Why Not Go To Seminary And Be A Pastor?
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Why Not Go To Seminary And Be A Pastor?
Post #1There seem to be a lot of passionate serious Christians here. Why not have the courage of your convictions and go to seminary and then go out into the real trenches of parish ministry?
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Cathar1950
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Post #21
I spent a year in a Graduate seminary and enjoyed the experience. The seminary was largely Neo-Orthodox which seems to be Liberals that discovered sin after the First World War and the sinking of the Titanic, at least that is what I read. But there were many traditions represented and I did differ largely on the meaning of the fall. I wasn't going with any notions of becoming a pastor, it was the history of Christianity and Process Theology that had my interests.
I agree that many pastors are over worked and many are doing beyond their professional qualifications but they make recovering addicts counselors and therapists all the time. One of the churches I enjoyed was the community church where everything was shared in a symbolic way of all being priests. I also enjoy some of the social tendencies in some Evangelistic churches that are admirable.
It seems to me being a pastor would be just the calling of some as early on in church history there were many such as teachers and prophets.
I agree that many pastors are over worked and many are doing beyond their professional qualifications but they make recovering addicts counselors and therapists all the time. One of the churches I enjoyed was the community church where everything was shared in a symbolic way of all being priests. I also enjoy some of the social tendencies in some Evangelistic churches that are admirable.
It seems to me being a pastor would be just the calling of some as early on in church history there were many such as teachers and prophets.
Post #22
Well, if this helps....I've seen clergy on the Christian side and the Jewish side. And the Jewish side ended up with the same issues.
After the "teaching" and the "prpphecy"...is the bulk of the job: the people and the completely untidy nature of their relationship with God.
It is interesting that economics is forcing ministry back to where it was a century ago before careerism kicked in. In rural and small town parishes lay preachers are being licensed through abbreviated training programs...and they become defacto pastors to their people. The Methodists have done this for a long while.
And then. I am wondering if we are reaching the saturation point of gimmick ministry....this and that to appeal to "the young"....weird liturgy...."cool" pastors in Hawaiian shirts....entertainment evangelism...bigger is better mega churches, etc.
After the gimmickry washes away, the question of basic congregational ministry sits there, and isn't really changed. Who will lead in the education of the young? Who will attend at the grave? Who will give voice to the struggle of living in the midst of fear and uncertainty?
After the "teaching" and the "prpphecy"...is the bulk of the job: the people and the completely untidy nature of their relationship with God.
It is interesting that economics is forcing ministry back to where it was a century ago before careerism kicked in. In rural and small town parishes lay preachers are being licensed through abbreviated training programs...and they become defacto pastors to their people. The Methodists have done this for a long while.
And then. I am wondering if we are reaching the saturation point of gimmick ministry....this and that to appeal to "the young"....weird liturgy...."cool" pastors in Hawaiian shirts....entertainment evangelism...bigger is better mega churches, etc.
After the gimmickry washes away, the question of basic congregational ministry sits there, and isn't really changed. Who will lead in the education of the young? Who will attend at the grave? Who will give voice to the struggle of living in the midst of fear and uncertainty?
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Cathar1950
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Post #23
Then again how much of the fear and uncertainty comes with empty promises and vain claims where Christians are struggling just like the other humans and faced with the same problems.Jonah wrote:Well, if this helps....I've seen clergy on the Christian side and the Jewish side. And the Jewish side ended up with the same issues.
After the "teaching" and the "prpphecy"...is the bulk of the job: the people and the completely untidy nature of their relationship with God.
It is interesting that economics is forcing ministry back to where it was a century ago before careerism kicked in. In rural and small town parishes lay preachers are being licensed through abbreviated training programs...and they become defacto pastors to their people. The Methodists have done this for a long while.
And then. I am wondering if we are reaching the saturation point of gimmick ministry....this and that to appeal to "the young"....weird liturgy...."cool" pastors in Hawaiian shirts....entertainment evangelism...bigger is better mega churches, etc.
After the gimmickry washes away, the question of basic congregational ministry sits there, and isn't really changed. Who will lead in the education of the young? Who will attend at the grave? Who will give voice to the struggle of living in the midst of fear and uncertainty?
Another fad will come along and another ministry will pop up with something else for sale. Some will settle down and find some place and others will move on.
Post #24
cathar,
I was really thinking of this topic within the framework of people who were unconflicted about their Christian identity. I hardly think you need this thread to whack away at Christianity. I'm pretty good at whacking it myself.
I was really thinking of this topic within the framework of people who were unconflicted about their Christian identity. I hardly think you need this thread to whack away at Christianity. I'm pretty good at whacking it myself.
