Formation That Travels: Dr. Scott’s Impact on Oblates in Mission

For over three decades, Dr. Scott Woodward, Ph.D. served at Oblate School of Theology, guiding students through rigorous theological formation. Though not a priest or religious, his vocation as a lay educator has shaped generations of Oblate priests and brothers preparing for ministry in communities where the need is great and the resources are few.

“I’m a teacher, not a preacher,” Dr. Scott says. “But when I come across issues that need addressing, we find a way to say something in common so that it makes sense to people wherever they are.”

His approach to teaching is both demanding and pastoral. In graduate classrooms, he expects intellectual rigor—multiple books, scholarly articles, and deep theological reflection. But when working with Oblate Associates or parish groups, he begins with personal insight and gradually invites deeper study.

“You have to balance it for the group you’re talking to,” he explains. “I start with my own reflections and then say, here’s where mine came from. Here’s where I got my ideas.”

Dr. Woodward’s formation work with the Oblates is rooted in a clear vision: theology must serve the whole person. He emphasizes that intellectual formation must be integrated with pastoral, spiritual, and personal growth. His students are not just learning doctrine—they are preparing to carry the Gospel into places where suffering is real and hope is fragile.

“Theological education is a crucial piece,” he says. “Not just for intellectual formation, but for the personal, the spiritual, and the pastoral formation that goes along with it.”

Many of the students he has taught go on to serve in communities marked by poverty, displacement, and spiritual hunger. While Dr. Woodward does not speak of specific locations, his emphasis on formation for mission is clear. He equips his students to reflect deeply, serve humbly, and proclaim the Gospel with clarity and compassion.

“Never stop learning,” he tells them. “And always ask—how does this affect the poor?”

On World Teachers Day, let’s honor Dr. Woodward, not just for what he taught, but for how his teachings continue to shape ministry in the world’s most vulnerable places.

Written by Roger Brooks, MAMI Marketing