Regional Theological Education Program
(RTEP)
The Regional Theological Education Program (RTEP) of Asia Lutheran Seminary serves as a resource and support to the WELS Asia One Team (AOT) missionaries and the church bodies throughout Asia in their theological education efforts. The program currently assists with theological education in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. Led by a team of ALS professors, the program stands alongside the work of AOT missionaries and local church leaders in these countries to assist them in the important task of training leaders for the work of the church. The team’s goal is to assist in four areas: Communication, Consultation, Resources, and Training.
Communication
Asia Lutheran Seminary’s Regional Theological Education Program facilitates communication between missionaries, church leaders, and others offering theological education throughout Asia. The program encourages the sharing of ideas, discussion of cross-program issues, cooperation on programs, and communication of needs and resources. Additionally, the RTEP team maintains an overview of the various theological education efforts in all countries served by the Asia One Team.
Consultation
Asia Lutheran Seminary’s Regional Theological Education Program provides consultation to local church and seminary leaders on a variety of issues about theological education. The team assists missionaries and local leaders with training needs assessments, program development, curriculum planning workshops, program assessment, and program revision or updates.
Resources
Asia Lutheran Seminary’s Regional Theological Education Program also maintains a database of curricular materials offered throughout Asia. As new programs are developed or courses are taught, the team will assist in ensuring that necessary materials are made available. Additionally, through the Pastoral Studies Institute of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, the TE Function, has access to a database of WELS instructors who are experienced in teaching a variety of classes and equipped to teach as visiting or online instructors. The RTEP maintains a schedule of all visiting or online instructor needs and ensures that instructors are well-prepared to meet local needs.
Training
Asia Lutheran Seminary’s Regional Theological Education Program coordinates formal and informal professional development opportunities for missionaries, local instructors, and seminary leaders and professors. Informal training may include mentoring, facilitation of discussions on best practices in teaching, sharing of resources, etc. Formal professional development opportunities may include local or regional workshops, for-credit courses through Asia Lutheran Seminary or sister seminaries, and other offerings as needs arise. In all cases, the RTEP team works with national churches to determine where it is wise to connect a national church body’s program with our ALS core program.