Pastors/Ministers who have attended Bible/Theological College vs Pastors/Ministers who have not....

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Mel85

Mel85

Daughter of the True King
#1
Mar 28, 2018
10,910
6,897
113
#1
Firstly, I apologise for my lack of correct usage of words or grammar, it’s night time here and my brain has shut down after a busy day at work.

I have always wondered whether one really needs to attend Bible School or College to have some sort qualification or become ordained to lead a Ministry. I know a few Ministers/Pastors that have never been to Bible College or School, yet they are in Leadership positions in their respective churches. Now, I definitely know that some are Called into Ministry by God, but does going to Bible or Theological College matter these days? (rhetoric question).

We know in the bible there weren’t Bible Schools or Colleges, and maybe perhaps the closest thing to that was when believers and followers of Judaism would recite passages from their scrolls in the synagogues.

So, is it important that a Pastor or Minister has not attended Bible or Theological College?

If they haven’t graduated from such, should they be leading Ministries/Churches?

Furthermore, most inspirational people from the Bible didn’t have theological qualifications or degrees, for example Joseph son of Isaac, Daniel or Paul the Apostle - their wisdom came straight from God in which they were able to minister to people with conviction.

I don’t want to debate on this because everyone will have different views, but I just want to know what your thoughts are on the matter. Thanks for your time and contribution.

Just for your information, my Minister has graduated from Theological College.
 
JaumeJ

JaumeJ

Senior Member
#2
Jul 2, 2011
21,428
6,706
113
#2
Bible school and college are for an education of the flesh by man. Non of the Apostles were educated by any authority other than God, Yahweh.

All who believe are made priests after the order of Malchizedek, the eternal order headed by our Savior, Jesus, Yesua.. Those who are truly priests of this order will not talk out of turn, not a lot anyways.
 
Dave-L

Dave-L

Banned
#3
Jan 17, 2020
4,792
736
113
#3
I believe the best you can do is study the historic Ecumenical Creeds. And then find the most highly trained accredited seminary grad pastor as possible. But depart if you hear one thing that does not adhere to the creeds.
 
Chester

Chester

Senior Member
#4
May 23, 2016
4,314
1,442
113
#4
Mel85 said:
Firstly, I apologise for my lack of correct usage of words or grammar, it’s night time here and my brain has shut down after a busy day at work.

I have always wondered whether one really needs to attend Bible School or College to have some sort qualification or become ordained to lead a Ministry. I know a few Ministers/Pastors that have never been to Bible College or School, yet they are in Leadership positions in their respective churches. Now, I definitely know that some are Called into Ministry by God, but does going to Bible or Theological College matter these days? (rhetoric question).

We know in the bible there weren’t Bible Schools or Colleges, and maybe perhaps the closest thing to that was when believers and followers of Judaism would recite passages from their scrolls in the synagogues.

So, is it important that a Pastor or Minister has not attended Bible or Theological College?

If they haven’t graduated from such, should they be leading Ministries/Churches?

Furthermore, most inspirational people from the Bible didn’t have theological qualifications or degrees, for example Joseph son of Isaac, Daniel or Paul the Apostle - their wisdom came straight from God in which they were able to minister to people with conviction.

I don’t want to debate on this because everyone will have different views, but I just want to know what your thoughts are on the matter. Thanks for your time and contribution.

Just for your information, my Minister has graduated from Theological College.
Click to expand...
The foremost requirement to be a minister of the Gospel is to be born again, and then to have a passionate, real, live, living, and dynamic pursuit of God and His kingdom. A minister must not just have knowledge, but He must live in obedience to the will of God (that is - so others can follow him).

If it is helpful to have a Biblical education, that is great! But sometimes seminaries only make a person distant, proud, and lukewarm. Any yet some of the best leaders I know are very educated.

So education and college is not really the major issue. Better to have an uneducated passionate disciple than a PHD who does not believe the Bible.
 
Dino246

Dino246

Senior Member
#5
Jun 30, 2015
25,412
13,760
113
#5
In order for someone to be teaching in the Church, that person must be adequately trained to teach and adequately taught in the material that they will be teaching. Seminaries and colleges provide that instruction in a formal setting. The Bible characters other than Paul and Moses had informal instruction, which is no less valid provided that the instructor is adequately equipped.

Would a church be willing to elevate someone to a teaching role who has not had appropriate, relevant instruction? It does happen, and occasionally it works out. However, the likelihood of it turning out poorly is greater where the person has been informally trained. Unfortunately, neither is a guarantee of sound doctrine and effective instruction, which is why today's teachers should not operate independently regardless of their education.
 
posthuman

posthuman

Senior Member
#6
Jul 31, 2013
37,804
13,551
113
#6
i think there is a difference between teaching ((imparting knowledge and understanding)) and preaching ((exhorting and encouraging)).

i don't think a formal education is necessary to do either but i do think it is helpful for both, probably moreso for teaching.
 
Dino246

Dino246

Senior Member
#7
Jun 30, 2015
25,412
13,760
113
#7
Chester said:
Better to have an uneducated passionate disciple than a PHD who does not believe the Bible.
Click to expand...
That's true, but it's also a false dichotomy. I'd rather be taught by someone with both passion for the Lord and a Ph.D. in a relevant field.
 
posthuman

posthuman

Senior Member
#8
Jul 31, 2013
37,804
13,551
113
#8
You can have a very well trained and educated person who teaches false doctrine and is poor at preaching.

You can have a very passionate and faithful person who is ignorant and leads people astray.

