The Lausanne Global Conversation is on the World Wide Open Network
Author: Martin Auch
Date: 14.10.2010
Category: Leadership Development
Most lchurch & mission leaders are coming from a typical seminary training. I see the need to much more apply Paul’s model for training young men and women through learning by doing. Theoretical reflection needs to be learned - but in the protected bubble of a classroom we might discuss issues nobody outside our little Christian world is bothering. That is why we need people really involved in challenging the future batch in practical work as well. Real leaders are being accepted not because the have earned a degree or due to a positon in office. Real leaders are convincig by giving an example which automatically invites others to follow. Real leaders talk about issues which matter to live. I feel in our training classes/seminaries we need to make experience outside our protected training camps such must to get an equal positon to the formal education part. Accompanied by an experienced leader future leaders can walk step by step and learn for life. Not many experienced leaders ready to do so. Don’t get me wrong - Degrees are part of live in our present world. But we need future leaders who apart from their formal education have experienced humbleness and courage in such a way, that they want to follow that road.
Keywords: limits of formal education, challenge for existing leaders to allow others coming alongside
Martin A has not Contributed any other Resources entries. To see other content that Martin A has Contributed, click here
Views: 4216
Comments: 13
Recommendations: 4
Conversation Post Comment
United States
As one who has benefitted from on the job training and formal education I am convinced that every spiritual leader needs to find a balance in both education and practical experience. The education that I have received has given me insight that has helped me sound biblical decisions in my ministry. I believe many of those decisions would have been more difficult had I not had some background in theology, scripture, and languages of the Bible. However, the knowledge I have gained from on the job training could never have been taught in the classroom. Both types of training and education are important, finding balance is the key.
22.11.2011
Canada
You make some good points here. You are right - formal education does not guarantee that the person educated will be a successful leader, nor should the lack of access to said training disqualify someone with experience and obvious gifts from God.
A friend of mine once told me that she used to work in the banking industry, and that she would receive tons of MBA graduates who wanted either a job or an end-of-program internship. She found them frustrating because they knew little to nothing about the actual banking system, and she had to train them from scratch because of this.
I just finished my MDiv, and we only had the "practical internship" during our final year also. For someone who moved into the area from outside (another weakness of formal education, ie. accessibility concerns), who doesn’t have any connection with local churches, it was challenging to find a church willing to take on an intern (and give them more than "errand-running" or "children" type work), especially since many in this city look to seminary students as temporary only, and not worthwhile to invest in. Thankfully, God allowed me to find an internship with a parachurch mission centre in a nearby community.
Now that I have graduated, the "ministry" jobs just aren’t there like they may have been 10-20 years ago.
If I, as a Canadian, have access to this training, but still find "getting local practical experience" a challenge and a half - especially after a period of cloistered study where I am not involved with the outside world, what about the parts of the world where the church is exploding in growth (as opposed to shrinking from "who cares?" attitudes), where there is one pastor for 5-6 congregations, who has very little money and almost no time to leave the people under his (or her) care to fly around the globe to invest in the cloistered training in a seminary?
For these reasons, I completely agree. We need to rethink how we do our training of the next generation of leaders. That’s not saying that seminary is a total waste of time. I loved my studies, and I want to go on for further PhD studies. But we cannot stop there and say "Now that you are graduated, you are on your own."
26.10.2010
United States
Thank you for posting this, Martin. It is a subject of great interest to our ministry, because I’m a President/CEO with no seminary training (or military training either).
We started a "Timothys and Joshuas / Marthas and Priscillas" Project with a goal of training young men and women through "learning by doing," as you say. But this path has been very difficult, too. So, yes, you’re right -- basic training may be necessary first.
And you are also so right that future leaders need to have humbleness and courage. They also need to have the maturity, energy, enthusiasm, thoroughness, and cultural sensitivity necessary to do the work. And they need to be servant-hearted, Philippians 2:4 ("look also to the interests of others") kinds of people. You learn pretty quickly whether people have these qualities in the field, as opposed to a classroom environment.
Thank you again for starting this conversation.
(A personal side note: I see on Google maps that you live just 35 km from where my great-great grandfather moved in the 1850s, and where I still have distant relatives, in Schönaich.)
