Died. Ted W. Ward, 85, professor of education and missions, ministry consultant, and noted seminar leader, on January 9, 2016, of complications with diabetes and renal failure. In 1956, Ward was appointed professor of education and curriculum research at Michigan State University, where he taught for thirty years. He focused on educational development and had a passion for developing teaching resources for non-formal education.
In 1985, during his final year at Michigan State, Ward began teaching part time at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Illinois. Soon he was appointed professor of Christian education and mission, and later dean of international studies, mission, and education.
A native of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, he retired in 1994, but continued an active teaching role until 1999, serving as consultant to the Ph.D. programs in educational studies and intercultural studies. Many considered Ward to be one of the fathers of Theological Education by Extension in the 1960s, and was one of the foremost authorities on non-formal theological education. He gave significant leadership to dozens of national governments of developing nations in the 1970s and 1980s regarding effective and nontraditional (non-schooling) approaches to educating children and designing national leadership development programs.
Active on many ministry boards and a consultant to evangelical organizations, Ward influenced a generation of educational leaders to serve around the world. He was a frequent and popular seminar leader at OMSC.
