You know guys, I have tried applying for pastoral jobs, mostly because I see a need for improvement in churches. I have applied to bible colleges and been rejected because I dont have the qualifications they want.
It is discouraging, but I found a place online to obtain my ministers license. What I would like to do is find a job to persue the bachelor of ministry training my former pastor recommended through correspondence.
That course is about $80 to $100.00 Canadian once the fee and currencey exchange and taxes are included. I mean look at some of the heros of the faith. Joseph, he was a kid sold into slavery by his brothers. Went to prison based on false charges and eventually became second in command to Pharoh.
Moses, he wasnt an ellogent speaker, but he was willing to do Gods work and free the slaves from Egypt even though he killed a man and became a fugitive on the run.
King david, was a child when his ministry started, he killed the lion, the bear, then he killed Goliath in defence of his country. Eventually grew up to become a king.
I have a few good tools for studying, the Sword of the Lord software, a Strongs Greek and Hebrew referance book, I also have a membership at Christianbook.com, but ultimately the qualifications are for God to decide. Many are called but few are chose. It doesnt say anything about bible college or doctor of theology. It says to study to shew thyself approved, a workman who needeth not be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth. GIve attendance to doctrine, Ultimately its the pastors job to educate his flock. I would even argue that education is the churches jurisdiction and not the governments.
IF your in Canada we also have the Christian Heritage Party of Canada, which is devoted to defending Canadas biblical foundation. as well as the Canadian Christian Business Federation for Christian business owners.
What you are doing is getting a mail
Order degree. It is worth nothing! You need to go to an online seminary so you can continue to work & learn. I have my MDiv from the Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary & College in Cochrane, AB You may need to start at a college level. I cannot more highly recommend a place where you would become more prepared to serve God. It took me 7 years to finish my MDiv, but, I was so prepared. I was also asked to apply as a theology professor, but I was extremely unwell at the time, my RA meds were failing, and I was not reasonably going to finish my PhD degree on time. I do not regret the time I have spent working on my degrees. I rejoice in what I learned, including how to research & write papers, Greek & Hebrew, so many practical skills.
I guarantee you will Learn 1000 X more at a seminary that is Bible believing, than through a mail order degree mill. I am working on a PhD degree from BHCarroll in Texas, which also offers degrees at various levels. I am working on a PhD in Disability Theology. I might have to quit, because I just learned I am growing blind from Macular Degeneration. I'm still praying! I've been trained as a teacher, taught elementary school for many years, and did a work experience as a chaplain, which I lived, and continued to volunteer at for a year after, till I became more disabled than many of the patients!
Seminary teaches you so much more than you could ever learn yourself. It compresses wisdom & knowledge from many disciplines by many people. It gives you tools to counsel people, to preach, teach and care for God's people. You have access to models who are kind and experienced people, with high levels of degrees in accredited institutions. I loved my seminary, because they didn't teach you want to think, but how to learn to think. They didn't give you a bunch of rules, or doctrines, but made you dig them out of the Bible. They help model mature Christians. All my professors were former International Mission Board Missionaries, through the SBC, although that has changed. These people, including husbands & wives have given their lives to serve Christ and share the gospel. They are truly men & women of God you can learn from and trust. They are affiliated with the Southern Baptist tradition, they do not ordain women. But the seminary was so popular with such a high rating, that women preachers from other denominations came there. We had a woman Anglican priest, a woman pastor from the Chinese Alliance church. And yes, we all took courses like preaching together. I think that was harder on me than the men in the class. I'm in a Baptist denomination now that lets women preach & be ordained, and I do preach, although not since I had COVID in Jan of 2022. I'm finally recovering from that, and other illnesses that have come my way!
You have the time, but maybe not the money. Talk to the registrars. They are looking for people with a heart to serve God in many places. They will help you with finding jobs etc. Even Jesus prepared himself before he began his ministry. I assure you that you will never regret choosing to put yourself under mature, senior Christians who can lead & guide you. Online is a challenge, but its advantages are many, esp doing it in your own time, from wherever your live in Canada. There are Jan & May courses which are intensives, that you have to be on campus for. But it is a good opportunity to meet people & learn from staff & students. Feel free to contact me if you want to know more. Plus, my seminary left it to you to decide and defend your theology., Your ideas come out of the Bible, and what you read and learn. But be prepared to write lots of papers!! I've always loved writing papers! I know Lutheran students could do a directed course with a qualified Lutheran pastor. I don't know why they just didn't go to Saskatchewan, to the Lutheran Seminary there. We had Mennonite pastors, Reformed pastors, and even a charismatic who took courses yearly. That was a real learning experience for many of the seminary students!
