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‘In many Christian traditions now, there are often more job openings or calls available than there are candidates to fill those calls,’ theology school leader says
America’s clergy shortage could be further exacerbated by a proposal from the U.S. Department of Education to cut funding for low-earning degree programs, several Christian higher education organizations recently warned.
The proposal in question is a federal rule that, if approved, would cut off taxpayer-funded student loans to consistently low-earning undergraduate and graduate school degree programs.
The goal is “to rein in unsustainable student loan borrowing, better align postsecondary education with workforce needs, and bring uniform accountability across the higher education system,” according to an April 17 news release from the Education Department.
However, leaders with the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, Association of Theological Schools, and Association for Biblical Higher Education told Christianity Today that the rule could have unforeseen consequences for students who want to go into ministry roles.
Together, the three groups represent more than 600 schools.
“It’s an existential threat to the future of religious higher education in the U.S. —I don’t think that’s an overstatement,” Philip Dearborn, leader of the Association for Biblical Higher Education, told the magazine. “It came out of left field.”
The new rule portends a problem in particular for seminaries, theological schools, and Bible colleges at a time when clergy are aging and sometimes in short supply.
By the government’s own estimate, 53 percent of bachelor’s degrees for religion and religious studies would be considered “failing” under this new metric. Those programs, which would not qualify for federal loans, are projected to have the highest failure rate of any undergraduate program.
For master’s degrees, the outlook is especially bleak: The government estimates that 89 percent of religion or religious studies degrees would be considered failing.
The department’s rule would compare the earnings of a “typical graduate of an undergraduate program” to those of high school graduates of the same age using IRS and U.S. Census data, according to the education department.
It would do the same for those with graduate school degrees in comparison to those with undergraduate degrees.
If the higher level degrees do not result in higher earnings over an extended period of time, “the program will no longer be eligible for federal student loans,” according to the department.
Association of Theological Schools leader Frank Yamada said the rule could drive more students away from the ministry due to a lack of financial aid, according to Christianity Today.
“If folks want to get their degrees in these areas, but they’re not eligible for financial aid, it’s going to significantly impact the religious workforce,” Yamada said. “In many Christian traditions now, there are often more job openings or calls available than there are candidates to fill those calls.”
An Education Department spokesperson told Fox News that officials will be considering public comments on the proposal before making a final decision.
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