Most people would realise that there are no theological colleges in the Bible. So where on earth did the first Christians get their church leaders from? The answer, of course, is the church.  Which is a good reminder for those Christians (like this author) who are working in Bible colleges that the centre of ministry formation is the local church.

We must keep this in mind when it comes to distance education for ministry training. The education world has taken to cyberspace with great enthusiasm " there's no end to the number of courses that you can study online. But training for ministry is more than just studying a body of knowledge. There are so many more things that go into developing a leader for Christian ministry. 

Learning ministry is about spiritual growth as much as intellectual achievement; understanding our identity in Christ is more significant than performing particular skills. So this is the question that distance programs have to answer: is any of this formation really possible over the internet?

Students on campus benefit greatly from the relationships between students, teachers and other staff. Bible colleges are communities of people sharing life together so that what is learnt is more than just knowledge, and more than simply skills. In community, students are "formed' spiritually as well as mentally and practically.

But what options exist if you're physically unable to get to college?  What if you live too far away, so that training for ministry will require leaving your ministry?  For some, it will mean taking the short-term cost of moving to live closer (or even at) a college for the sake of long-term effectiveness in ministry back at home. While this may be the best option for many, it won't always be the best option for all. If you decide that leaving your ministry isn't the best, then what? 

What if you're in a life situation that prevents you from studying face-to-face?  If you're looking after young children or caring for elderly parents and aren't able to get to college classes, what avenues for training are available for you?

Distance programs for ministry training help to meet this need. With current communications technology, distance education doesn't leave you at the end of a postbox reading through pages of notes, or listening to lecture tapes on your own; bulletin boards, email, vodcasting and the good old telephone make online education a rich learning environment. 

Most distance programs would also include some opportunities for face-to- face teaching " whether in orientation programs, block sessions or intensive units.  Together with intensive face-to-face blocks, in a well-constructed distance program students can often have a more engaging and stimulating learning experience than those sitting in the classroom.

Where distance programs are most effective though is where there's a productive partnership between church and college. In distance learning this becomes an obvious necessity " students need to be well mentored in their local church, the ministry setting ought to be one where personal spiritual development is encouraged and stimulated, and the college course should connect with local ministry needs and concerns. 

Of course, when we remember that there are no Bible colleges in the Bible, it's obvious that even face-to-face programs need a productive partnership between church and college. 

So the challenges of the distance setting are helpful because they force both college and church to think carefully about exactly what their role in ministry training ought to be. The college simply cannot provide all that the student requires; and the church can't leave the work of formation to the college.  Speaking from the college perspective this isn't always easy to achieve " but it's an important challenge to keep before us. 

Distance ministry training might be a difficult mission, but it need not be impossible if colleges and churches are ready to work together to see workers equipped for the Lord's harvest. 

The Rev Graham Stanton, principal of Youthworks College, has completed a Masters of Education in adult education and e-learning at the University of Technology, Sydney. For more information on Youthworks College's part-time or distance study programs in 2009, visit [url=http://www.college.youthworks.net]http://www.college.youthworks.net[/url] or phone 8268 3367. Interviews will be held from October 13-to-18, 2008.