Comments on: Thoughts on Pastoral Preparation

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 21:36:06 +0000

I am looking was looking into attending a seminary. So I of course looked into the leadership here at Livechurch.tv. I was just hoping to get some recommendations for a good online program (I am currently serving in the military), and Unitarian Universalism. The reason I am asking about the latter is that Phillips Theological Seminary seems to be associated with Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations.

I would also say that I appreciate Livechurch and how God is ministering through this program.

Thank you for your time.

Mike

By: amber

amber — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 05:48:12 +0000

I agree. I’m called to pastor, yet I feel that seminary is okay, but the spirit of God calling and me moving is what will prove me to the people I serve.

By: Luke

Luke — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 23:51:39 +0000

Loved the post! I am currently a year out of finishing my undergraduate at a Christian University, with intentions on going further in my education in seminary. I always wished that there was program in place at a church to get solid biblical training, for the ministry I was about dive into. I am an intern at a recent church plant, where I feel I am not being utilized, or even wanted at times, and it becomes very frustrating, because I am ready and willing to be used in every way that God wants to use me here. I want to learn and experience everything I can so that I can communicate to change lives, and minister to people in the most effective manner.

By: Josh Carter

Josh Carter — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:02:36 +0000

I’ve only been out of college for 3 yeas and I totally wish I would have had that one-on-one opportunity with other youth pastors that have been recently in the game! Everyday I think about the things I learned from Bible College and A LOT of it really did not prepare me for everyday ministry… it seemed a little to “easy” when I was at school.
I understand that the professors obviously could not prepare me for everything but at least give me some of the negatives that may take place along with all of the positives. Don’t get me wrong my college experience was awesome, it just seemed to have this falsehood about some of the courses!? I have been thinking about what it would look like for me to go back into that setting as a Prof. and really talk to these young/inexperienced students about church life in youth ministry. Just my thoughts!
P.S. I attended North Central University
(GREAT SCHOOL!!!)

By: Alan Cassady

Alan Cassady — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:13:55 +0000

While I agree that some aspects of seminary were more helpful that others. I have found myself wishing I could go back and re-take some classes.
It would be nice if some of the comments would list the “irrelevant” stuff they are learning. Then go into ministry and see if the list is still true. It smacks of the teenager who says, Why do I need algebra I will never use it, only to be denied a job because they can’t do advanced math.
I think much of what seminary does is to prepare you for things that you can not possible imagine. If you never learn how to think theologically how will you ever learn to evaluate books, curriculum, or even your own sermons. I have heard so pretty shallow, consumer-driven pop-psychology talks that masqueraded as sermons in churches that dismiss theological training.
I am very glad for my seminary training and I wish some of those on my staff had more formal theological training.

By: Matt Gooch

Matt Gooch — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:42:02 +0000

I totally agree! Going through the last stages of seminary now while serving in a local church, and talking to guys who have just finished, we are all stunned by how much irrelevent material we are being taught, and how little real preparation we are getting for ministry. This isn’t to downplay Seminary in the slightest, as I beleive both classroom and real-world preparation are necessary for a minister, but we definetely need the real world element. The ministry I work for calls these sorts of activities “Hand-Off” activities. We give youth with leadership talent the opportunity to learn leadership skills and put them to practice with our “Hand-Off” projects. I think these youth will be miles ahead of classroom-only trained students as they assume leadership in the near future.

By: Jamie Centeno

Jamie Centeno — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:18:17 +0000

I am a church planter in North Philadelphia. Going on my 3rd year as a Pastor. I was never the classroom type. I won’t knock the academic approach to going into ministry but from my observations I have found that there many aspects of the ministry that cannot be dissected in the classroom. Two major aspects that make or break the ministry leader is…

-How to handle and resolve conflict.
-Personal accountability.

When it comes to dealing with hard core problems. The uniqueness of individuals, culture and situations are so various this would be an ever changing curriculum and techniques. Of course it will be biblically based just individually appropriate. Conflict resolution needs to be taught at the ground level of ministry that way the heart of the leader is understood when distributing discipline and/or counsel.

How about personal accountability for the Pastor? The importance of this can be taught in the classroom but when it’s game time the fundamentals are usually discarded as we default survival mode. The intangible virtues of a great leader are better caught then taught. I was fortunate to be entrusted with ministry within the greater church. My stewardship of ministry was held accountable as I was. This approach revealed qualities about me that either gained recognition or further spiritual tweaking. All that to say I am for information but within the context of situations that set us up for impartation.

I’m reading some great thoughts of others here that I really appreciate. I hope I add value to the conversation.

By: Ralph

Ralph — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 16:04:46 +0000

As an intern, I learned more working on the job for 90 days than I did in the 4, ok 5 years in college.

OJT is always a good idea!

By: guy m williams

guy m williams — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 18:45:01 +0000

the upside of resources at the seminary (specialized training, top-rate scholarship, hopefully a healthy stable of or network with top practitioners, etc) is a high-value good, but more and more I agree with your take — creating an intentional apprentice approach to run alongside seminary-level instruction and purposeful growth would be optimum.

