Formation Experiences of First-Year Students at a Progressive Christian Seminary: A Longitudinal Qualitative Study

This study explored the question, “How are seminary students’ formation experiences shaped over their first year in seminary?” Research questions and goals were formulated through a collaborative practical theology approach with seminary leaders. First-year seminary students (n = 35) from a northeastern U.S. progressive Protestant seminary completed qualitative surveys across three time points during their first year of study. The qualitative questions asked about students’ conceptualizations of God, what influenced their formation, and what effects resulted from those formative experiences. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Three themes emerged revealing formation factors internal and external to the seminary. These formation factors resulted in multifaceted formation effects on the students which also likely reflect the multifaceted formation goals needed at a pluralistic seminary. Inviting student self-reports allowed us to focus on what actually influences student formation and how those influential experiences translate into beliefs and practices.