Theological Education by Extension is an education system that permits people to study theology without leaving their homes and communities. By staying in their own communities full time ministers can further their education without leaving the church they serve. TEE also enables students to keep commitments to their families and communities.
Through TEE students are able to immediately apply the lessons learned in the context of their local rural and often poor environment. By learning in their own environment the student has an immediate tie between what he/she is learning and real life ministry.
What is TEE in Bangladesh?
CCTB’s TEE is one of the longest standing and best methods for theological training and growth in Bangladesh. TEE stands for Theological Education by Extension. TEE is CCTB’s main program, averaging around 500 or more participants per year. TEE programs work so effectively in Bangladesh because the students can study within their own web of relationships. Rather than traveling for a theological education, they can study within their contexts of family, work, church, and ministry.
The TEE method revolves around three components
- Using the subject guidebooks, students study at home to learn God’s word better.
- Each week the TEE group meets for discussion to learn from, pray for, and to encourage each other. The groups are made up of people living near enough to each other for weekly meetings.
- The students apply their individual learning as a result of their group discussions about application.
The power of TEE in Bangladesh
Everyday throughout Bangladesh there is a TEE group meeting. Over the last 40 years, over 4000 students have taken TEE courses. Over 200 new students are enrolling every year.
- TEE promotes the student’s ability to stay in their community. This is vital in a country where resources are always slim and moving to an on-campus study situation is often impossible.
- TEE provides guided, ongoing education for persons already engaged in ministry. With the TEE method students do not have to leave ministries they are engaged in to get more training and biblical understanding.
- TEE is exceptionally cost effective. No campus is necessary for maintaining a TEE group. Each group takes care of its own needs and meets in its own environment. Groups are facilitated by volunteer tutors all over Bangladesh.
In 1986 even though he was a successful pastor of the largest Baptist church in Bangladesh, Dr. Sircar realized, “We were planting many churches but we were not training the people—we had quantity but not quality.” As a result, he left pastoral work to take up the role as first national Principal of CCTB. He served in that position for 22 years and encouraged the TEE method. “TEE is excellent for Bangladesh because the theological education goes to where you are you do not have to go to it. You learn better if you study in your own environment.”
What makes TEE work in Bangladesh?
The Key to TEE is the TEE Tutors.The CCTB tutors form a network across Bangladesh promoting the CCTB TEE program and training leaders for the churches in Bangladesh.
Men and women like Emily Biswas and Sunil Pandey form the backbone of the TEE programs. Emily Hembrom completed the TEE program and her MA from CCTB. She is coordinator of TEE and women’s’ leader for the Bangladesh Evangelical Lutheran Church. Sunil Chakma is a convert from Buddhism and a CCTB MA graduate. He has planted several churches among the Chakma people in remote areas of the Bangladesh Hill tracts. He uses TEE to train pastors for these impoverished churches. He is also working toward developing income generating projects that will support these churches.
On-campus TEE seminars
Each year at CCTB two or three on-campus Continuing Education Seminars are specifically designed and given for the TEE tutors. The equipping that tutors receive encourages them and empowers them to be more effective as tutors. Seminars usually host about 40 tutors and topics range from HIV/AIDS and the church, politics and the church, business and the church, and worship symposiums. Tutors are not only equipped by the content of the seminars but are encouraged by each other as they pray, worship, chat over tea, and learn together.
Area Dean
This year CCTB will pilot a new concept for TEE called “Area Dean.” The Area Dean will be assigned a geographical area of Bangladesh in which they will monitor and facilitate CCTB’s TEE programs. Within this area the Area Dean will establish close communication with Churches, TEE groups, students and potential students and tutors. The goal of the area dean will be to identify methods of improving the TEE program and its implementation and quality.
