By Ronald Kelly
Manager of Pastoral Development
Maybe you've noticed your pastor carrying a bigger briefcase this past year or two.
That's to carry the many books, tapes and videos we provide for our ministerial continuing education program we call in-service training.
Providing courses is especially beneficial for our newer nonsalaried pastors. In-service education is an investment in our pastors, both salaried and nonsalaried, that will provide for even higher quality pastoral leadership in the coming years.
Why have a continuing education program? The ministry is a profession, and most professionals need to keep up with new developments and regularly refresh their skills.
In-service training may include further studies by correspondence, attendance at seminars and workshops or taking a college course.
Most of us in the ministry realize there were certain deficiencies in our formal education.
Because we did not have a WCG seminary, our training was limited to the bachelor's degree program. The demands of the ministry as a profession in the WCG will be even greater as we approach the 21st century. Ours is a long-range program to better equip the ministry for the work ahead.
The in-service program for ministers was implemented in 1996. The first class was titled The Theology of Leadership, presented by Alister McGrath, a highly respected Oxford University professor.
The second class, Biblical Interpretation, by noted professors Gordon Fee and Bruce Waltke of Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia, was a challenging course that helps our pastors more accurately read, understand and expound the Scriptures.
A third class, on stewardship, provided a break from the more academic Biblical Interpretation class.
This class contained inspirational examples that demonstrated how Christians should responsibly use their time, talents and finances in the work of the church.
In March we mailed the fourth class: Early and Medieval Church History. Some materials for this class are pictured below.
The class consists of a video assignment designed to work with discipleship classes or small groups as well as an audio tape series, several books and five written assignments.
When the class is completed this autumn, questions such as What is the true history of the true church? or Are we a Protestant denomination? or How and why did Sunday worship begin? will be answered.
In the WCG, we had a somewhat narrow view of church history. This class will challenge our ministers to think in much broader terms about the work of the church from the first century onward.
Many ministers will, no doubt, give sermons as they cover the materials in their personal studies. And the videos will be available for use in illustrating sermons, discipleship classes or small group studies.
Our commitment to ministers and members is twofold: 1) to provide education for the ministers' growth and edification and 2) provide a pastorate that will serve WCG members in the best possible way.
Continuing education is a lot of work. Most of our pastors carry a heavy load, with some caring for at least two churches and several looking after three or even four.
But unlearning errors and keeping up with the latest information about effective pastoring is vital for the health and future of the church.
We solicit your prayers for our pastors and the responsibilities they bear. We hope you will be an encourager for him as you pray for him and understand his time constraints.
And by the way, after your pastor has finished a course, we encourage him to pass along the materials to local church elders or place some of the tapes and books in the church library for members to study. Or if you would like to buy the materials yourself, he can let you know the company they can be purchased from.
April WN, page 20
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