Ziay!

marianne

Is a 2 year Bible school degree enough nowadays?

MacDeac

The answer to this question may be different for each person. The first question to ask yourself is if you feel called to go to school? A part of my calling into ministry was a call to go back to school to get my Masters of Divinity (3 year program) degree. I knew this was something God wanted me to do.

The second factor is where you feel called to serve. If you feel called to serve in a particular type of church or denomination, do some research to see what they require of their ministers. My personal tradition is Baptist, and most churches want at least a Master's degree. Some want a doctorate. It is important to understand that these degrees include more than Bible study, although that is obviously the major emphasis. Pastors are often called to do family counseling, hospital visits, and similar duties that could be classified as pastoral care. Pastoral care should be a part of any good ministerial degree program.

So, this is a question that everyone who feels a call into ministry needs to answer for him or herself. Feel free to visit the link below to see the kinds of classes I am taking.

im3ngs

As much as possible... and it'd best be on-going... like a doctor. That's not to say that everyone needs formal training for God to use you... but it would be helpful in many ways.

Schneb

It couldn't hurt. But 70% of the ministers in Calvary Chapel have had no formal training. Just the call of God to teach.

A 2 year degree wouldn't hurt since it may show how to use reference materials and prepare notes.

chyrelanne

Your question has given me food for thought for a few days now.

I have had experience with a highly educated Pastor, and want to choose my words carefully.

He and his wife were an adorable young couple with two small children. His wife was of the Jewish faith. While she was always by his side, in support of him, she made it very clear, that she did NOT also feel the calling. She had no desire to help minister to the congregation.

I was very impressed with the young Pastors' education. He had a Masters in theology and was working on his Doctorate.

Unfortunatly, as time passed I was able to see that this education was not as valuable to him as I thought it might be.

He was a wonderful shepherd to the men in the congregation. There was a mens bible study group, in addition to the regular one. There were camping trips for the men, and basketball games for the men.
The Pastor also had plenty of time for counceling the men.

The problem was, this tiny church was located in a small inner city in upstate NY. The church was plagued with all the problems of an inner city, homelessness, mental illness, drug addiction, etc.

There came a time when many of the women of the church were in great turmoil. One, who had been married only a year, discovered that her husband was a drug addict. Another, also married a short time, learned her husband was dying.

Both of these women were looking for spiritual and biblical guidance in dealing with their situations. Much to their dismay, they were not finding it. Pastor would lay hands on them and pray for them and their husbands once or twice a week, but that was it.

There was an occasion when I brought this problem to the Pastor. I explained that the women were in dismay. That they also needed guidence, shepherding and spiritual counceling. I explained, that since his wife, chose not to be involved, that the women had no choice but to turn to him for these things, and that their spiritual needs were not being met. His reply was, "I will foregive you, THIS time, for bringing these things to me".

Needless to say, as time went by, the situation only got worse. Condemnation and judgement were rampant in the tiny church. I left the church when it came to my attention, that the pastor had begun accusing the distressed women of being witches!!! Distressed women seeking spiritual and biblical guidence are practicing witchcraft ??!!??!!??

Although it may seem that I have gone off on a tangent here, I truly have not. My point is, that with all of his wonderful education this Pastor had, he was obviously NOT equipped to Pastor a church. So the answer to your question is, although a 2 yr. Bible School degree can not HURT, it also may not necessarily HELP, as shown in this story.

I understand that he is now the head of a theology school somewhere out west. I think that his education might better benefit him in that position. I wish and pray for nothing but the best for the young Pastor and his family.

By the way, I was the woman with the dying husband. He DID die, later that year.