Committee on Theological Education

The Committee on Theological Education (COTE) has General Assembly-mandated responsibility for developing and maintaining a comprehensive, denomination-wide plan for theological education. COTE seeks to identify, develop and propose strategies for a systemic approach to theological education within the PC(USA).

COTE minutes

April 2009
Download the April 2009 meeting minutes (unapproved).

October 2008
Download the October 2008 meeting minutes.

October 2007
Download the October 2007 meeting minutes.

April 2007
Download the April 2007 meeting minutes.

Upcoming COTE meetings

November 16–18, 2009
San Francisco Theological Seminary

Future meetings
Download the 2008-2017 meeting schedule memo

COTE serves as an advocate for theological education, seeking to support your seminaries (both financially and in other ways) and to strengthen them for their mission to the whole church. It is the body through which the seminaries report and are accountable to the denomination. COTE also serves as a two-way communication link between the denomination and its graduate theological institutions.

The mandate for COTE's ongoing work comes from General Assembly approval of reports and recommendations presented by two special committees: the Special Committee on Theological Institutions in 1986 and the Special Committee to Study Theological Institutions in 1993.

The purpose and functions of COTE are outlined fully in the Manual of Operations.

Business items for COTE

Individuals who wish to propose business items for a COTE meeting should follow the Committee on Theological Education Agenda Development Guidelines. Note that proposed items for action or information are due 60 days before the COTE meeting.

COTE News

Make a nomination for the Award for Excellence in Theological Education

Dear COTE Members and friends:

The Award for Excellence in Theological Education is a biennial award to honor a person who has made an outstanding lifetime contribution to theological education in and for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A). Insofar as possible, COTE’s selection process will draw upon nominees who have offered distinguished lifetime service in Presbyterian or Reformed theological education. You are invited nominate someone now through July 15. The winner of the award will be celebrated at the July 2010 General Assembly.

Download the new “working guidelines” and nomination forms that await final confirmation in November 2010. The final forms will be posted here when they are available.

Our Seminaries: A Great Treasure

The Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick

by the Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick
Former Stated Clerk of the General Assembly

We have always known that the seminaries related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) are centers of theological depth for the preparation of a new generation of ministers and church leaders. We are discovering much more than that these days.

Along with colleagues from the General Assembly Mission Council (GAMC), Committee on the Office of the General Assembly, and Committee on Theological Education, GAMC Executive Director Linda Valentine and I have embarked on a fascinating journey of dialogue and conversation with the leaders of each of our seminaries. We are now about halfway through that journey. It has been a wonderful experience to discover and rediscover what a treasure we have in our theological institutions. Read more about these seminary visits.

Equip future pastors to teach theology, Juengst says

by Toya Richards Hill

SAN JOSE, June 26, 2008 — Equipping seminary students “to go out to equip others” is critical, the Rev. Sara Covin Juengst told a group of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) seminary leaders and others gathered for the Committee on Theological Education (COTE) Breakfast on Thursday.

“We have not placed the emphasis on how to teach theology,” she said. “I’m talking about basic principles of good teaching that will communicate in a variety of ways the important theology, the biblical studies.” Keep reading.

From the Presbyterian News Service • April 2, 2008

Conference seeks to strategize ways to tap next generation of African-American leaders

May event dovetails with Blount’s inauguration at Union-PSCE

by Toya Richards Hill

LOUISVILLE — Brainstorming the best ways to tap into and prepare the next generation of African-American leaders for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) will be part of an upcoming conference at Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education (Union-PSCE).

“Calling for the Order of the Day: Pedagogies of African American Presbyterians — Implications for Theological Education” will take place May 5-7 in Richmond, Va. The event dovetails with the historic inauguration on May 7 of Union-PSCE president the Rev. Brian K. Blount, the first African-American president of a PC(USA) seminary. Keep reading about this event.

Who serves on COTE?

Twenty-three voting members sit around the Committee on Theological Education (COTE) table when it is convened twice each year. Included are:

• ten presidents or deans representing PC(USA) seminaries
• eleven pastors and laypersons elected by the General Assembly to represent the church-at-large
• two elected members of the General Assembly Mission Council who are appointed by that body to also serve on COTE

Serving on COTE, with voice but no vote, are five corresponding members, including:

• the presidents of two seminaries that are related to the General Assembly by covenant agreement
• a representative of the Omaha Presbyterian Seminary Foundation
• representatives from two non-denominational seminaries that educate a significant number of Presbyterian ministerial candidates

COTE's subcommitees do good work

In order to carry out their mandate, the Committee on Theological Education has established an executive committee, an insitutional committe and three permanent subcommittees.

The Executive Committee includes the chair and vice-chair of COTE, the chair of each of the four permanent subcommittees and one at-large member.

The Institutional Review Committee includes only the thirteen elected members of COTE. This committee is responsible for the oversight of distribution of funds to the schools according to an agreed upon formula; proposing alteration of that formula when deemed necessary; and the annual review of the health and stewardship of the seminaries by way of confidential interviews with each of the institutional representatives.

The Implementation and Interpretation Subcommittee includes institutional representatives as well as elected members. The primary work of the subcommittee is to implement and promote the Theological Education Fund (1% Plan) which provides the only denomination-wide financial support for our seminaries. The subcommittee also seeks to interpret the mission of the schools as broadly as possible.

The Interschool and Mission Cooperation Subcommittee includes both elected and institutional representative members. It develops and facilitates partnership/cooperation among the seminaries and provides a forum for consideration of general policies and of overlapping or neglected programs. It also coordinates cooperative projects and programs that involve the seminaries with other PC(USA) entities and governing bodies to carry out mission responsibilities of mutual concern to the participating groups.

The Theological and Church Concerns Subcommittee, including both elected and institutional representative members, is responsible for bringing to the attention of COTE initiatives and issues of concern within the PC(USA) and the ecumenical community about which the seminaries need to be informed for possible involvement. Provision of a theological reflection time during each meeting of COTE is also the responsibility of the subcommittee.

View the current Committee on Theological Education member roster.

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