The Wall Street Journal has an interview up with Villanova University’s Charles Zech, a professor of economics, about their new Master’s Degree in Church Management degree.

How will Villanova’s church management degree be different from what other universities have started offering?

Some schools combine standard business classes with courses from theology and other departments. But if you’re taking a regular M.B.A. finance class, you’re learning about Wall Street and other things that aren’t really relevant…the law course will deal with civil law relative to church law so students understand the possible conflicts…And the human-resource management class will include discussion of volunteers, a big part of the labor force for parishes.

Have you encountered any resistance from church officials?
Yes, some people say a church is not a business. But I point out that we still have to be good stewards of our resources—our financial and human capital—to carry out God’s work on Earth. When you use management terms with bishops, they often get turned off. But when you use the word stewardship, it has more impact because it’s in the Bible. Jesus talked about the importance of our being good stewards who take care of our talents and other gifts.

Does this make any wary? Think this will lead to better accountability or (dare I say) better business practices within churches? Any other thoughts? I have a definite knee-jerk against any kind of church as business thinking, but there does seem to be some sense to it.