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March 21, 2006
seminary students and the pastorate....
Studies Show Increase of Seminarians, Decrease of Pastoral Graduates
HT: Smart Christian
Interesting.
1. I didn't go to seminary to go into the ministry. I went to pursue a master's degree, so that I could pursue a doctorate, so that I could be a seminary professor. Plans changed though.
2. I know more and more seminary students myself who are coming for personal benefit or for more knowledge, rather than taking it into vocational ministry.
3. The age of seminarians has seemed to drop a lot recently. This is not based on any research. I and my friends have just noticed how the students around Fuller have been more and more people who are coming right out of college. Apparently, back in the day, the young single guy or girl, straight out of college in seminary was more of a minority. Is that true? I don't know.
If you went to seminary, what were your reasons? Pastoral ministry? Professorship? Gain knowledge? Etc.
Posted by rhett at March 21, 2006 10:42 PM
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Comments
I went to acquire knowledge, which is power, so I could tryannize people in the Church. :)
Actually, the inverse of that is part of why I went to seminary. I noticed some leaders in the church were pretty far from servant leaders. I didn't like being powered over (in what I perceived to be illegitimate ways), and I have an instinct to protect and free laity from knowledgeable bullies. Knowledge can be used to serve the Bride.
Posted by: Glenn at March 22, 2006 05:56 AM
I have seen the same trend at Phoenix Seminary. Younger guys coming straight out of college were much more prevalent last year when I graduated than 4 years earlier when I started.
My dad sent me an article from the front page of the New York Times last week about how more and more seminary grads are going into the marketplace rather than the pulpit.
Interesting...
Posted by: Chris at March 22, 2006 06:40 AM
money of course. hehe
Posted by: KC at March 22, 2006 01:48 PM
Quite frankly, I am glad there are fewer pastors coming out of Fuller.
Posted by: Baptist Superman at March 22, 2006 07:50 PM
doesn't surprise me that one would make that comment when they hide behind a fake blog name....
Posted by: Rhett Smith at March 22, 2006 09:51 PM
I am at Talbot to learn the content and earn the degrees so I can teach teach college. Local church ministry is still possible, but regional/denominational ministry is looking better everyday.
Posted by: Laura at March 24, 2006 11:40 PM
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