Pastors

[Josiah]

Alithis seems to want to compare the training of pastors, but such would be hijacking other threads.... therefore this thread.


Tell us about YOUR pastor/minister. If you have several in your congregation, say something about each. For the sake of privacy, I'd suggest not giving names (but that's up to you).


MY Pastor (Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod).

He grew up Catholic but converted in college. He is of German heritage. He has a BA degree with honors (history). He attended Concordia Seminary for 4 years, graduating with a M.Div Degree. He then continued and secured his Doctorate degree (Theology). He well handles German and Latin (both necessary for his doctorate degree) and of course biblical Hebrew and koine Greek. He knows those well enough that in Bible studies, he never uses a translation (I've never seen him even hold a translation). He was ordained in the late 1970's. He has served at our parish since the 1980's. He is married and has two grown children.

We have no other ordained clergy in our parish (no youth PASTORS), etc.



Your pastor/minister?





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[Tigger]

We have three pastors at our Lutheran LCMC church. The first two I will mention are prior LDS members. Not that untypical living in Utah.

Senior Pastor has degrees in World Religion, Psychology, Divinity, and a PhD in theology from Marquette University.

2nd Pastor has a Bachelor of Science from Westminster University in Salt Lake in 1978. In 1999 earned a Diploma in Christian Studies from Regent College, Vancouver, BC. In 2000 was the first graduate student at Salt Lake Theological Seminary with a Masters in Christian Studies and in 2005 graduated with a Master of Divinity Degree.

3rd Pastor ( called by our congregation just under a year ago.) has a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Utah in Philosophy and a Masters of Arts degree in Christian Apologetics from Biola University.

 

[Alithis]

Alithis seems to want to compare the training of pastors, but such would be hijacking other threads.... therefore this thread.


Tell us about YOUR pastor/minister. If you have several in your congregation, say something about each. For the sake of privacy, I'd suggest not giving names (but that's up to you).


MY Pastor (Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod).

He grew up Catholic but converted in college. He is of German heritage. He has a BA degree with honors (history). He attended Concordia Seminary for 4 years, graduating with a M.Div Degree. He then continued and secured his Doctorate degree (Theology). He well handles German and Latin (both necessary for his doctorate degree) and of course biblical Hebrew and koine Greek. He knows those well enough that in Bible studies, he never uses a translation (I've never seen him even hold a translation). He was ordained in the late 1970's. He has served at our parish since the 1980's. He is married and has two grown children.

We have no other ordained clergy in our parish (no youth PASTORS), etc.



Your pastor/minister?





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since you usd my name i will say (not true, original removed by moderator ) i dont want to compare any such thing .

 

[psalms 91]

Mine was taught by the Holy Spirit but contrary to what has been said he holds many degrees including a doctorate but he also doesnt put any stock in them, it is the Holy Spirit that must teach and give truth, not man

 

[Brighten04]

One of my teachers who had a Doctorate in theology degree said to us once that the only degree necessary is the BA degree (Born Again). He put not stock in his degrees either.

 

[Alithis]

since you usd my name i will say (not true, original removed by moderator ) i dont want to compare any such thing .

haha sorry ..in my local region the use of that word is not considered harsh ...its more humorous in nature . a colloquialism thing i guess.

 

[Lamb]

Jesus taught his disciples for 3 years

We recently called another pastor at my church and his bio isn't on the website yet and I don't have my paper on his background anymore. I can say though that he went to college and seminary.

 

[MoreCoffee]

My parish priest was ordained in Poland after taking a degree in Philosophy and seminary studies in Latin, koine Greek, Hebrew, biblical exegesis, theology, etcetera. He joined an order and remained in it until a couple of decades ago when he sought and obtained a dispensation to become a diocesan priest in the Arch Diocese of Perth. He's been priest in my parish for almost 12 years.

 

[tango]

One of my teachers who had a Doctorate in theology degree said to us once that the only degree necessary is the BA degree (Born Again). He put not stock in his degrees either.

I think it's very easy to put too much stock in paper qualifications, but at the same time a degree of formal education is often useful. It's good for a pastor to be well versed in different teachings that are likely to arise but, as with everything else, it's better for a pastor to understand Bible study and sound theology and exegesis in general rather than being able to recite an endless number of creeds and good and bad teachings.

 

[Josiah]

I think it's very easy to put too much stock in paper qualifications, but at the same time a degree of formal education is often useful. It's good for a pastor to be well versed in different teachings that are likely to arise but, as with everything else, it's better for a pastor to understand Bible study and sound theology and exegesis in general rather than being able to recite an endless number of creeds and good and bad teachings.

