Should Seminary Graduates Avoid the Church?
How did that headline grab you? If you're a seminarian, how did you answer? If you're a pastor, did it make you think? If you're neither of these, did you think -- why church?
Before I go on, I need to make a confession. When I started Fuller Seminary in January 1982, I had no intention of becoming a pastor. I'd done my time as a youth minister, didn't care for it, and decided to move on to bigger and better things. I was going to get a Ph.D. in church history and teach!! I even told Cheryl, don't worry, I'm not planning on becoming a pastor. Yes, I'm getting ordained, but don't worry, you're not going to be a pastor's wife.
As a student and as an adjunct professor, I ran into plenty of students who had no intention of becoming a pastor. They were at seminary for any number of reasons, but not to pastor. But the question remains, should a seminarian avoid the church. That is, if you're at seminary, should you avoid at all costs the possibility of serving in a church? Part of the reason why this question gets asked is because churches are institutions, and institutions have minds of their own! If you want to do front line ministry, why the church?
I can't answer that question for everyone. Pastoring churches isn't easy -- especially ones that have been around for awhile -- churches that have strong identities and legacies. And yet, with patience, prayer, and commitment, such places can blossom. My problem earlier in ministry is that I was too impatient.
Is the church for everyone? No, probably not. But, the church has promise, if we will let the Spirit lead us forth. I think people are waiting to be set free to do ministry in new and unique ways -- but we have to listen to each other and to God (and more often than not God speaks through our neighbor)!
This question was brought on by a posting at Duke Divinity School's Call and Response Blog. Curtis Freeman, head of the Baptist House at Duke wrote a response to this question, noting that seminaries themselves often send out mixed signals that suggest that the church might not be a good place to end up. And yet, Freeman suggests that the church can be a good place, and that seminaries need to be the seed bed for the future. Consider:
What do you think?
Before I go on, I need to make a confession. When I started Fuller Seminary in January 1982, I had no intention of becoming a pastor. I'd done my time as a youth minister, didn't care for it, and decided to move on to bigger and better things. I was going to get a Ph.D. in church history and teach!! I even told Cheryl, don't worry, I'm not planning on becoming a pastor. Yes, I'm getting ordained, but don't worry, you're not going to be a pastor's wife.
As a student and as an adjunct professor, I ran into plenty of students who had no intention of becoming a pastor. They were at seminary for any number of reasons, but not to pastor. But the question remains, should a seminarian avoid the church. That is, if you're at seminary, should you avoid at all costs the possibility of serving in a church? Part of the reason why this question gets asked is because churches are institutions, and institutions have minds of their own! If you want to do front line ministry, why the church?
I can't answer that question for everyone. Pastoring churches isn't easy -- especially ones that have been around for awhile -- churches that have strong identities and legacies. And yet, with patience, prayer, and commitment, such places can blossom. My problem earlier in ministry is that I was too impatient.
Is the church for everyone? No, probably not. But, the church has promise, if we will let the Spirit lead us forth. I think people are waiting to be set free to do ministry in new and unique ways -- but we have to listen to each other and to God (and more often than not God speaks through our neighbor)!
This question was brought on by a posting at Duke Divinity School's Call and Response Blog. Curtis Freeman, head of the Baptist House at Duke wrote a response to this question, noting that seminaries themselves often send out mixed signals that suggest that the church might not be a good place to end up. And yet, Freeman suggests that the church can be a good place, and that seminaries need to be the seed bed for the future. Consider:
The well being of the church of the future depends on theological schools that serve as a seed bed for young ministers where the germinating love of the church is intentionally and systemically cultivated. I hope and pray that a lot of folks are committed to tending the ecclesial garden.
What do you think?
Comments
John
I could give you to different answers. One not so spiritual! One is: hey it's always good to have a back up plan! The other had to do with what I believed to be a calling to do ministry through teaching.
Who knew that the back up plan would pay dividends!
My conclusion is that the church exists for the church - to help develop ministers (both vocational and volunteer).
I believed so strongly in this that I left a seminary teaching position in 2003 to help launch a new, 100% online, seminary that requires applicants to be involved in a ministry role (vocational or volunteer) and to be affirmed by the church where they serve, BEFORE they apply to seminary.
I'm glad to see you raise the question. It's an important one.
Sam Simmons, Cofounder
http://www.rockbridgeseminary.org