tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post1300524133724455855..comments2024-03-27T15:47:46.091-05:00Comments on Pastoral Meanderings: Overburdening the SeminaryPastor Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653554256101480140noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-22189858409391214162014-03-18T22:33:58.670-05:002014-03-18T22:33:58.670-05:00The fact of the matter is that there is currently ...The fact of the matter is that there is currently a glut of clergy in the LCMS and an ever increasing number of churches that are unable to fund clergy with a "full time" salary. Also, as a result of the great recession a few years back, fewer clergy are now able to retire as once predicted. <br /><br />The Seminary recruiters are often reticent to share the above facts. I suspect this is because they also have a vested interest in fund raising - which is frequently combined with a recruitment emphasis.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-55563305602652268622014-03-18T22:17:56.798-05:002014-03-18T22:17:56.798-05:00As with any educational institution, whether secul...As with any educational institution, whether secular or religious, I think it is a matter of educational quality. A top quality school, really teaching what is needed, will attract students. A school that is seen as a necessary gateway to the ministry will not have that quality, but rather will be more and more parochial.<br /><br />While denominational sems must necessarily reflect their sponsoring denomination, they should be more than indoctrination mills. Students should be attracted to them because they student see the quality of their products. Are the graduates well prepared to deal with Christ's Truth, or are they simply prepared to parrot the catechism? Are the graduates taught to think, or taught to respond reflexively?<br /><br />If the LCMS sems are having difficulty, perhaps they need to look at what they are teaching and how. Where are the potential students going instead and why?<br /><br />Fr.D+<br />Anglican PriestAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-7158687585606797172014-03-18T14:50:19.388-05:002014-03-18T14:50:19.388-05:00I don't know what the answer is, but the answe...I don't know what the answer is, but the answer is not to put it into the hands of the DPs. If they really were bishops and acted as such, maybe. But we are not vetting men for corporate positions, and that's what (most) DPs seem to think the Church is about. Rev. Alan Kornacki, Jr.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07322307218829558622noreply@blogger.com