Missional Seminary?

In my American Culture class we were given the prompt to explore an aspect of American culture which is based in an unquestioned assumption. We've talked a lot about how the way we are brought up, specifically in the United States, shapes the way we see the world. The goal of the paper I'm writing, then, is to not only explore the assumption, but also come up with ideas of how the Church can think critically and live in a way which counters the assumption. (For example, one assumption may be that the more toys we have the happier our lives are... to which the Church could preach and live a counter-message).

I've decided to tackle the task of questioning the assumption that "the way we do seminary is the best way to do it". I plan on looking into the effects that the academy has had on theological education and that modernity has had on the way which we operate. Are grades effective? Should we be competing with classmates for the highest grade? Is the regurgitation of facts the best possible way to train for vocational ministry? There has been recent conversation about the need for transformation in theological education. www.allelon.org has some great resources which explore this idea further.

Any ideas? How can a seminary have a more missional approach to educating and training pastors while maintaining its academic integrity? Is a more integrative approach with local churches even possible? How can the Church itself encourage such a change? What would local congregations need to do to contribute to such a transition in pastoral training?