By now many of you will have seen their eager faces in the Banner: candidates for ministry in the CRC approved by Synod 2008. At this writing at least 15 have already accepted a call to a congregation or mission service.
Long gone are the days when churches called a minister sight unseen, when a three year stay in a congregation, according to the Yearbook, was enough to place someone on a calling list. No such faceless calling today. A one year, even two years, courting process is not unusual. Candidates are similarly courted by congregations months before they are eligible. So much so, it exaggerates even the normal senioritis in their last year of seminary.
Who are they?
The Banner provides the congregations with basic information about candidates: most are married, some are beyond their twenties and starting a second-career, a smattering can speak a second language. If so, it tends to Spanish or Korean. Their names will tell you that not all come from CRC backgrounds. They’ve entered the CRC for various reasons: they love the Reformed confessions, they appreciate its theological traditions.
Candidates come to our congregations with widely different ecclesiastical and theological educational backgrounds. All have been declared eligible for a call by Synod; not all have taken their theological training at Calvin Theological Seminary. Reasons for studying elsewhere vary: hard to move a family with children, want to get out of Western Michigan or the “CRC culture,” CTS is too far, too difficult, too progressive. A few go to seminary, any seminary, only because it’s required. They know what “my” ministry is and feel theological education is a mere hoop.
Like church members everywhere, candidates for ministry reflect their culture. Thus some are committed to the confessional traditions and are challenged by theological issues and truth, others will operate more on the level of feeling and truthiness; some will look forward to tackling theological and pastoral problems, others back off, even whine and shift responsibilities when the going gets difficult. Some will appreciate the congregation’s feedback on their sermons and pastoral care, others will become defensive when the congregation refuses to appreciate their self-centeredness expressed in their homiletical striptease (their experiences are central). Some will want constantly to rework their “job descriptions” (= too much work). In other words, they will express all the positives and negatives of the people they serve.
Little of this is new, of course. Ministers and their spouses have never been perfect, and they can often be difficult for congregations: they leave parsonages in horrible shape; dress sloppily; love to hobnob with the rich and famous (such as they are in a given congregation) but neglect the needy; can’t preach, or teach, or make pastoral visits; refuse to administer discipline or all of the above. The 2008 candidates will not escape criticism, either. But they are young and inexperienced, in need of mentoring, shaping and direction. For all the experience in previous vocations, all that is learned and properly undone in their theological education, none of these candidates comes to you as a minister. The degree does not a doctor or minister make. Becoming a minister happens in the context of entrusted practice in a congregation or mission work.
What can the congregations teach them?
Some suggestions for mentoring a new minister:
1. Insist on good study habits. Time spent in their study is not wasted. A theological
education will keep them going for about a year and a half, after that it is all self-discipline. Good teaching, preaching, and pastoral care happen for a reason.
2. Their theological education has taught them that the CRC has its own vision, the confessions;its own definition of ministry, the church order and form for ordination. Reminding those who stray from their vow is a gift they should receive. They are with you to serve the congregation, not their vision, their ministry, their church.
3 Kindly help them with a preaching program. There are texts they should preach, the classics such as Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 40:1ff; John 3:16; Romans 3:23. It’s crucial the congregation hear fundamental truths about our being right with God, hear a call to lead holy lives, and be encouraged to struggle against deadly sin such as pride, lust, greed, gluttony, anger, and envy, rather than issues of world transformation. Ask them to leave prophetic condemnation or “social justice” texts for later because these matters require enormous wisdom, not merely youthful exuberance. Wisdom comes with time
4. Do not despise their youth. What they teach and preach is Scripture, not their own experience. A sermon on the family is based on Paul or on texts from Proverbs. Even if their families are not perfect, they must still let Scripture speak to you, but also to themselves
5. From day one help them to think about how they will leave the ministry among you: what will they leave behind. Think of the parable of the talents.
Ministry is a daunting vocation. Beginners should give themselves at least five years before thinking their preaching, teaching, and pastoral care has character and depth. Those of us in ministry for several decades know we’ve hardly scratched the surface.
ACL
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