Why Not Go To Seminary And Be A Pastor?

Jonah · Post by **Jonah** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 7:48 am

There 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?

Cathar1950 · Post by **Cathar1950** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 2:56 pm

Some seminaries have higher standards then others.
But just about anyone in this country can become a minister or such without going to seminary.
Many of our seminaries are made up of people that went to seminaries and endured the classes but end up preaching what they believed when they were 5 but have more words.
In the US anyone with a few over used metaphors and outdated information and apologies thinks they have an inside to God Himself and even think they know what GOD THINKS AND FEELS.

Jonah · Post by **Jonah** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 3:29 pm

I don't get Mr. McCulloch Moderator.

But why wouldn't the "hard" in parish ministry be the debate? Maybe people are called to do what is hard because it is hard.

I don't get, also, how a sense of humor about the Kafkaesque experiences of ministry can perhaps be the adventure that attracts rather than the horror that repells....OR....both. Oh, crap. I have either not debated or debated myself.

Hey Orthodox. If not a priest, then a deacon...or subdeacon...a tonsured reader? Huh? You don't have to go from 0 to 60 in the Orthodox Church. Why not?

Post by **otseng** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 3:35 pm

Jonah wrote: I love the unintended pun: Perish Ministry!

That's what happens after you graduate from Ceminary.

Jonah · Post by **Jonah** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 3:37 pm

cathar,

Use whatever prep school you want...do a correspondence course out of the back of a magazine called "International Triumphant Eternal Hallelujah Seminary Inc." I don't care.

You are centering in on an idea that parish ministry is just about words and beliefs and doctrines...but, it's also about people and their lives. Actual real people....not as easy as a sermon.

My best friend from seminary has become his towns go-to pastor for the local undertakers who get folks with no pastor. He gets the bizzaro cases. He say, "I'm the guy they call when they have a decapitation". Takes a certain talent to do a funeral for a decapitation.

orthodox · Post by **orthodox** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 4:03 pm

Yes its true there are lower ranks...

I'm not sure why... perhaps I have doubt or perhaps I don't want the responsibility.

But where I go there already have a reader and its too small for a decon etc so i think its more of a "its covered" excuse which doens't sound that great lol

Jonah · Post by **Jonah** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 6:09 pm

osteng,

Or Cemetery.

Orthodox,

My wife & I were in the catechumenate for awhile in an OCA congregation. It was a mission, having a hard time. Got to know the priest and mutushka pretty well. Young family...same burdens as any young clergy family in any denomination. In fact matushka is the daughter of a big theologion in my old denomination...so she understood our background because she lived it as a kid.

One of the challenges of ministry is that your people are so widely different. Official theology is a prescription. But, what you preach/teach/show is one thing...what folks hear, understand, and see is often another thing altogether. And people are at vastly different levels of understanding or interest or insight...and one has to have patience with that...and that is really really hard. We were at an Orthodox retreat and the priest was doing an Advent presentation, which of course starts off with John the Baptist. At the Q & A, a pillar of the congregation...on the church council...a founding member of the congregation, asks the priest, "Is there a reason why Jesus was not baptized as an infant?"

elle · Post by **elle** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 6:26 pm

Jonah wrote:There 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?

I have confused people in the past, so I would like to make it clear that I am responding to this post as a former passionate Christian.

I do not think it is necessary to go to seminary and become a "parish minister" to express passion nor conviction as a Christian. In the church I was brought up in, we had some that led the congregation (called coordinators, assistant coordinators, reverends, etc.) and some that were members. This was so that administrative matters could be attended to and organization could be maintained. The "party line" if you will was that everything needed to be kept "decent and in order." Having leadership roles made that possible.

Each member though was encouraged to participate in "service" in some way. Many members presented sharings or "teachings" throughout the month about different subjects in the Bible with the intent of encouraging the rest of the group. Other members provided opportunities for the church to socialize and "fellowship" together by bringing refreshments for after service, hosting "fellowships" in their home (this was a home based ministry, not one with church buildings), leading Bible studies or religious discussion groups, etc. Others prayed for and ministered to members of the church who were sick or otherwise in need of help. Still others went out in the community at designated times (though members were encouraged to do this in their daily lives) and spoke/ministered to those who professed an interest in learning more about Christianity. I could go on but I think my point has been made. Not each member only did one of these things, but (ideally) each person contributed in whatever way they felt they could best serve.

Much in the same way that some people feel called to become doctors, chefs, or musicians because of their interests, talents, and personalities, I think some people are "called" to become ministers or other leaders for their particular religion. Not everyone in the church has to be an ordained or seminary educated minister to be a serious Christian that studies the Bible, has a passion for God, and who expresses that love by service to those in and outside of the church. I think it is clearly impractical to expect every "serious" Christian to try to attend seminary school.

Jonah · Post by **Jonah** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 7:46 pm

I don't think it's necessary either. On the other hand, I think it's "interesting" that parish ministry is the LAST thing so many Christians who have very strong feelings about Christianity want to do.

Very interesting.

elle · Post by **elle** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 8:01 pm

Jonah wrote:I don't think it's necessary either. On the other hand, I think it's "interesting" that parish ministry is the LAST thing so many Christians who have very strong feelings about Christianity want to do.

Very interesting.

How do you know that "parish ministry" (I'm not even sure what that particular phrase is supposed to imply) is the last thing that many Christians want to do? Are you basing this on a study of some sort? Or is this an unsubstantiated idea based on your personal experience/opinions/bias?

Again, I don't see what is so interesting about it, if it is indeed true. Some people feel called to serve as ministers and others feel called to serve in other ways. I am not sure what it is you're driving at, so please feel free to explain it to me.

Jonah · Post by **Jonah** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 11:43 pm

I didn't sense anything esoteric here. Obviously, a person who has been a parish pastor such as myself finds this topic interesting. If you are not interested, you're not interested.

My own experience as well as my friends in ministry is that it is very hard to find a parent who would encourage their child to consider ministry.

Very interesting.

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Why Not Go To Seminary And Be A Pastor?

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