Comments on: Reflections on Seminary part 5 http://joshphilpot.com/2009/06/12/reflections-on-seminary-part-5/ Honoring the passé Thu, 31 May 2012 23:14:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Sugandha http://joshphilpot.com/2009/06/12/reflections-on-seminary-part-5/#comment-419 Thu, 24 May 2012 11:22:31 +0000 http://joshphilpot.com/?p=155#comment-419 Blogs and comments like this in blogs, maniazges, and books, etc put seminaries in a poor light because the individuals did not truly understand the reason for their seminary education. I have a seminary degree as well as an MBA. My MBA did not teach me the issues of hiring or firing, it prepared me for the business world – not everything do you get in school – you are prepared. Some things are learned. Now, a human resources degree will teach some of those things, but is that the true focus of a seminary degree?Plus, what classes DID you take? etc. Where did you use you specific extra elective hours – ie. what classes did you choose? Seminary is a well – a well to draw from for the rest of your life – NOT to teach you everything that you may run into.In regards to the statements listed:a7 Believe it or not, I never had a class on how to do a wedding or funeral. – I’m sorry for your loss. I took a supervised ministry class that taught me these things as well as a funeral for a Christian and one for a non Christian, Lord’s Supper, baptism, graveside services, different styles of weddings, etc. We even created a book to use a reference for ministry (which has come in handy)a7 We never looked at how to manage a budget, lead a board meeting, recruit volunteers, raise money, hire and fire staff, or design church facilities. – some of these items I learned through the class Educational Administration. Some churches utilize others in the congregation (our constituents) to do these things. Why do you think you have to doand learn it all? Again, what classes DID you take – what was your degree? NOT all seminaries are equal. Sorry for your supposedly sucky seminary experience. We are prepped as ministers to the people, not to do everything for the people.a7 I only took one class on preaching. In my opinion, we should have been required to take at least three if we were hoping to be a senior pastor. – We took a year’s worth plus I spent some of my electives on preaching because I knew that being a pastor was part of God’s design for me. I took the onus upon myself to utilize the resources available at the seminary – not just the classes to get by. I was proactive in my seminary education.a7 We didn’t study any thoughts on kids’ ministry, student ministry, missions, or small groups. – I had this in my educational adminstration class. Albeit an introduction, but one nonetheless. AND, I learned the resources available to find the information I needed. I learned to work with others, how to find resources, and ulitize those resources. C’mon – you have to admit that change is so fast today that once a person finished their school experience, new insights would have been discovered. Understanding how to mine those insights was important to know what resources are available.a7 Although my time in seminary predated the need, I think all schools today should teach pastors how to leverage technology in the church. – I took a computers in education class. YET, utilizing volunteers and their creativity is critical for this. Why do we feel the need for seminaries to teach us everything about church life. Yes technology is cool – AND importantly useful for ministry today. But after the fact of your education – are you not utilizing it now? Don’t place your previous experience upon present day circumstances. Has your school updated? Some have – some haven’t. PLUS – again – what about garnering the insight from your volunteers? Think of how excited they would be to bring their technology passion to the table of ministry.It is like asking a basketball player to know how to manage the team, run the books, and organize the ticket sales as well as the salaries, etc. The basketball player was hired to play a specific position and practiced and developed those skills for THAT position. The seminary graduate is a member of a team of God given individuals of whom the pastor is the spiritual leader and shepherd. The student obtains the insight and education as to serve as a springboard in the most important arena – the God-centered arena. For without that God-centered focus, all the rest is dung. Yes, there are gaps – every educational degree has gaps. YET, there are resources available to help fill in the gaps (Willow Creek’s Leadership Summit for example). The focus for the pastor is to develop the spiritual relationship with Christ and garner the tools to help in that relationship.Stop whining about what you DIDN’T get and celebrate what you DID receive – an education from Godly men and women who serve a community of believers who gave their blood, sweat, tears, and hard earned money to provide you the education that you received. What are you making of your education? PLUS – your education should not have stopped at seminary. As leaders and pastors, we are lifelong learners. As spiritual leaders, we learned and delved into the riches of God’s Word. We can read Peter Drucker’s material later. Seminary is to learn the deep things of God and PREPARE for ministry. Preparation does not necessarily mean that you have everything you need. It is to teach you how to fish – not give it to you.I apologize for the strong tone in this post. It is not my intent to be rude or crass – just direct. I am very passionate about the seminary experience. Feel free to email me with your thoughts if you wish.

]]> By: Ross http://joshphilpot.com/2009/06/12/reflections-on-seminary-part-5/#comment-60 Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:16:32 +0000 http://joshphilpot.com/?p=155#comment-60 Thanks Josh for typing this little series up. I’ve been helped.

]]> By: Josh Philpot http://joshphilpot.com/2009/06/12/reflections-on-seminary-part-5/#comment-54 Sat, 13 Jun 2009 13:28:43 +0000 http://joshphilpot.com/?p=155#comment-54 Patrick,

Terrible memory? Don’t you know ever word in the Greek NT?

I found that the best way to remember was to look at all the pictures we took. But I tend to have a really good memory of events and places.

]]> By: schreinerpatrick http://joshphilpot.com/2009/06/12/reflections-on-seminary-part-5/#comment-53 Sat, 13 Jun 2009 13:06:51 +0000 http://joshphilpot.com/?p=155#comment-53 i have enjoyed reading your reflections on seminary…good thoughts…you have inspired me to do the same when i graduate…the only problem is that i have a terrible memory…how am i going to remember each year?

]]> By: Reflections on Seminary « Stones Cry Out http://joshphilpot.com/2009/06/12/reflections-on-seminary-part-5/#comment-52 Sat, 13 Jun 2009 12:42:23 +0000 http://joshphilpot.com/?p=155#comment-52 [...] 7:42 AM A friend of mine at Southern, Josh Philpot, has been reflecting on Seminary.  Here is his last one which has good advice for any Seminary [...]

]]> By: Josh Philpot http://joshphilpot.com/2009/06/12/reflections-on-seminary-part-5/#comment-51 Sat, 13 Jun 2009 02:49:38 +0000 http://joshphilpot.com/?p=155#comment-51 I’ll give that to Wellum, the grand Canadian theological potentate and defender of creeds!

]]> By: Paul Cable http://joshphilpot.com/2009/06/12/reflections-on-seminary-part-5/#comment-47 Fri, 12 Jun 2009 22:13:17 +0000 http://joshphilpot.com/?p=155#comment-47 Helpful stuff.

So which guy gets to be Athanasius? :)

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