Theology students drop by a 3rd in Germany

Figures from Germany suggest a steep decline within the number of scholars opting to review theology.

Data from the Federal Statistical Office showed that within the 2023/24 winter term there have been 7,900 students enrolled on Protestant theology courses, with a further 5,400 signed up to review Catholic theology, Evangelical Focus reports.

The Protestant figures are down by roughly 35 per cent, while Catholic numbers declined similarly by 30 per cent. The last time the figures rose was in 2018.

The data suggests that the number of individuals actually graduating from such courses can be in significant decline. From 2018 to 2023 the variety of graduates from Protestant theology courses fell from 400 to 262, while the Catholic numbers dropped from 271 to 171.

The researchers behind the information note that the decline is bad for the health of the churches. New churches can’t be planted without recent church leaders and even existing churches struggle to seek out recent leadership when an aging pastor moves on.

The decline in theology students is on no account confined to Germany. It was reported this week that one among Britain’s best known theology schools, Spurgeon’s College, is closing its doors with immediate effect after 169 years. The college was founded by the noted preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon, referred to as the “Prince of Preachers”.

A press release by the Board of Trustees said, “Like many higher education institutions—particularly inside the Theology sector—Spurgeon’s College has faced significant financial challenges for several years, driven by declining student numbers and an increasingly complex and difficult financial landscape.”

The picture within the US appears to be more mixed, with the Association of Theological Schools reporting a 3.2 per cent decline in attendance at Evangelical seminaries, but an increase of two.6 per cent at schools connected with the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches.