Comments for Going to Seminary http://www.goingtoseminary.com Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:29:47 +0000 hourly 1 Comment on Two Cent Tuesday – Should Seminary Be Required to Pastor by Jared http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForGoingToSeminary/~3/cv72ylglfIM/ Jared Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:29:47 +0000 http://goingtoseminary.com/poll-should-seminary-be-required-for-pastors/#comment-14162 I do believe a period of academic training is important. Should it be necessarily seminary? No, not in my opinion. I commented in another area on the cost of a seminary education. A traditional seminary education will be priced out of the 'market' with the less-expensive, non-traditional methods (online, distance-learning, church-based, etc) because of the prospect of adding $60,000 or more in loans to some potential pastors is just too much. I am looking to get a reasonably priced seminary degree simply because I think it will give me a valuable framework for the ministry, especially since I may want to do some research/writing in the field as well as serve. I do believe a period of academic training is important. Should it be necessarily seminary? No, not in my opinion. I commented in another area on the cost of a seminary education. A traditional seminary education will be priced out of the ‘market’ with the less-expensive, non-traditional methods (online, distance-learning, church-based, etc) because of the prospect of adding $60,000 or more in loans to some potential pastors is just too much. I am looking to get a reasonably priced seminary degree simply because I think it will give me a valuable framework for the ministry, especially since I may want to do some research/writing in the field as well as serve.

]]> http://www.goingtoseminary.com/poll-should-seminary-be-required-for-pastors/comment-page-1/#comment-14162 Comment on Two Cent Tuesday – Should Seminary Be Required to Pastor by Vonnie James http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForGoingToSeminary/~3/LmsuSQVeBxU/ Vonnie James Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:20:27 +0000 http://goingtoseminary.com/poll-should-seminary-be-required-for-pastors/#comment-14161 I believe formal pastoral training is important.However in the situation with seminary,I don't think it a must.But I prefer an educated trained Pastor who is able to meet people at every level. God has granted me the grace and opportunity to attend a theological institution in Grenada, then I will be moving to Jamaica for more studies.I feel the man of God must be thoroughly equipped. I believe formal pastoral training is important.However in the situation with seminary,I don’t think it a must.But I prefer an educated trained Pastor who is able to meet people at every level.
God has granted me the grace and opportunity to attend a theological institution in Grenada, then I will be moving to Jamaica for more studies.I feel the man of God must be thoroughly equipped.

]]> http://www.goingtoseminary.com/poll-should-seminary-be-required-for-pastors/comment-page-1/#comment-14161 Comment on Should women attend seminary? by April B. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForGoingToSeminary/~3/jSft7npgQC0/ April B. Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:29:02 +0000 http://goingtoseminary.com/should-women-attend-seminary/#comment-14158 Great thread you got going here. Just want to add my 2 cents. I am 26 and in seminary. I never thought I would go.. though I felt pressed to do so at many times in my journey. For years I accepted the submission doctrine. You know "wives submit" "men are the head" and so on and so forth. Oh and Mike I feel maybe the verse you are referring to is speaking of monogamy...just a thought... As far as the submission doctrine... I accepted this to be true. Until I encountered Jesus. In a very real way, how radical was it for Mary to sit and listen to Jesus' teachings? It was SO radical. How radical for Jesus to speak directly to the woman at the well. He didn't say "Woman, go get your husband I will talk to him". He talked directly to her. Wow! This was unheard of in Jesus' day! Furthermore, for me to say I am Christian simply means I am saying I believe God came to Earth. His name was Christ and at the end of the day, God is my God, scripture is not my God, but a wonderful text and reflection of the divine. We must remember that the bible is "the crystallization of primitive church dogma" (from Jesus Christ Liberator By: Leonardo Boff). Yes there is truth in it, but there is also a reflection of a culture. What gender was and is varies by culture, this is not something regulated by religion. Nor should it be. I hope to someday pursue either being a chaplain or a pastor. I am no longer letting gender discourage me. To anyone else who may read this, if you are feeling discouraged remember, if God will pull you to it, God will definitely pull you through it. Trust, pray, and keep moving forward, God will handle the rest!! Peace, April My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ (Colossians 2:2) Great thread you got going here. Just want to add my 2 cents. I am 26 and in seminary. I never thought I would go.. though I felt pressed to do so at many times in my journey. For years I accepted the submission doctrine. You know “wives submit” “men are the head” and so on and so forth.

Oh and Mike I feel maybe the verse you are referring to is speaking of monogamy…just a thought…

As far as the submission doctrine…

I accepted this to be true. Until I encountered Jesus. In a very real way, how radical was it for Mary to sit and listen to Jesus’ teachings? It was SO radical. How radical for Jesus to speak directly to the woman at the well. He didn’t say “Woman, go get your husband I will talk to him”. He talked directly to her.

Wow! This was unheard of in Jesus’ day!

Furthermore, for me to say I am Christian simply means I am saying I believe God came to Earth. His name was Christ and at the end of the day, God is my God, scripture is not my God, but a wonderful text and reflection of the divine.

We must remember that the bible is “the crystallization of primitive church dogma” (from Jesus Christ Liberator By: Leonardo Boff). Yes there is truth in it, but there is also a reflection of a culture. What gender was and is varies by culture, this is not something regulated by religion. Nor should it be.

I hope to someday pursue either being a chaplain or a pastor. I am no longer letting gender discourage me.

To anyone else who may read this, if you are feeling discouraged remember, if God will pull you to it, God will definitely pull you through it. Trust, pray, and keep moving forward, God will handle the rest!!

Peace,
April

My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ (Colossians 2:2)

]]> http://www.goingtoseminary.com/should-women-attend-seminary/comment-page-1/#comment-14158 Comment on Free Kindles for seminary students by Brian Schmitt http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForGoingToSeminary/~3/d5jPszQDzlk/ Brian Schmitt Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:25:39 +0000 http://www.goingtoseminary.com/?p=2953#comment-14156 The focus of the articles is really up to you as long as it falls within your journey of going to seminary. Spiritual, financial, vocational, stress of GTS, what interests you? The focus of the articles is really up to you as long as it falls within your journey of going to seminary. Spiritual, financial, vocational, stress of GTS, what interests you?

]]> http://www.goingtoseminary.com/free-kindles-for-seminary-students/comment-page-1/#comment-14156 Comment on Free Kindles for seminary students by Christyna http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForGoingToSeminary/~3/WjL4Z74kt-w/ Christyna Mon, 15 Mar 2010 01:55:00 +0000 http://www.goingtoseminary.com/?p=2953#comment-14155 What kind of topic would you like to see? What about our spiritual journey? Not sure what you want to see... What kind of topic would you like to see? What about our spiritual journey? Not sure what you want to see…

]]> http://www.goingtoseminary.com/free-kindles-for-seminary-students/comment-page-1/#comment-14155 Comment on Free Kindles for seminary students by Brian Schmitt http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForGoingToSeminary/~3/7riX1TC-BRc/ Brian Schmitt Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:42:01 +0000 http://www.goingtoseminary.com/?p=2953#comment-14143 Submission deadline is 3/30/10 Submission deadline is 3/30/10

]]> http://www.goingtoseminary.com/free-kindles-for-seminary-students/comment-page-1/#comment-14143 Comment on Free Kindles for seminary students by Barbara_Parker (Barbara Parker) http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForGoingToSeminary/~3/DDQhMUahZ64/ Barbara_Parker (Barbara Parker) Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:17:47 +0000 http://www.goingtoseminary.com/?p=2953#comment-14142 Currently reading http://www.goingtoseminary.com/free-kindles-for-seminary-students/ Currently reading http://www.goingtoseminary.com/free-kindles-for-seminary-students/

]]> http://www.goingtoseminary.com/free-kindles-for-seminary-students/comment-page-1/#comment-14142 Comment on Free Kindles for seminary students by Laura http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForGoingToSeminary/~3/3nvbUp4jQs8/ Laura Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:08:11 +0000 http://www.goingtoseminary.com/?p=2953#comment-14140 deadline for submission? deadline for submission?

