Organization contextualization as institution-building: An environmental assessment of an inservice theological seminary in Kenya, East Africa

This study sought to determine the degree to which ICM Seminary, a nontraditional theological seminary in Kenya, had been contextualized within the Kenyan culture. The study demonstrated how academic institutions can benefit from Eaton's Institution Building Model and the consideration of environmental linkages when pursuing renewal. Data were collected from pastors enrolled in the Seminary using the Organization Contextualization Survey (OCS), a questionnaire based upon Eaton's Institution-Building Model and Chamberlain's Academic Institution-Building Model. The OCS assessed five internal organization variables (purpose, program, leadership, structure, and resources), and four external relationship linkages (authority, client, peer, and community). The results of this study indicated that ICM Seminary achieved an 82% level of success in its growth toward organization contextualization. In other words, the exchange of educational services by the Seminary for the resources from the environment necessary to sustain the continued operation of the Seminary was at an 82% level. The areas in need of most improvement by ICM Seminary were resources and external relationships with client and peer groups. The areas of ICM Seminary that showed strongest support were purpose and leadership, and relationships with authority groups.