Your Pastors / Priests - Qualifications and the Call

[Lamb]

What qualifications does your denomination/church require to be a pastor? Is there any schooling that needs to be completed? What is the call process like?

 

[Josiah]

Although there are "alternative routes" the usual process is as follows:

1. Four year college grad (actual major is largely irrelevant but needs to include Koine Greek and biblical Hebrew). Adequate GPA and GRE.
2. Four years of seminary training (including one year of successful internship) resulting in a "Master of Divinity" degree
3. Final academic exams
4. Personal interviews and examination to determine personal/spiritual "fitness."
5. Certification.

My pastor went on to earn his doctorate but that's not common; some pastors earn a "Doctor of Ministry" degree while servicing full time in ministry.

 

[NewCreation435]

What qualifications does your denomination/church require to be a pastor? Is there any schooling that needs to be completed? What is the call process like?

With Southern Baptists, the church appoints a committee made up of members to conduct a search for a new pastor. Usually they get resumes from the state and associational offices and word of mouth. a particular school is not necessarily required, but the bigger the church is the more likely the person will have been to seminary. Sometimes search committees ask for feedback from the congregation and sometimes they don't. Every church is a little different.

 

[Tigger]

At my current congregation we are actively seeking one possibility two associate pastors. We have two candidates who each have preached the last two Sundays. They happen to both have a Mdiv from ELCA seminaries.

 

[kiwimac]

In my case over a decade of study with differing groups mostly because I cannot afford full-time study. So I have more certificates and diplomas than I actually know what to do with. Then sponsorship from a Bishop and acceptance by the houses of Bishops, of Clergy and of the Laity followed by the laying on of hands by a Bishop (bishops). Currently I am a worker priest for the Anglican Church International (an Old Catholic church NOT the Episcopal one) and a Monsignor in Te Hāhi Katorika Tawhito, in which body I am the Vicar-General and in charge of Te Wai Pounamu (NZ's South Island).

 

[Lamb]

In my case over a decade of study with differing groups mostly because I cannot afford full-time study. So I have more certificates and diplomas than I actually know what to do with. Then sponsorship from a Bishop and acceptance by the houses of Bishops, of Clergy and of the Laity followed by the laying on of hands by a Bishop (bishops). Currently I am a worker priest for the Anglican Church International (an Old Catholic church NOT the Episcopal one) and a Monsignor in Te Hāhi Katorika Tawhito, in which body I am the Vicar-General and in charge of Te Wai Pounamu (NZ's South Island).

You're a busy guy! How long have you been "in the business"?

 

[Tigger]

In my case over a decade of study with differing groups mostly because I cannot afford full-time study. So I have more certificates and diplomas than I actually know what to do with. Then sponsorship from a Bishop and acceptance by the houses of Bishops, of Clergy and of the Laity followed by the laying on of hands by a Bishop (bishops). Currently I am a worker priest for the Anglican Church International (an Old Catholic church NOT the Episcopal one) and a Monsignor in Te Hāhi Katorika Tawhito, in which body I am the Vicar-General and in charge of Te Wai Pounamu (NZ's South Island).

I would like to be able to visit an Old Catholic church one of these days.

 

[kiwimac]

I would like to be able to visit an Old Catholic church one of these days.

You're a busy guy! How long have you been "in the business"?

Most Old Catholic churches are good. The Polish OC's are more conservative than most of the rest of us but don't let that stop you. I have been ordained since the mid-1980s.