I think you bring up a valuable point in regards to the importance of professors having pastoral experience. This is tremendously important!

I can see the value in the route you suggest, yet others also provide ample opportunity to connect with neighbourhoods and people. It would be awesome to figure out a way in which we can connect with seminary ed, with on the ground life experience you speak of. Maybe it means job by day, pastor by night, or bi-vocational… interesting thoughts.

Thanks for your comments friend!

As you may remember, I am going to ACTS Seminaries (of TWU) in Langley, and have found it to be wonderfully enriching. The difference between you and I, of course, is that I did not take Bible in undergrad, but rather went to trade school. I think this might be a more preferable way to do pastoral education – do undergrad in a secular school on any subject (becoming familiar with the ways of the world, how culture thinks) so that you can better bring the Gospel into these circumstances. Having worked “in the world” for a number of years, I feel that I am better equipped to bring the kingdom of God into this world. I am more able to shine the light into this darkness having lived in it. Afterwards, then taking an MDiv degree would be invaluable for ministry, in my opinion. Several of the pastors in the churches I have attended have taken this route, and they seem to be able to connect on a much deeper level to the people they pastor in the pews and to the people on the streets than do others who go straight to Bible College and then the pastoral ministry.

Unfortunately it is too late for you now to follow this route, but I still think that ACTS might be a good option as a seminary that is making a valiant attempt at connecting theology with practice in ministry. Most (90+% maybe?) of the professors there have had at least a decade or two of pastoral experience prior to becoming academics, and they seem to use this experience to enhance the learning in the classes. Something to think about…

I deeply appreciate your words about AMBS. My dad is an alumni and I have had many former undergrad classmates, friends and colleagues come through AMBS and have been impressed, continuously, of the work they do and people they seem to be pumping out. They seem set at pursuing the collision between Anabaptism and our current context. Which is awesome. I do still believe the seminary is still important, to save myself a bit of time see the post http://anabaptistly.wordpress.com/2012/05/08/the-seminary-is-important/

I still wonder if there are better ways, more empowering ways, in which to do it. Things like debt and context will always be sticking points for me. Good theology and theory is important, obviously, but the above wonderings make me ask whether how institutional seminary is now is the best way in which we can do this important work of learning and teaching together.

Thanks for stopping by!

At the risk of talking AMBS up a little too much, I also think the school does a good job of counter-acting any notion of institutional hierarchy. But obviously, some hierarchy is unavoidable (and some is even effective). In my brief time here, I have definitely noticed that professors and students are equal conspirators, all looking to learn together and bring Shalom to our communities together. We all even go by first names here. It’s been encouraging.

Anyway, all that to say that I share your apprehensiveness toward institutions in our postmodern context(s), but I think seminary institutions (CERTAINLY not all institutions) can be done very well, very “postmodernly,” and I submit AMBS as a good example of an honest attempt (complete with many imperfections).

By the way, I really like your blog. Good stuff!