Global Citizenship Education as a Framework for Lifelong Learning

Ministry in the twenty-first century demands a global model for training effective leaders amid escalating and volatile social, political, financial, and environmental issues. This chapter presents Global Citizenship Education (GCED) as a transformative andragogical framework for lifelong learning for ministry, uniquely positioned to equip faith leaders with the necessary knowledge, skills, and perspective to address global realities. The GCED framework is built on three pillars— cognitive knowledge, socio-emotional development, and behavioral change—each of which fosters core competencies such as critical thinking and empathy. This chapter explores the ongoing debate between the soft (Nussbaum) and critical (Andreotti) approaches to GCED implementation and argues that GCED should become the comprehensive framework for lifelong learning in theological education through revisions to existing content rather than the addition of new courses. The chapter concludes with a discussion of intentional pedagogies, such as creating brave space and the decolonization of theological education, exemplified by institutions like The School of Global Citizenry, which already embraces GCED-based learning experiences in its programs.