I spent exorbitant amounts of money to attend Bible College and Seminary. I was rather young when I began (18 the first time, and then 24 thru 30 the second time), and at that point, given the culture, it just seemed like an 
investment to pay for a good solid theological education. Of course my goal was to get into the ministry and/or to teach at the college/seminary level (which I have done a little of both in the past), and over time (my lifetime) I would pay off my student loans. Of course, I got married to a beautiful woman who also had some student loans from her undergrad at Bible College too — so our student debt compounded.
My question is, I wonder if you think that Bible Colleges and Seminaries, as good stewards, have a responsibility to research the relationship between the degrees they are charging exorbitant amounts for and the actual vocational benefit that said degree is ideally providing? In other words, do you think that Bible Colleges and Seminaries should be knowledgeable about such things; so that when they are counseling prospective students, they can do so in a way that provides these young students (and their parents) with an informed basis and expectation about what they are getting into financially? It almost seems like if Bible Colleges and Seminaries don’t do this that they create an appearance that looks like they are “in-it” for the money (at an ulterior, and maybe even unconscious level).
I know that statistically this isn’t just Bible Colleges and Seminaries, it is all academic degrees; there is a very poor correlation between actual program of study and degree, and future vocational realities. In other words, usually, as I’ve heard, degree of study does not correlate or equal what someone ends up doing vocationally. So then I wonder if the marketing used to get people into undergrad and grad programs is misleading, in general? And I wonder if Christian Bible Colleges and Seminaries are simply following the lead of this culture in particular? That is, I wonder if Bible College’s and Seminaries’ public relations and marketing campaigns are misleading? With all the right intentions of course!
I should say, it goes w/o saying that each individual student has a personal responsibility to research this stuff themselves; and yet, this seems to be where Bible Colleges and Seminaries usually place the onus. I.e. they fail to take any responsibility themselves in this regard. And thus the impetus for my writing of this post. To question whether or not Bible Colleges and Seminaries bare any responsibility for this themselves?
All higher education now comes under the category of “caveat emptor”.
I recently attended a local seminary’s meet and greet to learn about Master’s programs. Days later I got the usual follow up call and when I raised this question of whether I could be reasonably assured that the tens of thousands of dollars of investment would be returned to me in the form of employment opportunity I did not get an answer. Instead the response took the form of the person’s own testimony that they just had to get the knowledge and the education. It was all about passion for them. I agreed with the passion, but given my status in life I have to consider the cost/return equation. They had no answers for that.
When I asked if the dept. that handles intern projects and assignments could tell me the current status of pastoral demand and opportunities I was dissuaded from looking to them for insights.
Not having a denominational connection at the moment and not having any institutional support for a pastoral career I concluded that right now the cost is not one I can bear.
Seminaries are the products of the institutional church and they support and provide leaders for those same institutions. If one is happy ministering within those contexts then there can be opportunity. If one is not in that stream or circles then the path must be more entrepreneurial. One must more or less carve out one’s ministry with God’s help.
I would enjoy nothing more than to attend classes full time learning theology and related subjects. I would love to have the freedom and demand to actually do research and writing. But not being independently wealthy I don’t have the means to pay for that or borrow for that. And there are no open doors awaiting me upon completion. God could always open them at the right time. I could establish connections while in school. So for now I shall continue my own path of being self taught.
Bobby, as you know many theologians spent some time in the pastoral ministry first and then were called to a teaching position. That may be less the path today given the demands for academic focus, degrees and writing. Are you in a denomination that you could minister with?
Jon,
Thank you for sharing your experience. The feedback you got is the same that I’ve heard. When I was attending seminary/bible college I was very idealist, and young; I do believe the Lord has used my time there to radically change my life, and I haven’t yet given up hope that vocational ministry will open. In fact it well could very soon. There are some logistical reasons that currently stand in the way of that happening even now (in our current situation). We are in a church where vocational ministry could actually happen, Lord willing, and hopefully it will soon!
Yeah many of my dad’s profs, mine too, in bible college were pastors or missionaries first; and this is or used to be the case in Free church Evangelical (or even Fundy) schools. But as you note this has changed somewhat over time.
As far as being self-taught I think you’re doing really good, Jon. I think you have an unusual apptitude, and an encouraging motivation for studying our most awesome God!
Thanks for the feedback, again; what you say is exactly what I was trying to probe a bit with this post. I think this is just how it is. I’m not saying that the motives of these schools is bad, but that I’m not sure the whole model, and the cost, is actually thought out very well or intentionally.