:clap2:



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[psalms 91]

I think it's very easy to put too much stock in paper qualifications, but at the same time a degree of formal education is often useful. It's good for a pastor to be well versed in different teachings that are likely to arise but, as with everything else, it's better for a pastor to understand Bible study and sound theology and exegesis in general rather than being able to recite an endless number of creeds and good and bad teachings.

Yup there is a reason I calll seminaries cemetaries

 

[MoreCoffee]

Yup there is a reason I call seminaries cemeteries

Do you say that to your pastor?

 

[psalms 91]

Do you say that to your pastor?

Yes, of course he didnt go to seminary he was taught by the Holy Spirit and over the years he added the degrees mainly because people area respector of them rathe rthan the Holy Spirit I think. I have talked to pastors who have gone to seminary and they dont disagree with me as they are a rubber stamp of whatever denom they represent.

 

[Josiah]

I think it's very easy to put too much stock in paper qualifications, but at the same time a degree of formal education is often useful. It's good for a pastor to be well versed in different teachings that are likely to arise but, as with everything else, it's better for a pastor to understand Bible study and sound theology and exegesis in general.

I agree.


While a solid, extensive education and solid knowledge of Scripture, theology, church history, etc. insures nothing, and while some uneducated, untrained person certain can be used by God, THAT SAID, I think there is much value to good education, a good reason why for nearly 2000 years pastors have been among the best educated people in all society. I'm concerned about "the blind leading the blind." I'm concerned about the ignorant "educating" the ignorant. I'm concerned about people (innocent, trusting) looking to their pastor who (to be blunt) doesn't know what he's talking about.


I've read about some "pastor" preaching what was just pure heresy - it's just he innocently didn't know that, he had never heard of that heresy and the huge part of Christian heresy that dealt with it, he just didn't know because no one taught. After YEARS of him preaching that obvioius heresy, another pastor told him and he repented. But that was after YEARS. I wonder how often that happens.... only without some knowledgable person correcting him? And the flock (understandably) TRUSTS this man who speaks with authority, perhaps even insisting what he says is what God says.


I think there is also GREAT value in a man being certified, tested, authorized - and in constant accountability. Not SELF approved, SELF certified, SELF evaluated, SELF authorized - or maybe by ONE person (whose own credentials aren't so good). For at least 1600 years, pastor had be schooled (extensively), their profs examined them (and not just academically!), when they had completed all their classes, boards questioned them, examined them, evaluated them - and possibly approved. Then a bishop went through the same process - and possibly approved. A bishop had to be involved in their placement. And all the while they teach and preach, several likely with MORE education, MORE experience held him accountable, examining his preaching, his teaching. I think there is value in that. All that was largely abandoned by the mega Evangelical church I was aware of in my teen years.


Again, I'm NOT saying all that INSURES anything..... but I think it has very great value. And since truth matters in Christianity, it should be a concern to all about "the blind leading the blind," the ignorant teaching the ignorant, the unaccountable teacher (lightly subject only to those who know even LESS than he does).



My one cent.


A blessed Lenten season to all....


- Josiah

 

[Brighten04]

Well, I know people here don't like us saying what Jesus did, but I will say it anyway. Jesus did not put all of these tests and requirements on the first 12 disciples. Most of them were fishermen with little formal education. I am not against having education mind you, but, today's Christians IMHO put too much emphasis on titles and degrees. I am not saying they are not an asset, just that sometimes the focus on them makes people put their faith in the paper "credentials" and not on the Holy Spirit's credentials. It is like that old song about a piece of paper makes it alright.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJOYAINT66Y

 

[Josiah]

Well, I know people here don't like us saying what Jesus did, but I will say it anyway. Jesus did not put all of these tests and requirements on the first 12 disciples.

didn't the 12 get a VERY EXTENSIVE three-year seminary education? With the prof being GOD INCARNATE?

 

[Brighten04]

didn't the 12 get a VERY EXTENSIVE three-year seminary education? With the prof being GOD INCARNATE?

Yes from the Holy Spirit Himself in the person of Lord Jesus, which today's "theologians" dismiss and embrace the seminary of the world, embracing the paper instead.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Yes, of course he didn't go to seminary he was taught by the Holy Spirit and over the years he added the degrees mainly because [some] people are a respecter of them rather than the Holy Spirit I think. I have talked to pastors who have gone to seminary and they don't disagree with me as they are a rubber stamp of whatever denom they represent.

Seems a pity to disregard education as if it were worthless.

 

[psalms 91]

Seems a pity to disregard education as if it were worthless.

Education by the spirit is disregarded as worthless not mans degrees

 

[MoreCoffee]

Education by the spirit is disregarded as worthless not mans degrees

My experience is that wisdom is held in high regard among the faithful and hard earned degrees in theology and the ancient tongues in which the holy scriptures were written is also accounted as valuable though the two are different and wisdom is of a different order than the information one acquires in education.