By Mike Glenn We haven’t changed the way we train our pastors in over 100 years. If someone feels the call to serve a local church, they go to college for four years and continue to seminary for another three. Various seminaries and Bible colleges have tried to address this issue by offering modified programs such as certificates and revised Master of Arts degrees. These degrees are still seen as inferior to the classic Master of Divinity degree. Most churches want their pastors to have at least an M. Div. degree or an equivalent if not a doctorate degree.
This is a great post. What I think I hear you suggesting is still keeping academic rigor while infusing it with a lot more practical ministry and experience. As a pastor of 25+ years I resonate with that. I have two masters degrees and a ThD and frankly, 70% of my day to day activities are not aided by those degrees at all - it has to do with experience I’ve developed over time in the various positions I’ve held. The other 30% is essential, but still a minority of what I do. Not sure what that says about me or the office of pastor, but it is my experience.
Good thoughts. Essentially, apprentice programs need to be instituted. The other issue is determining what is best for learning how to make disciples, and learning that skill. If we are all about "leadership" in the CEO model, or all about being effective "communicators", rather than how to be a pastor, then it needs to be seen if that is the best method of discipleship in given contexts. As you mentioned, the world is changing, and we can adapt such training as an "art", but if the "art" is ineffective and/or outdated, then such apprentice programs will not be very helpful.
However, if the ‘art’ being practiced is toxic or within a toxic system, abusers are permitted to flourish. Example: “And now with the help of mentoring Pastor Bob Russell, Pastor Emeritus of one of the largest churches in the country, Garcia is starting to minister again.”
And “A phrase we heard a lot was ‘he comes from good stock’. ”
This is a great post. What I think I hear you suggesting is still keeping academic rigor while infusing it with a lot more practical ministry and experience. As a pastor of 25+ years I resonate with that. I have two masters degrees and a ThD and frankly, 70% of my day to day activities are not aided by those degrees at all - it has to do with experience I’ve developed over time in the various positions I’ve held. The other 30% is essential, but still a minority of what I do. Not sure what that says about me or the office of pastor, but it is my experience.
Good thoughts. Essentially, apprentice programs need to be instituted. The other issue is determining what is best for learning how to make disciples, and learning that skill. If we are all about "leadership" in the CEO model, or all about being effective "communicators", rather than how to be a pastor, then it needs to be seen if that is the best method of discipleship in given contexts. As you mentioned, the world is changing, and we can adapt such training as an "art", but if the "art" is ineffective and/or outdated, then such apprentice programs will not be very helpful.
Good article. With the times changing pastors need to get a handle on it and lean in and listen to learn.
However, if the ‘art’ being practiced is toxic or within a toxic system, abusers are permitted to flourish. Example: “And now with the help of mentoring Pastor Bob Russell, Pastor Emeritus of one of the largest churches in the country, Garcia is starting to minister again.”
And “A phrase we heard a lot was ‘he comes from good stock’. ”
From: https://julieroys.com/podcast/my-pastor-called-it-an-emotional-affair-but-it-was-abuse/