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About

Education Beyond the Walls (EBW) began in 2011 as a new dimension of Austin Seminary to expand theological education. Our name was chosen to signal something more than traditional continuing education for pastors which tended toward the transfer of information from an expert or scholar to a practitioner. We envisioned an array of options for learning—in style, structure, focus, pedagogy, and level of commitment—and of people with whom to learn—pastors, ministers, leaders, educators, seekers and congregations. We continue to live into this vision. 

Education Beyond the Walls creates real-time responses to learning needs among clergy and churches, drawing from the Seminary faculty and others with wisdom and knowledge. We host signature learning cohorts from pastors doing public theology to Latinas growing in Christian leadership to self-designed groups for clergy renewal. We also develop congregational initiatives to support churches dealing with the changing landscape of ministry. 

Meet the Team

Melissa Wiginton

Vice President for Education Beyond the Walls, Research Professor in Methodist Studies

Rev. Phil Dieke

Director of Congregational Innovation, Education Beyond the Walls

Jade Evans

Assistant Director of Congregational Innovation

Mikala McFerren

Program Coordinator, Education Beyond the Walls

Mónica Tornoé

Director of Latino/a Programs, Education Beyond the Walls