By: Kyle

Kyle — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 05:02:46 +0000

I absolutely love what your saying here. I’m in my fourth year of college studying youth ministry, and I feel like the majority of my education comes from serving in the local church. What happens in the classroom has no value unless I’m out in the world ministering to people alongside my local church. I’m blessed to get to work with amazing leaders at my campus who pour into me and allow me to have tons of hands-on experience in ministry. Between what I do at my school and my church, I feel like God is preparing me for ministry. I wouldn’t have it any other way!

By: Tom E. Snyder

Tom E. Snyder — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 02:48:58 +0000

For those of you who got ministry positions that required the MDiv: did they inquire about what you learned or was the degree simply a proxy?

By: Mike Vogel

Mike Vogel — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 02:46:43 +0000

Awesome!!! thats all I can say to that… My heart is with you there

By: Charlie Wallace

Charlie Wallace — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 02:37:49 +0000

I’d love to see innovation in the seminaries. Theological education is a must. So is admin education.

By: Andrew Edwards

Andrew Edwards — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 01:38:07 +0000

Craig this is totally what I am all about! I mentioned in an earlier comment that I struggled to do my study by distance so i could stay in ministry at my local church. The problem for me now is that I cant get a FT min job simply because I did it that way! 10 yrs of ministy expereince in youth and worship seems to go nowhere here in Australia… I have a passion to serve God, have expereince and study to support it yet am struggling to find a church home where I can serve.

I am totally for training where you are at… i think churches need to shift their thinking to allow people to have a more practical education under great biblical leaders. My fear is that too many churches are holding to tightly to the ‘past’ and are losing great young ministers becasue of it…

I’d appreciate prayer for me and my family as we seek God for a local church home… Cheers!

By: Robin Richards

Robin Richards — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 01:08:11 +0000

As a new Student via online learning through Asbury Sseminary this fall, (in just a few more weeks); I was pleasently surprised when I received an email for the introduction material on Asbury’s Christian Formation Program. It is based around there 6 core values, and addresses many of the issues raised in the post and replies. You are set up with a falculty or staff guide who you will report to and share a portfolio of your growth, accountability, and the different opportunites and different cultural and spiritual situations that have co-insided with your academic learning. I don’t know if other seminaries do this, or if it’s a standard practice, but I was impressed with the standards and scales they use in implimenting your progress and seeing how your academics and real life encounters co-exist and either work together or against one another, as well as your spiritual growth.

By: Levi Figueira

Levi Figueira — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 23:49:19 +0000

I wonder if you have ever seen BILD’s paradigm papers and materials! They focus on “Church-based Theological Education” and they’ve been doing it for years and gaining immense traction in developing countries, where the need for trained leaders far surpasses the current personnel and time availability.

Take a look: http://bild.org/philosophy/ParadigmPapers.htm

Hope you find that useful. :)

By: Jeff Zimm

Jeff Zimm — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 20:32:56 +0000

Love these thoughts Craig! I’m currently enrolled in a Seminary in the town I currently minister and there is great innovation that needs to take place along these lines. However, my undergrad experience was amazing. I was a Contemporary Christian Ministries major at Fresno Pacific University and the entire program balanced the need for absorbing great knowledge, but also working within the local church and putting to practice and testing what you were learning. There were also class sessions we had on performing weddings, funerals, marriage counseling etc… You may want to check it out.

By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 20:24:12 +0000

As someone who worked full time at a church while going to seminary, I am a believer in seminary and church work being an important both/and. I am a better minister because I received seminary training, and I was a better student because I had a place to apply what I was learning. There are things I learned in seminary that my church could not have taught me, and there are things I learned “in the trenches” that could not be replicated in the classroom.

By: Scott Kingsolver

Scott Kingsolver — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:57:37 +0000

I couldn’t agree more Craig. I was recently admitted to a semianry in Kentucky, but with my current salary from my church cannot afford to pay out of pocket and did not believe more debt was how God would have me move forward. I am happy to see churches with more resources willing to invite young people in to train them up. Some great examples have been given already and I’ll add another. Mars Hill opened up their one year Master’s course program this year.http://theresurgence.com/retrain

I hope to be able to take part of some training that not only prepares me for the practical side of ministry but gives me more knowledge on how to faithfully, exegetically proclaim the Word. I love being able to get ministry experience as a 24 year old, but find it hard for churches to trust me to take on more responsibility without formal training, so I hope God blesses me with an opportunity sooner than later! :)

By: Shawn Behan

Shawn Behan — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:20:11 +0000

As a recent seminary grad myself, I was greatful for the stuff I got from seminary but still feel that I am woefully unprepaired for ministry. It seems that the only position we were educated in was teaching and there is so much more to ministry. I would love to see churches partner more with seminaries to give students practical experience and start to expand the other areas of ministry that seminary does not train us in.