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Some folks asked the right question in reply to this tweet, namely: If not that, what should I do to be trained and equipped for pastoral ministry?
Good question. Here's my thinking for the original tweet and some suggestions: https://twitter.com/Brian_Sauve/status/1298968751962902539
Good question. Here's my thinking for the original tweet and some suggestions: https://twitter.com/Brian_Sauve/status/1298968751962902539
First, debt is bad; it is a slaver.
Debt puts you on a string. Once you're in vocational ministry, it makes you easier to manipulate, and can easily tempt you to partiality or cowardice with wealthy congregants.
So I would counsel you to creatively and aggressively avoid debt.
Debt puts you on a string. Once you're in vocational ministry, it makes you easier to manipulate, and can easily tempt you to partiality or cowardice with wealthy congregants.
So I would counsel you to creatively and aggressively avoid debt.
Second, your house is mismanaged if you delay kids and tell your wife to build a career to put you through seminary. See Titus 2.
You'll end up tempted to have your wife keep working after seminary, since she'll make more money than you, most likely.
Counsel: Don't do this.
You'll end up tempted to have your wife keep working after seminary, since she'll make more money than you, most likely.
Counsel: Don't do this.
So what can you do? Alternative #1:
First, get a trade or start a business that earns a livable income. Diversify if possible.
Second, work your way through seminary at a slower pace, building real pastoral skills in a local church, under a qualified mentor, as you go.
First, get a trade or start a business that earns a livable income. Diversify if possible.
Second, work your way through seminary at a slower pace, building real pastoral skills in a local church, under a qualified mentor, as you go.
Alternative #2:
Be an autodidact. Learn everything you'd learn in seminary yourself. Use podcasts, lectures, books, etc. If you're not an autodidact anyway, you probably shouldn't be a pastor.
Get pastoral training in a local church along the way, and pursue ordination locally.
Be an autodidact. Learn everything you'd learn in seminary yourself. Use podcasts, lectures, books, etc. If you're not an autodidact anyway, you probably shouldn't be a pastor.
Get pastoral training in a local church along the way, and pursue ordination locally.
Alternative #3:
Get a trade/business that pays a livable wage, then use distance learning in addition to a resident program like Greyfriars Hall in Moscow (or something similar).
These programs are great, because they are integrated in the pastoral ministry of a real church.
Get a trade/business that pays a livable wage, then use distance learning in addition to a resident program like Greyfriars Hall in Moscow (or something similar).
These programs are great, because they are integrated in the pastoral ministry of a real church.
Bottom line:
Don't pursue pastoral ministry by promptly disqualifying yourself from pastoral ministry in the way you pursue it.
Ministry idolatry has felled many men—and worse, landed many disqualified men in pulpits, only to harm the church in the pews.
Don't pursue pastoral ministry by promptly disqualifying yourself from pastoral ministry in the way you pursue it.
Ministry idolatry has felled many men—and worse, landed many disqualified men in pulpits, only to harm the church in the pews.
We're working on a Greyfriars-esque program at my church in Ogden, Utah. Message me if you're interested in learning more about it.
