BMA Seminary Releases Grant Research Findings

By PHILIP ATTEBERY
BMATS President

​The Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary exists in part to meet the educational needs of churches and agencies affiliated with the BMA of America while serving as a resource center for critical thought and research. In 2025, BMA Seminary conducted an extensive research project among congregational leaders from BMA churches. The study’s goal was to gather and evaluate the thoughts of current church leaders regarding needs, skills and challenges they anticipate will be essential for future congregational leaders.
 
BMA Seminary sponsored or co-sponsored sessions held in conjunction with four BMA events held in Arkansas, Mississippi and Texas. Such sponsorship provided researchers with access to congregational leaders. Participants included 115 leaders ranging from laypersons to full-time pastors representing more than 50 BMA churches. Although these included mostly adults, researchers accepted the BMA Coordinating Council’s recommendation that youth or student leaders be invited to contribute as well.
 
Participants provided written answers to research questions regarding what they anticipated being needs, skills and challenges for future leaders. Most also had opportunity to discuss their answers during conversations facilitated by the researchers who later reviewed their feedback and looked for repeated themes that could be identified as findings.
 
The findings indicated that current leaders believe future congregational leaders need to know “how to” perform skills related to Bible study, counseling, interaction with culture, evangelism and discipleship, knowledge of doctrine, leadership, managing their personal and ministerial lives well in an environment of declining financial resources, communicating biblical truths (i.e., sermons), ministry within an intergenerational context and using technology. Participants identified the same areas as challenges to future congregational leaders with one addition: the challenge of how to increase church attendance and participation in ministry.

Dr. Philip Attebery addresses grant research participants

Researchers further analyzed participants’ input by comparing responses collected from adults with those of youth or those adults working with youth. Three differences appeared. First, adults recognized the need for skills in how to develop and maintain websites and social media, while those working with youth pointed toward concerns regarding how to use Artificial Intelligence. Perhaps due to their extensive experience with technology, students did not mention it at all. Second, those working with youth identified the need to enhance church safety while others did not. Third, all ages addressed speaking as a necessary skill. Adults identified the need for skills in sound biblical preaching while youth expressed the need to learn about public speaking in general.
 
These findings create several implications for BMA ministries, churches and future pastors. Fortunately, BMA Seminary has long sought to teach students “how to” do many of the things revealed by the research (counseling, discipleship, evangelism, preaching, etc.). However, several areas remain in need of extra attention from the school, including focus upon preparing students for bi-vocational careers and intergenerational ministry. Lifeword can certainly enhance leaders’ use of technology. BMA Financial can help address leaders’ financial concerns. Baptist Publishing House can help teach leaders how to study their Bibles and develop sound doctrine. Moral Action can help leaders deal with cultural matters.
 
What implications do the findings generate for local congregations? Pastors typically learn the skills needed for future ministry through formal religious education. Churches should encourage potential leaders to receive such training. Church members should also prepare themselves to minister intergenerationally. They should support and encourage potential leaders to receive ministry training that addresses the various findings discovered in this research.
 
What implications exist for those preparing to lead congregations in the future? First, they might prayerfully consider obtaining credentials for bi-vocational ministry (both inside and outside of church). While colleges and trade schools can equip individuals for work outside the church, remember that BMA colleges and Seminary can help, especially for ministry within church. Second, they should stay abreast of characteristics found in the multiple generations to which they will minister.
 
BMA Seminary received grant funding from the Association of Theological Schools’ Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative to support and conduct the research.

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