ARTICLES

by Dr. Josh Moody

Those who watch the ministry training space will know that there appears to be something of a sea changing ongoing with relation to the functional practicality of how training is delivered. Some seminaries are closing—reasons various. Others thriving—reasons also various. Clearly technology is part of the story. Some kinds of training can be, or at least are being, delivered online. Many, if not all, residential seminaries have a multiplicity of online options. Some restrict exclusive online training to degrees beneath the gold standard pastor training degree, at least in America, known as the “M.Div.” At such times, it’s helpful to think through from first principles so that whatever the currents may be that are changing at the surface level, the deep purpose of pastoral training is still being delivered, albeit perhaps in new and innovative forms.

1. Calling. There has been a long and dynamic conversation down through the years as to what exactly constitutes a calling to pastoral ministry. How, if you like, mystical does it need to be? Or can we accentuate the practical—if someone has the constituent abilities and desire, does that constitute a call biblically defined? The usual, and I think best, way of threading this needle is to talk of both the internal and external aspects of the call. For someone to be a pastor there needs to be an internal call. That is, some internal, prayerful, perhaps unquantifiable but nonetheless real, sense that this is what God wants you to do. This is not the same as saying this is what I want to do. What needs to be discerned is whether it is something that God wants you to do. Then, in addition, there also needs to be an external verification. Others around you, in the fellowship of the local church, need to confirm that you have the right kind of character, gifting, and abilities to be a pastor.
2. Characteristics. It would take too long in this context to rehearse the typical exposition of all the relevant passages, but essentially Paul’s teaching in 1 Timothy 3 summarizes the most important elements. Someone who is called to oversee (or shepherd/pastor—the terms are as good as synonymous in the New Testament) needs first of all to have exemplary character. And then to, in particular, have the ability to teach. This hints at the core nature of the pastoral office as defined by Jesus and in another place by Paul. Shepherds are to feed the flock (John 21:15-19); pastors are to teach (Ephesians 4:11). A shepherd’s job, by example and instruction, is to point people to The Shepherd, call them to follow him, and instruct them how to live in increasing conformity to Christ. That is why Paul tells Timothy to watch both his life and doctrine carefully. The characteristics of a pastor are an exemplary life and faithful instruction from God’s Word. We should note here that teaching is proclamation. For we are told by Paul also that Timothy must do the work of an evangelist (2 Timothy 4:5).
3. Mind. Ever since Bible times, it has been recognized that pastoral leadership needs to have intellectual credibility. This is not to say that pastoral leadership must be scholarly in the modern sense of the word. We need only think of the early apostles who were unlearned men but who spoke with boldness and conviction because, it was noted, they had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13). But of course, Jesus had trained them. The teaching of our Lord is the very best of all. This dynamic is why Wesley—an Oxford Don no less—proclaimed himself a man of one book. It is true that some kinds of academic learning have spoilt potentially good pastors. The danger here is not only the danger of heresy, though that is real. The danger can be one of professionalization. A certain cadence of talking that makes you wonder whether the person speaking to you is a real human being or not. But with all these (and potentially many other) caveats in place, the British and Colonial Puritans were surely right to aim to replicate a learned ministry. It is, after all, a teaching. The lack of this, arguably, is why some parts of the early Middle Ages (the so-called “Dark Ages”) struggled with Bible teaching. There were just very few who were equipped to do it. So, in practical terms, what you are looking for is a training for your mind that is as deep, good, biblical, and challenging as you possibly can get.
4. Heart. That said, and using the nomenclature of heart in a rather broad but hopefully forgivable way, a pastor also needs to have his heart and character shaped. There are the qualifications for Christian leadership. We have looked at them. But there is also an ongoing need for heart training, character training. It is a costly business being a pastor. The shape of the shepherd in John’s gospel is cross-shaped. Peter must give up his life for our shepherding in imitation of Christ who gave his life for our salvation (John 21:18-19). There will be innumerable temptations to pack the whole thing in and give up. To storm out in frustration. To become bitter. To seek revenge. If, like Paul, pastors are at times treated as the scum of the earth, we must know that in Christ’s eyes we are beloved children. This training and shaping comes through mentoring, and primarily through a devotional intimacy with our Lord. It is why community matters in pastoral training. Relationships. So, in practical terms, what you are looking for is an ongoing real and relational context, affirmation, correction where needed, to the warp and woof of your training and continued ministry.
5. Hands. Again, I am using this term in a rather broad way for ease of recall and to function as an aide memoire. Basically, pastoral ministry is less of an academic exercise where you are trained in the classroom and more of a trade where you are trained in the smithery or kitchen or operating room. Think of it as a bit like surgery. Would you want to be operated on by a heart surgeon who has only learned his trade from books? He might be able to analyze the situation perfectly, but what you really want is someone who has done what you need done before—preferably many times before, and with success. Similarly, pastors are trained by other pastors in the operating room, the surgery, of the church. This does not, of course, mean that seminaries as distinct organizations do not have their place. The academic elements required—language skills, church history, systematics – can be picked up outside of a formal academic setting, but most people will not have the opportunity to do so. But as much as a medical doctor is trained at medical school, before they are unleashed in actual lead heart surgeon territory, they will do a residency where they learn how to perform surgeries with other more experienced surgeons. So, in practical terms, the internships or residencies that many churches offer can help to give you this kind of boots-on-the-ground training.

To put it in a sentence: To be trained as a pastor, you are looking for as DEEP as possible intellectual training, combined with as PRACTICAL as possible ministry training, at the same time and all within as real a RELATIONAL context as possible.