Why go to seminary?
A post on a denomination forum asked "Why do [people in this denomination] become clergy?"
I can't link to the post, because it disappeared within hours of being posted.
I'm hoping it was withdrawn by the person who posted it, rather than censored by the people who run the denomination's website, because the person made some good points which raise difficult questions.
The person linked to an NPR story: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128957149 and said clergy burnout sounded awful and lonely, and that pastoral ministry seemed very difficult. The person went on to mention self-harm, abusive clergy and lay people.
Then this question was posed:
No one has told me yet, and I'm halfway through my MDiv program. Yet I have some idea, having seen the ways people can act. The church is made up of humans the same as th rest of society, and one only need read the epistles to see that the early church struggled with human issues as well.
As to why people go to seminary, why they feel called to pastoral ministry - I really believe it can be a God thing. We're not better, or smarter, or more holy than others. I hope we're not looking for power. Instead, I think it's a burden on the hearts of some people. Just as some will look at the homeless and feel moved to help, or look at the injured and feel moved to heal, those of us called to this ministry are moved to serve congregations - because the congregations need to be served.
In the parable, the Samaritan was moved to help the man beaten and left by the side of the road. In some interpretations, his guts were wrenched. When people are that moved to do something, it's a calling.
People are called to all sorts of things. There are people who risk their lives in the military, police, and fire fighting. There are people who work tirelessly for peace. There are people who work hard at building things, or answering phones, or writing.
Why do people go to seminary? Because it's a burden on our hearts that will not go away. It's a love for the people who need us. And - I believe - it is who God dreamed us to be.
I can't link to the post, because it disappeared within hours of being posted.
I'm hoping it was withdrawn by the person who posted it, rather than censored by the people who run the denomination's website, because the person made some good points which raise difficult questions.
The person linked to an NPR story: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128957149 and said clergy burnout sounded awful and lonely, and that pastoral ministry seemed very difficult. The person went on to mention self-harm, abusive clergy and lay people.
Then this question was posed:
Do people tell seminarians "what's ahead" for this type of job?That's a good point. No one should go into ministry without knowledge of what will be asked.
No one has told me yet, and I'm halfway through my MDiv program. Yet I have some idea, having seen the ways people can act. The church is made up of humans the same as th rest of society, and one only need read the epistles to see that the early church struggled with human issues as well.
As to why people go to seminary, why they feel called to pastoral ministry - I really believe it can be a God thing. We're not better, or smarter, or more holy than others. I hope we're not looking for power. Instead, I think it's a burden on the hearts of some people. Just as some will look at the homeless and feel moved to help, or look at the injured and feel moved to heal, those of us called to this ministry are moved to serve congregations - because the congregations need to be served.
In the parable, the Samaritan was moved to help the man beaten and left by the side of the road. In some interpretations, his guts were wrenched. When people are that moved to do something, it's a calling.
People are called to all sorts of things. There are people who risk their lives in the military, police, and fire fighting. There are people who work tirelessly for peace. There are people who work hard at building things, or answering phones, or writing.
Why do people go to seminary? Because it's a burden on our hearts that will not go away. It's a love for the people who need us. And - I believe - it is who God dreamed us to be.
