Candidating

Just want to put in my two bits (hmmm...25 cents doesn't go far nowadays). For a pulpit committee to consider a man for the position of pastor of God's church, it is utmost importance to go to God's Word first, last and in-between.
The qualifications are clearly outlined in Scripture. For example, 1 Tim. 3 says a bishop (Biblical elder, the plurality of which has no hierarchical position--as in Senior Pastor, Episcopalian rankings, Presbyterian two-office eldership, etc.)must be blameless. As a board you must define "blameless" Biblically and use it as a screening source. This must be done for all of the qualifications listed here and in other Scripture passages regarding pastoral qualifications (i.e. Acts 20:28-31; 1 Thess. 2:4-12; Titus 1:6-9).
I noticed in previous posts practical issues of pastor-congregational relationship, but honestly a caring pastor who is apt to preach & teach should become endeared by the congregation anyway.
David Wells book, No Place For Truth, would be a good book to read for the vocational position of pastor versus the "professional" pastor.
Horatio Bonar's book, Words for Winners of Souls should be read by every member of the pulpit committee; and by each pastoral candidate.
Seminary, although invaluable for its training in Scripture doesn't always provide a proper atmosphere for pastoral training. I found in my experience that the academic was elevated far above the heart, creating an atmosphere of sterility & pride.
I believe a pastor can and should train up young men for the ministry. There should be time and financial support given so the man of God is free to not only preach on Sundays, but also disciple young men for the ministry. He must also be given to hospitality and visitation (all members of the church; but especially the sick, the shut-ins, the imprisoned, the bereaved...) In this way he imitates Christ, the Good Shepherd, who personally cares for each sheep.

 

okay okay i can not spell and i know it.......forgive me?


i have real difficulty with a church/congregation that will not consider as their minister a man that has not been to sEminary ( ). scripture does not say anywhere a man has to go to a school to be an Elder/Bishop. scripture does say he must be called of God.

my pastor has not been to seminary, in fact his education is in the paper industry, he's an engineer and hold a masters. he has been called by the Lord to preach the gospel. his gift is obvious when he is in the pulpit. to say he is not educated in scripture is a far cry from the truth. he is studied, self studied.....he was under the council of many Elder before he was ordained and he was tried in the pulpit for quite some time before he was ordained.

the thought behind this type of "schooling" is as follows:
A) this is the very way the early minister of the gospel came up, i.e. Timothy/Titus

B) Proverbs 11 and verse...
14 ¶ Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

C) to prove there is a gift to preach.


the only thing worse than someone trying to preach that does not have the gift is someone who has the gift and does not use it.

 

I see our thread about candidating has narrowed down to a discussion about seminary training. C_l_s, a point to remember is that God's calling and preparation is paramount, but biblical training in the Scriptures is a priceless blessing. Two great preachers in my life and ministry were both local church evangelists who had not had formal education:
* Paul Levin - started preaching at age 15 and finished HS by correspondence and yet there were many trained preachers who could not teach the doctrine like Paul (Paul Levin). Dr. Bill Rice of Bill Rice Ranch said that Paul Levin still preaching at BRRanch in his 70s was the greatest youth speaker in America.
* Keith Ward - started out as a police officer in WY and CA and upon salvation was called into evangelism. He was self trained and an avid reader of excellent books written by older pastors of the past generations. His teaching and writing were doctrinally sound and biblical.

However, these men are the execeptions. Most of us lack the ability and the drive to be self-students of the Word, and so Bible college and Seminary are necessary options for preparation for ministry. I thank God for 10 years of formal training in addition to 30 years of the experience in the ministry.

 

Joy2, we are praying for God's clear direction for you and your church as you pursue God's will and man for your church. As you may know we have a personal interest in FBC of Portage.