We have been aware of this for several years. I am training our emerging leaders group (called Table Talk) to increase as I decrease. They are very well received by the congregation. Seminaries are drying up. There is no pipeline anymore of pastors ready to move to your church.
This would be a helpful teaching for leaders of the Master’s Institute MI, So many of the students are doing a second vocation, or perhaps married to a farmer, serving in their own congregations. MI provides a place to train pastors to serve in their home church. Joe
I wholeheartedly agree and love that it is being proposed. There are so many congregations that do not have a pastor and yet have a capable, qualified among them. Muhlenberg faced a similar dilemma of pastoral shortages centuries ago and came up with solid strategies while being confessionally, biblically accurate. I do believe there needs to be a shift back to training for word and sacrament as opposed to ministry of emotional needs that broader Lutheranism shifted to in the 20th century. This is why I believe the first task a new catechist/pastor should be trained in is how to properly perform the Divine Service according to solid rubrics. After that happens, the pastor will have confidence in his new identity and can build on that with other pastoral skills.
This is so informative. Nathan, it’s obvious that Trinity is a disciple-making Church so the gifts and ministries therein are developed so well. I agree that there is a pastor ahead from within the Church and character is vital, no matter what flaws are there! (Who is perfect..we’re all in that process of growing to be more like Jesus.) Thanks for your great communication.
We have been aware of this for several years. I am training our emerging leaders group (called Table Talk) to increase as I decrease. They are very well received by the congregation. Seminaries are drying up. There is no pipeline anymore of pastors ready to move to your church.
This would be a helpful teaching for leaders of the Master’s Institute MI, So many of the students are doing a second vocation, or perhaps married to a farmer, serving in their own congregations. MI provides a place to train pastors to serve in their home church. Joe
I wholeheartedly agree and love that it is being proposed. There are so many congregations that do not have a pastor and yet have a capable, qualified among them. Muhlenberg faced a similar dilemma of pastoral shortages centuries ago and came up with solid strategies while being confessionally, biblically accurate. I do believe there needs to be a shift back to training for word and sacrament as opposed to ministry of emotional needs that broader Lutheranism shifted to in the 20th century. This is why I believe the first task a new catechist/pastor should be trained in is how to properly perform the Divine Service according to solid rubrics. After that happens, the pastor will have confidence in his new identity and can build on that with other pastoral skills.
This is so informative. Nathan, it’s obvious that Trinity is a disciple-making Church so the gifts and ministries therein are developed so well. I agree that there is a pastor ahead from within the Church and character is vital, no matter what flaws are there! (Who is perfect..we’re all in that process of growing to be more like Jesus.) Thanks for your great communication.