]]> http://www.goingtoseminary.com/free-kindles-for-seminary-students/comment-page-1/#comment-14140 Comment on Ministry in a Dying Church by JESUS EVER MINISTRY http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForGoingToSeminary/~3/YKeFwTR_NIs/ JESUS EVER MINISTRY Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:40:35 +0000 http://www.goingtoseminary.com/?p=1770#comment-14139 Greetings in the name of our lord Jesus Christ Having heard about your capability and your efficiency in caring out the things of almighty god effectively without fear of favor, through your various publications and your programmers in TV station the last time i visited you country late last year, I pastor emmanuel v okafor and the members of Jesus for ever ministry here in Nigeria wishes to merge with your church and to be renamed with the name of your church as one of your branch here in Nigeria. We took this measure after going through your profile and our inability to fiancé the ministry. we wish to work with your church in sincerity and honesty. Thank you as we await a favorable reply from your ministry. yours Brother in the lord pastor emmanuel v okafor jesuseverministry@gmail.com +2348035073997 Greetings in the name of our lord Jesus Christ

Having heard about your capability and your efficiency in caring out the things of almighty god effectively without fear of favor, through your various publications and your programmers in TV station the last time i visited you country late last year, I pastor emmanuel v okafor and the members of Jesus for ever ministry here in Nigeria wishes to merge with your church and to be renamed with the name of your church as one of your branch here in Nigeria.

We took this measure after going through your profile and our inability to fiancé the ministry. we wish to work with your church in sincerity and honesty.

Thank you as we await a favorable reply from your ministry.

yours Brother in the lord
pastor emmanuel v okafor
jesuseverministry@gmail.com
+2348035073997

]]> http://www.goingtoseminary.com/ministry-in-a-dying-church/comment-page-1/#comment-14139 Comment on List of Seminaries with Online and Distance Education by Jared http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForGoingToSeminary/~3/LJwALSUZP4A/ Jared Fri, 05 Mar 2010 11:29:04 +0000 http://goingtoseminary.com/list-of-seminaries-with-online-and-distance-education/#comment-14135 I have been researching for an online or even distance learning program to take. Believe me, anything ATS is WAY out of range as far as price. There are variances and some say, "well, with this-or-that scholarship and loan, it's not really that much." Well, yes, anything more than $300 or $400 for a 3 hour course is too much, at least for my limited circumstances. I'm 42 yo, am still paying tens of thousands of dollars of student loans for me and my ex-wife and i'm not even sure as to how i'm going to use the degree (I feel the calling, just not sure yet as to what it is in), and i'll have a daughter starting college in a couple years as well. Seminary, like most US education, is insane as far as tuition goes. And of course if one seeks feedback about an "unaccredited" program, especially that is not ATS, the ATS supporters come out of the woodwork as to how much one will regret an "unaccredited" program. I'm not expecting "free" tuition, but come on, on online, quality program could be offered for $100 per hour, even by an ATS program, in my opinion. The problem is, they could not keep that same accreditation if they "lowballed" the other ATS schools and did that. I have been researching for an online or even distance learning program to take. Believe me, anything ATS is WAY out of range as far as price. There are variances and some say, “well, with this-or-that scholarship and loan, it’s not really that much.” Well, yes, anything more than $300 or $400 for a 3 hour course is too much, at least for my limited circumstances. I’m 42 yo, am still paying tens of thousands of dollars of student loans for me and my ex-wife and i’m not even sure as to how i’m going to use the degree (I feel the calling, just not sure yet as to what it is in), and i’ll have a daughter starting college in a couple years as well. Seminary, like most US education, is insane as far as tuition goes. And of course if one seeks feedback about an “unaccredited” program, especially that is not ATS, the ATS supporters come out of the woodwork as to how much one will regret an “unaccredited” program. I’m not expecting “free” tuition, but come on, on online, quality program could be offered for $100 per hour, even by an ATS program, in my opinion. The problem is, they could not keep that same accreditation if they “lowballed” the other ATS schools and did that.

]]> http://www.goingtoseminary.com/list-of-seminaries-with-online-and-distance-education/comment-page-1/#comment-14135