You can have any combination. Education and study by itself doesn't guarantee anything. Passion and strong beliefs by itself doesn't guarantee anything. Even a person full of the Spirit and strong in their faith - are they exempt from studying and preparing for ministry on account of this? Maybe. But better to always be growing in knowledge of God than not.
 
J

John146

Senior Member
#9
Jan 13, 2016
17,111
3,687
113
#9
Mel85 said:
Firstly, I apologise for my lack of correct usage of words or grammar, it’s night time here and my brain has shut down after a busy day at work.

I have always wondered whether one really needs to attend Bible School or College to have some sort qualification or become ordained to lead a Ministry. I know a few Ministers/Pastors that have never been to Bible College or School, yet they are in Leadership positions in their respective churches. Now, I definitely know that some are Called into Ministry by God, but does going to Bible or Theological College matter these days? (rhetoric question).

We know in the bible there weren’t Bible Schools or Colleges, and maybe perhaps the closest thing to that was when believers and followers of Judaism would recite passages from their scrolls in the synagogues.

So, is it important that a Pastor or Minister has not attended Bible or Theological College?

If they haven’t graduated from such, should they be leading Ministries/Churches?

Furthermore, most inspirational people from the Bible didn’t have theological qualifications or degrees, for example Joseph son of Isaac, Daniel or Paul the Apostle - their wisdom came straight from God in which they were able to minister to people with conviction.

I don’t want to debate on this because everyone will have different views, but I just want to know what your thoughts are on the matter. Thanks for your time and contribution.

Just for your information, my Minister has graduated from Theological College.
Click to expand...
Bible seminaries today....all they are good for is to educate you out of your belief in God's word, to correct it and be your own authority. No thanks!
 
Mel85

Mel85

Daughter of the True King
#10
Mar 28, 2018
10,910
6,897
113
#10
Dino246 said:
That's true, but it's also a false dichotomy. I'd rather be taught by someone with both passion for the Lord and a Ph.D. in a relevant field.
Click to expand...
I know a Minister who has a degree in History and Theology but for some reason he (with all due respect) lacks the side of Pastoral care... it sometimes makes it uncomfortable for him and some of the congregation to interact, with some of it coming off forcefully rather than naturally. And he’s been in Ministry for quite some time now.
 
Lanolin

Lanolin

Well-known member
#11
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#11
I think it depends on the denom, some churches dont recognise any except from their own denom based colleges to be ministers eg baptists have their own, presybeterians have their own, anglicans...even pentecostals have their own supernatural schools

Some ministers train at a non denominational bible college but I think it depends what reputation they have for supporting those born again rather than bias towards a certain doctrine.

I dont know how expensive seminaries and bible colleges are but I do know most of them are not free and I dont know if any operate on scholarship basis for those who might not able to afford to go.

Gladys ayrwald studied to go to Bible college and she was very poor and actualy failed but got to be a missionary in China.
I think it depends on the church elders judgements whether they want someone whos had that extra education or..maybe they just want anyone who can demonstrate life experience in ministering depending on their parish/congregational needs.
 
Mel85

Mel85

Daughter of the True King
#12
Mar 28, 2018
10,910
6,897
113
#12
John146 said:
Bible seminaries today....all they are good for is to educate you out of your belief in God's word, to correct it and be your own authority. No thanks!
Click to expand...
Years ago, a couple of my girlfriends invited me over for Bible Studies. My understanding was that someone in the group was going to lead us in scripture and talk about the theme etc. what really happened was that they streamed live into their Lead Bischops sermon via the internet and pretty much went from there. I know that streaming live into services or seminars work for some people, especially those who live in remote areas and don’t have local churches, but I thought it was unusual because EVERYTHING that this Bischop preached about was unsettling to me (things like comparing himself to Jesus) but my girlfriends were too mesmorized in his teachings (which I think were false). That was the last time I went.

This is not to say that all bible seminars are wrong, I just believe we have to be vigilant and ask for the Holy Spirit for discernment around these things.
 
Dino246

Dino246

Senior Member
#13
Jun 30, 2015
25,412
13,760
113
#13
Mel85 said:
I know a Minister who has a degree in History and Theology but for some reason he (with all due respect) lacks the side of Pastoral care... it sometimes makes it uncomfortable for him and some of the congregation to interact, with some of it coming off forcefully rather than naturally. And he’s been in Ministry for quite some time now.
Click to expand...
I think if we expect one person to have all the skills and abilities, we will either be disappointed or we will idolize that person. As in the case you describe, the person who can teach may not be the person who should do pastoral counseling.
 
Chester

Chester

Senior Member
#14
May 23, 2016
4,314
1,442
113
#14
Dino246 said:
That's true, but it's also a false dichotomy. I'd rather be taught by someone with both passion for the Lord and a Ph.D. in a relevant field.
Click to expand...
Yes, indeed, when you find one of those please send him my way to pastor my church. One know one man like that . . .
 
notuptome

notuptome

Senior Member
#15
May 17, 2013
15,050
2,538
113
#15
A call to preach is a call to prepare. Paul taught Timothy to study and prepare himself for the ministry that God had called him to fulfill.

2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
 
Dino246

Dino246

Senior Member
#16
Jun 30, 2015
25,412
13,760
113
#16
John146 said:
Bible seminaries today....all they are good for is to educate you out of your belief in God's word, to correct it and be your own authority. No thanks!
Click to expand...
Your comment expresses such a strong opinion for one so bereft of supporting evidence.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.