three convictions, I would suggest that innovation is not a luxury or a distraction. It is an essential practice, deeply embedded in the journey of discipleship. We innovate because we want to align our daily actions with our theological commitments. We innovate because our calling requires thoughtful engagement with the changing realities around us.
Yet, if innovation is so clearly part of our calling, why does meaningful change often feel impossible in theological education? In the next several posts, we will explore that question. We will name a few significant barriers that institutions frequently face, and I will share several embodied practices that can help theological communities move forward, not perfectly, but faithfully.
Join as we keep learning.