The Evangel Dean Basic Training Resource Handbook

152 • T HE E VANGEL D EAN B ASIC T RAINING R ESOURCE H ANDBOOK

• Leadership development is taking place in a context of mission and outreach. Special emphasis should be placed on evangelism and the incorporation of new believers into the church. • Leadership development is taking place in a context of human need. Theological education should provide a way of understanding poverty, justice, development, and the role of the Church in holistic ministry. It is essential that the Church in North America create innovative models of theological education to respond to these challenges. Practically, the evangelization of our urban cities depends on it. Theologically, faithfulness to God’s choosing of the poor as key leaders of faith (James 2.5) demands it. The Urban Ministry Institute The Urban Ministry Institute exists as a way of resourcing the vision of theological educators who are committed to finding new models for investing in the urban poor and those who minister among them. We are committed to creating materials, networks, and educational programs that will make that task easier and more effective. Because we are a part of an interdenominational missions agency (see Appendix 1) with a specific focus on the urban poor, we are in a unique position to focus on the issues of theological education through the lens of a missionary vision. We believe that The Urban Ministry Institute is best viewed not as the way to do theological education among the urban poor, but rather as a way of doing theological education that may serve as a resource and a springboard for continuing innovation by others who share our common task. Conclusion Extension seminaries, focused on the urban poor and adapted to the needs of Christian leaders in their ministry situations, are a key part of preparing the Church to fulfill its mission in the immediate future. The development, refinement, and proliferation of such centers for theological education deserves to be a high priority in the Church’s vision, strategizing and allocating resources for ministry.