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How does someone who grew up in a religiously apathetic household and who was not interested in school become the president of a theological seminary? And how does that same person challenge the typical norms of academia by promoting theological education via distance learning and online education? We talk with Dr. Rick Walston, founder and president of Columbia Evangelical Seminary, as he discusses his history and the challenges associated with creating a seminary where students are not physically present on campus. We discuss what type of students are interested in such education as well as how academic accreditation factors into online learning. We also reflect upon the utility of studying theology as it pertains to connecting with everyday folks who sit in the pews on Sunday.

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