Previous Post -Foundations In Community – Part 7

My friend Chris Lenshyn, who writes at his excellent new blog Anabaptistly, recently posted a thought-provoking piece called “Why I Might Not Go To Seminary”.  In addition to the great comments that followed, it sparked this great discussion on Facebook too.  Be sure to read the post, comments & Facebook exchanges, as it is well worth it.  Inspired by the conversation, I thought I would weigh in here with some more thoughts.

I come at this topic from a rather unusual perspective.  Anyone who knows me know that I am passionate learner, dedicated and disciplined in reading, studying, exploring and engaging topics ranging from theology to quantum mechanics (and how the two relate).  I’ve served as a missionary for nearly 20 years, the last 3 as a church planting pastor in our inner city neighbourhood.  I’ve been published in several places, most recently a book that explicitly exegetes the Sermon on the Mount.  Yet I also have no formal education beyond high school.  And at this stage, I have no plans to further my formal education.

The primary reason for not pursuing seminary thus far has been a sense of vocation.  I had a clear calling into ministry at 17 that ushered me into full-time missionary service that has not allowed the time or means to further my education.  While loans were/are an option, I have made a firm commitment to avoid such debt unless completely necessary (allowing me to live very simply for many years).  And after 10 years of life and service in our inner city neighbourhood, I am also unprepared to take such a significant step away from my context.  As you can see, the three concerns that Chris mentioned in his post have been significant for my experience too.

However, I am not opposed to seminary.  Nor am I anti-academia.  Rather, I am deeply concerned that the realities and challenges of being genuinely engaged as missional communities in our post-Christendom context are not significantly (or even adequately) informing the model(s) of seminary that are predominant today.  Of course, I am observing as an outsider, which limits my perspective.  However, the experience of many others has made these dynamics clear enough to raise some concern.

In the excellent paper, “Between the Seminary, the Sanctuary and the Streets: Reflections on Alternative Theological Education”, Ched Myers argues his conviction that, “the goal of theological education in the North American context today should be to equip everyday disciples to overcome their sense of disempowerment and denial in order to engage in the evangelical works of mercy and service, advocacy and resistance, community building and social reconstruction. As such, theological study represents a form of leadership development, but only secondarily. Its primary purpose should be populist, that is, to nurture widely a more critical and grounded Christian literacy in Word and world in order to build capacity for the community of faith in its mission and witness.”

Meyers argues that what is largely at issue can be seen through the three questions: How theology is studied; Where theology is studied; What theology is studied.  Failure to properly address these realities has result in a drift that contributed to the trends of increased privatization, necessity of incurring debt and an environment of competition (for students, faculty & institutions alike).  He goes on to cite some creative alternatives, which are very exciting.  However, he also points out that with such alternatives are often “too practical for the seminaries, too political for the churches and too evangelical for most activist organizations”.

It is towards these alternative that I am passionately hoping to engage, both with respect to my own formation and in providing access to those in my community who would not (or can not) engage in the more traditional approach.  It is a worth while article to spend some time with.

What is your experience with seminary?  Have you seen creative alternatives?  What would you like to see?