ICAATS: Why Standardize Theology 003

History is our witness that when there is no yardstick to measure things, people free to do project their offering as the best -- even if it is the worst available. The same is true of education, hospital services, transport services, and any other type of public service. The same is true of theological education.

Thus some kind of yardstick, whether it is mandatory or not, always helps to improve quality. It helps people to know what is an "acceptable" minimum quality and what is above that -- and also how high above the acceptable standard is it. Thus drawing up minimum acceptable standards for theological seminaries has always helped both the parties in the long run: those who provide education and those who benefit from it.

ICAATS: Why Standardize Theology 002

While education is not a consumer product, all education is a kind of a product given to students who are a type of consumers. Here I am using the words products and consumers in a non commercial manner.

When more than one product is available, every consumer wishes to have the best in his reach. In the same way, when plenty of theological institutions are available, students would want the best that they can afford and the best to which they can get admitted.

The concept of "best" immediately brings the concept of quality and that is one reason why theological education has to be standardized.

ICAATS: Why Standardize Theology 001

As soon as one talks about accreditation of theological education, people who have never been exposed to these things  immediately conjure up images of centralization, one-man control, antichrist, etc. More so in churches that tend to be autonomous. This is because of a misunderstanding.

When we buy a product from a well known company, we expect it to deliver quality. That is why we shell out extra money, though a the same product might be available from a nondescript company. The well known company is able to offer quality product because of quality control. The same is the job of accreditation in theological education -- quality control.