Definitions
Theological training organisation (TTO) refers to a Bible college, seminary, theological school, university or training institute which offers formal, informal or non-formal training. The TTO specialises in one or more of preparing students for Christian ministry, biblical studies, doctrinal or ecclesiastical theology or practical ministry.
See the "important comments" section below for a more detailed explanation of what we mean by formal, informal and non-formal training.
‘Integral Mission’ (IM) is the church speaking of and living out its faith in Jesus Christ in an undivided way, in every aspect of life. It is the work of the church in contributing to the positive physical, spiritual, economic, psychological and social transformation of people. It is the pursuit of God’s shalom for all creation. Integral mission theology touches on all of Tearfund’s work and our overall vision and mission.
For a TTO to be ‘influenced’ on CCT or Integral Mission, Tearfund, or our partners, should be intentionally funding and/or building a strategic relationship with key actors at the leadership level to journey with them around IM/CCT, with the intention of influencing the TTO's curriculum or teaching, or to see wider changes such as connecting TTOs with each other who were not previously working together, or building a CCT / IM movement.
TTOs can be influenced directly by Tearfund or indirectly through partners and allies.
How?
Country and sub-regional teams should monitor their influencing work with theological training organisations via their country strategies on Track.
Partners can also contribute to this indicator via their projects on Track.
The Theology and Network Engagement Team (TNE) will monitor the TTOs it has influenced at the regional and global level, via its team strategy on Track. TNE will also report on its work with TTOs in countries where Tearfund does not have a country team presence.
We will count TTOs anywhere in the world, not just in the ‘global South’. The reason for this is that TTOs in the ‘global North’ (for example the United Kingdom or United States of America) that we have influenced will often train and spread the work to church leaders and other people from the ‘global South’.
This indicator should be updated every 6 months. There will be a cumulative running total plus a ‘new within the last 6 months’ figure.
For this indicator, each newly added TTO should ideally be named in the narrative description accompanying the update (or in a separate spreadsheet that is linked in the narrative), along with a brief description of how each theological training organisation is being influenced, and the results of the influencing activities, such as progress towards introducing CCT content in the curriculum. When you are working with a group or association of TTOs, you can still count the full number of TTOs that are being influenced through this work, but in the narrative, you only need to mention the name of the association, rather than naming each individual member TTO separately. For example, if you are influencing an accrediting association of TTOs that has 50 members, you can add 50 TTOs influenced in your update against this indicator, but in the narrative, you only need to give the name of the association and explain that it has 50 members.
Evidence of the impact of your influencing work with TTOs can be collected through, for example, asking the organisation’s leadership and checking published course material.
Who collects?
Country and sub-regional teams will collect this data every six months at the country / sub-regional level, with support from TNE and CCT advisors where appropriate. TNE will collect this data at regional and global level every six months. Partners can also contribute to this indicator via their projects on Track.
