Comments on: Who Should Train Pastors??? Seminary in the Role of The Body http://www.lionelwoods.net/2010/02/who-should-train-pastors-seminary-in-the-role-of-the-body/ the weblog of Lionel Woods Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:12:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Jason http://www.lionelwoods.net/2010/02/who-should-train-pastors-seminary-in-the-role-of-the-body/comment-page-1/#comment-949 Jason Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:34:55 +0000 http://www.lionelwoods.net/?p=268#comment-949 churches should train. there's no reason why they couldn't. it would help if they had someone theologically trained to guide the process along, but I don't think it's necessary. Like Lionel said, there are plenty of sources online, and if they don't have the internet, there's this thing called a library. the role the seminary currently creates a cyclical process of men graduating with vocational ministry as their only option. until we have more men supporting themselves, and acting on this model of ministry (meaning non-vocational/churches equipping themselves) that we're proposing here, this ideal can't be realized. churches should train. there’s no reason why they couldn’t. it would help if they had someone theologically trained to guide the process along, but I don’t think it’s necessary. Like Lionel said, there are plenty of sources online, and if they don’t have the internet, there’s this thing called a library. the role the seminary currently creates a cyclical process of men graduating with vocational ministry as their only option. until we have more men supporting themselves, and acting on this model of ministry (meaning non-vocational/churches equipping themselves) that we’re proposing here, this ideal can’t be realized.

]]> By: The Assembling of the Church | Even More on Seminaries http://www.lionelwoods.net/2010/02/who-should-train-pastors-seminary-in-the-role-of-the-body/comment-page-1/#comment-948 The Assembling of the Church | Even More on Seminaries Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:16:20 +0000 http://www.lionelwoods.net/?p=268#comment-948 [...] Who Should Train Pastors??? Seminary in the Role of The Body by Lionel [...] [...] Who Should Train Pastors??? Seminary in the Role of The Body by Lionel [...]

]]> By: Lionel Woods http://www.lionelwoods.net/2010/02/who-should-train-pastors-seminary-in-the-role-of-the-body/comment-page-1/#comment-935 Lionel Woods Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:41:12 +0000 http://www.lionelwoods.net/?p=268#comment-935 I can't imagine that Aussie John, but it is as normal as a person with a pair of shoes 8) and it is to the detriment of the body I believe. I can’t imagine that Aussie John, but it is as normal as a person with a pair of shoes 8) and it is to the detriment of the body I believe.

]]> By: Lionel Woods http://www.lionelwoods.net/2010/02/who-should-train-pastors-seminary-in-the-role-of-the-body/comment-page-1/#comment-934 Lionel Woods Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:14:15 +0000 http://www.lionelwoods.net/?p=268#comment-934 Brian, they have to have the internet and that is all that is needed. Fuller, Trinity RTS and Covenant all offer online degrees with a few weeks on campus. However, with the internet and talking with others, I can buy all the resources that you have in seminary and learn with myself and others (which I have been doing over the last few years). I do find myself struggling with Greek and that is my own fault. I start and stop and start and stop. But as it relates to my seminary brothers. I have read what they have read or am reading what they are reading or I will be if they put it on a blog and I find it interesting 8) Brian, they have to have the internet and that is all that is needed. Fuller, Trinity RTS and Covenant all offer online degrees with a few weeks on campus. However, with the internet and talking with others, I can buy all the resources that you have in seminary and learn with myself and others (which I have been doing over the last few years). I do find myself struggling with Greek and that is my own fault. I start and stop and start and stop. But as it relates to my seminary brothers. I have read what they have read or am reading what they are reading or I will be if they put it on a blog and I find it interesting 8)

]]> By: Brian http://www.lionelwoods.net/2010/02/who-should-train-pastors-seminary-in-the-role-of-the-body/comment-page-1/#comment-933 Brian Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:12:22 +0000 http://www.lionelwoods.net/?p=268#comment-933 I guess I see it as a catch 22. One needs life, experience, gifting, etc, to do well in expressing the spiritual gift of pastoring -yet, without some solid biblical teaching and or theological training - these pastors just can't cut the mustard - all sorts of problems begin to arise relationally and theologically as so there there is a big mess. Also waht about the smaller rural churches that may not have the resources for such situations of training and or the things you talk about? What do they do - go on struggling? I guess I see it as a catch 22. One needs life, experience, gifting, etc, to do well in expressing the spiritual gift of pastoring -yet, without some solid biblical teaching and or theological training – these pastors just can’t cut the mustard – all sorts of problems begin to arise relationally and theologically as so there there is a big mess.

Also waht about the smaller rural churches that may not have the resources for such situations of training and or the things you talk about? What do they do – go on struggling?

]]> By: Aussiejohn http://www.lionelwoods.net/2010/02/who-should-train-pastors-seminary-in-the-role-of-the-body/comment-page-1/#comment-932 Aussiejohn Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:56:51 +0000 http://www.lionelwoods.net/?p=268#comment-932 Lionel, You are so right! My own observations, as an older student, many years ago, was that even if seminary training is to remain, prospective elders (pastors) , on leaving seminary ought to find secular work and become members of a local body, which over a period of time (maybe several years) discern whether the person is what their ambitions would claim. Can you imagine a medical student leaving his years of training, then being given the task a heart/lung transplant. The work of an elder is far more important than to have novices leading congregations . I have seen to much of the resulting damage. Lionel,

You are so right!
My own observations, as an older student, many years ago, was that even if seminary training is to remain, prospective elders (pastors) , on leaving seminary ought to find secular work and become members of a local body, which over a period of time (maybe several years) discern whether the person is what their ambitions would claim.

Can you imagine a medical student leaving his years of training, then being given the task a heart/lung transplant.

The work of an elder is far more important than to have novices leading congregations . I have seen to much of the resulting damage.

]]> By: Alan Knox http://www.lionelwoods.net/2010/02/who-should-train-pastors-seminary-in-the-role-of-the-body/comment-page-1/#comment-931 Alan Knox Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:44:03 +0000 http://www.lionelwoods.net/?p=268#comment-931 Several professors (including a dean) at SEBTS have told me (in a classroom setting - so they told others too) that if churches trained people, then there would be no reason for seminaries to exist. Unfortunately, I the system perpetuates itself. Seminaries need students in order to stay afloat. When the students graduate, they need jobs... but they're not trained to DO anything except be a vocational pastor... even if they are not mature enough to be a pastor/elder. -Alan Several professors (including a dean) at SEBTS have told me (in a classroom setting – so they told others too) that if churches trained people, then there would be no reason for seminaries to exist.

Unfortunately, I the system perpetuates itself. Seminaries need students in order to stay afloat. When the students graduate, they need jobs… but they’re not trained to DO anything except be a vocational pastor… even if they are not mature enough to be a pastor/elder.

-Alan

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