16.10.2010
Germany
@ NateButler:
Thank you Nate for the encouragement. It is a pity you are not in Cape Town - I would have liked to share in person your experience. When I talked to young people how they value accreditation I was amazed how important it is for them. Same experience in the US for High School Graduates?
(By the way my wife comes from Schönaich and I know many people there. If you want to visit - stay with us!)
Martin
16.10.2010
United States
@ Martin_A:
Yes, I think there is a lot of emphasis on getting a degree here in the States.
I would have loved to attend the meetings there, but I was unable to do so. Lord willing, perhaps we can meet in Germany someday. (I’ll e-mail you privately about Schönaich.)
Nate
18.10.2010
United States
I agree with the need for "field time", but think the seminary foundation is critical. We need to know the Truth, and how to defend it, before taking it into the field. As a pediatrician (slowly) going through seminary, I see a lot of value in the medical training model - four years of medical school consists of 2 years of classroom study followed by 2 years of closely supervised clinical work, followed by even more training in internship, residency, and perhaps fellowship. A long process, but one that provides a foundation first, followed by gradually increasing levels of responsibility and independence.
God bless,
John
15.10.2010
Germany
@ JC_King:
In Europe we have a young generation with lots of commitment towards the Lord. But they much more find their way by walking. I am for an really integrated model of missionary training in order to help them to find their way. I am sorry to say, that in recent years we had to bid farewell to highly motivated people from missionary service, coming out of a high level training. Intercultural training had had special emphasis. As German I have a hard time to compromise on qualitiy :-) But we could learn e.g. from military (even I never was in it) by doing a basic training for everybody and then go for lifelong learning & training concepts for the different challenges.
16.10.2010
Canada
Thanks so much. Good valid points here. It took me 5 years to get the Seminary out of me. By that I mean how to not take myself so serious because I had an Mdiv. The degree is important but how to apply it practically within a 21st century context is far more important. Seminaries need to really re-toll in order to prepare 21st century leaders.
15.10.2010
Germany
@ windjammer:
Hardly ever heard such words from a PhD holder... Thank you for your openness and humility shown in your lines. One thing is attitude as you comment. The other thing is what do we need for which task? Even I never was in the military I know that everybody has the same basic training - but then you specify. I feel we need that with a strong combination of guided and unguided practical exposure.
Sometime I feel we are using our time and resources not well enough. I am not at all against Seminary training. Recently I have encouraged three of our missionaries to go for a PhD. But as you say - the challenges of our century can’t force a similar corset on each and everyone since the situations change much more quickly than accreditation institutions will be able to.
16.10.2010
Germany
@ windjammer:
Thank you for your comment!
I am very much concerned about the adequacy of our spiritual training tools. Recently I have encouraged three of our missionaries to go for a PhD - since they are personalities coming out of practical experience with passion for grasroot ministry. I am not against formal training, but I am hesitant with applying a corset to each and everybody in a quickly changing world. Let’s don’t rest on what we have got but look into the future for the needs we will face.
16.10.2010
Nigeria
I believe the content of the container does not change but the container can change. What i mena is that the gospel message does not change, but the container, the methods and manners of presenting the message can change depending on the situation, environment and the recipients. Water will take the shape of the container. We need to ensure the water we give out is fresh and not stale. Therefore, any one doing the gospel ministry in the 21st century using the methods of the 1st century and even 20th century will fail. The need to train and re train therefore cannot be overemphasized if we shall be relevant and purposeful to the post modern century.
15.10.2010
Germany
@ Ezekiel1985:
Dear Ezekiel,
Thank you for the great picture you are giving! I will use it by quoting you when we discuss about that very topic.
Containers have changed so much in human history... but the living water of Christ never did. But sometimes we confuse that it is two different things we are talking about! As time goes by we identify the two as one and Satan has greatest interest that we do so!
16.10.2010
Germany
@ Ezekiel1985:
Dear Ezekiel,
Thank you for the great picture you are giving! I will use it by quoting you when we discuss about that very topic.
Containers have changed so much in human history... but the living water of Christ never did. But sometimes we confuse that it is two different things we are talking about! As time goes by we identify the two as one and Satan has greatest interest that we do so!
16.10.2010
You must be logged in to post a comment. If you don’t have an account, you can sign up now (it’s free and easy!).