Sore subject for me so I’m going to rant…
Bible colleges and seminaries are proof of a complete break down in the structure of the church today. To be a “good” christian, you must be a pastor or youth pastor or worship leader. In order to be a pastor, you must have a degree, and not just a degree, but an MDiv. Once that is accomplished, you work for pennies and live in poverty until you can work your way up to decent paying position in a church/school. Let’s go down the church path… you’ve built up your resume after a few years of low-paying work with youth and other volunteer work; you’re almost ready for adults and your work experience looks great! You land a job at a big church; good enough pay to feed your family and rent a house. A recession hits, people stop tithing, you lose your job, you have no tent-making skills.
Bible colleges only exist because 1) the church completely and utterly lacks deep theological teaching and discipling, and 2) the church is practically one with the world and requires degrees and credentials to be involved. It’s a papal system that is corrupt and flawed to the core, yet there remains a remnant.
I’d be interested to see career statistics on Bible college and seminary students as opposed to other accredited areas of study. All of my friends with bible degrees are struggling to find work. It’s not just the recession that’s the issue, it’s the entire church employment system. People should not have to pay tens of thousands of dollars to study theology, and the majority of pastors/elders/bishops should be working or have a skill to fall back on.
That said, I think every christian has a responsibility to do the right thing, whether it’s the dean of students at a bible college, an admissions counselor, a pastor, a lay person, etc. The entire system is broken and the only way to change it is to educate the church.
Hey everybody,
I’d like to introduce you all to my little brother, Jeff Grow (he’s not that little anymore π ).
Jeff, I think your points are right on, and I couldn’t have said what you said better myself (we must be related)! Great rant!! Nice hair too π .
The system is broken esp. in non-denominational Free churches. It is the corporate ladder model, as you note, Jeff. Start at the entry level (to be crude) youth pastor, work your way up to middle management (associate pastor), and then finally to CEO (senior pastor). I wonder what can be done, in the Free church model (ie. Churches that are autonomous) to fix this?
Some find a way to start their own church within the denomination by participating in church planting programs. I have seen this work several times with mixed results, but it gets the church planter started without climbing the ladder.
Another way is to go to older, rural, smaller congregations as Senior Pastor. Sometimes they are desperate to get somebody. Often the pastor has to work some to make ends meet.
Or you can become an uber blogger, a controversial author and speaker, a revivalist, produce videos, write Christian fiction, or any number of other interesting ways Christians are making money. π
A fascinating church that is doing things differently and one I would like to see firsthand someday is Xenos Christian Fellowship in Columbus, OH.
They teach and train there own leaders. They raise them up internally from home fellowships. They launch new house churches every year. Instead of one pastor for thousands they have hundreds. They are not the only ones doing things differently, but I have been impressed that they also provide theological education in partnership with Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.
http://www.xenos.org/
Jon, my dad was a church planter, I know quite a bit about that! I know of rural ministries, like “Village Missions,” like a mission organization that pastors raise support through so they can go and pastor in small communities and churches (but that’s not my calling).
I seem to have opted, so far, for the blogger (w/o the uber I’m afraid), hopefully a controversial author soon, we’ll see. When are you going to finally make your splash into blogdom, Jon? (you’re a night owl it seems π ).
Xenos sounds interesting, Jon. We attend a Calvary Chapel, and they have their own philosophy of ministry and model of training that serves their “denomination” (they don’t like to be called a denomination π well. I went to their Bible College for a year, and almost their School of Ministry in Costa Mesa California. I know there are different ways, I’ll have to message you on FB tomorrow (or later today ;-). Good night1
Xenos leaders went to visit Calvary Chapel in 2008 and reflect on their visit in this article about church planting.
http://www.xenos.org/classes/churchplanting/index.htm
I found very interesting the strengths and weaknesses of CC’s approach.
Interesting, Jon. I have my own observations about the strengths and weaknesses of Calvary Chapel (as an “insider” π ).
Funny, they mention Carl Westerland; I know him quite well, my best friend my Calvary Bible College, use to live at an extra room Carl has at his house in Costa Mesa. I think their observations are mostly accurate. It’s interesting that they lump Calvary with Methodists, when Calvary is actually more Foursquare in orientation (that’s Chuck’s background at Hope Bible College). As with any movement, there is a range of emphasis and ethos per each particular church; which largely reflects the pastoral leadership. Most people I know, who I attended Calvary Chapel Bible College with, are no longer in Calvary Chapels; I would say that, in general, this is because there is a lack of robust theological education for the congregants. This could be attributed to CC’s lack or de-emphasis (intentionally so) on theological training and its import. I think I feel a post coming on, Jon π .