New Study Explores Diversity, Justice among Seminary Faculty and Students from Spiritual Formation View

DESCRIPTION: This Colloquy Online article summarizes findings from a research program at the Danielsen Institute at Boston University that examined how spiritual formation factors relate to diversity and justice commitments among seminary faculty and students. Drawing on survey data from about 300 ATS faculty and more than 2,400 predominantly Christian seminary students in the United States, members of the research team describe positive associations between humility, compassion, intercultural competence, and commitments to social justice, respect for religious diversity, and purpose beyond the self. The article notes that these relationships remain even when accounting for spiritual impression management, suggesting they are not merely expressions of virtue signaling. It also highlights the need to evaluate specific diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and suggests that diversity and justice commitments tend to align with indicators of spiritual and relational maturity in theological education contexts.

KEYWORDS: Colloquy article; intercultural competence; seminary faculty; seminary students; social justice; spiritual formation; compassion; humility; theological education

CITATIONS:

RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT: Sandage, Steven J., Kristen R. Hydinger, and David C. Wang. 2023. "New Study Explores Diversity, Justice among Seminary Faculty and Students from Spiritual Formation View." Colloquy (Pittsburgh, PA), September 29. https://www.ats.edu/files/galleries/study-finds-faculty-and-students-committed-to-social-justice-have-more-humility-compassion.pdf.

JOURNAL ARTICLE: Hydinger, Kristen R., Steven J. Sandage, Xiaodi Wu, Laura Stein, and David C. Wang. 2023. "Compassion and Humility as Predictors of Justice and Diversity Commitments Among Seminary Faculty." Pastoral Psychology 72 (2): 169–85. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-023-01058-y.