Pastor and Theologian

A great article from First Things provokes some thoughts for me. I want to be faithful as a leader, a pastor, and expositor of the Word.

These thoughts are good:

The drain of our wider theologians from the pastorate to the academy has resulted in a two-fold problem. First, the theological water-level of our local parishes has dropped considerably. Inasmuch as the pastoral vocation is no longer seen as a theological vocation, pastors no longer bring a strong theological presence to their local parishes. The net effect (particularly in the evangelical tradition in which I reside) is a truncated understanding of theology and its import among the laity. Theology has largely left the local church.

The second part of this problem is perhaps more even troubling. Not only has theology left the church, but the church has left theology. To be sure, many academic theologians view themselves as self-consciously serving the theological needs of the church. But on the whole, academic discourse has lost its way, becoming preoccupied with questions—especially questions regarding its right to exist—that minimize its ecclesial relevance.

While I deeply appreciate theologians who pursue theological studies, gain a PhD and then teach, my heart is for those who would strengthen their theological studies and then gift that to the church. The earliest centuries found some of the Church’s greatest theologians… and they were all pastors. The dichotomy has hurt the Church and we need to regain our strengths as ministers and churches.

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First Things

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January 4, 2011

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14 responses to “Pastor and Theologian”

Dave

January 4, 2011 at 3:11 pm

What happens when the theological training that is necessary to acquire a PhD causes a would-be pastor to pose and/or answer questions in ways that make ecclesiastical structures reject them for ordination? And note that I’m not talking about students who change their theological beliefs so as to believe differently than a particular denomination – I’m talking about students who are loyal to and support a particular tradition but who are not allowed for whatever reason to serve there. It seems that there are a (relatively small but vocal?) group of people out there who would fit in that category.

1. Dan
  
  January 4, 2011 at 3:12 pm
  
  I don’t think the answer is to flee to the academy and become bitter.
  
Dave

January 4, 2011 at 3:25 pm

I’d agree – I think the answer is to do the best you can as a layperson who is committed to the church, but as a layperson. Sadly, laypeople don’t tend to get the headlines, sell books, or, seemingly, help cultural shifts occur which allow it to be okay for their pastor to be deeply engaged theologically. Sometimes, the theologically engaged find their gifts squelched even at the level of the congregation, and that can lead to fleeing to the academy, or, in my case, worshipping in a congregation of a different tradition. And I wonder about that sometimes – because me not being in my former tradition ecclesially doesn’t help that tradition to become more aware – but my not being there helped me to once again have (some) faith in the Church.

‘Tis a quandry.

1. Dan
  
  January 4, 2011 at 3:33 pm
  
  One comment below the article was really interesting, saying something similar. The comment was if a publisher has a chance to take a manuscript from a PhD who has an academic track record or a pastor who has faithfully pastored for 20 years… which one are they taking? (Now if you’re Tim Keller or John Piper, you get the best of both worlds so you get your choice.)
  
  I disagree that it means being a layperson. There are struggles, to be sure, but I think we need a serious conversation. Academics need to back off just as much as denominational leaders. It’s not an either/or here, but it’s how we’ve lived for hundreds of years so it makes the mountain tough to climb.
  
  Again, I would just like to see a model where pastors embrace theological study once again. Maybe it doesn’t happen at the B.A. level, but if we could somehow instill within our programs to NOT be so doggone pragmatic and instill the ability to think (along with the ability to have some humility) we might have a good start.
  
Dave

January 4, 2011 at 3:38 pm

Right, and that commenter is right for the reason that publishers need to sell books in order to stay in business, and Keller, Piper, et. al. will sell them.

And I totally agree on the third point – and as someone who nearly has a master’s degree from an evangelical seminary, I will tell you that this isn’t a problem of bachelor’s education, it’s a problem with theological education period (at minimum, in all Protestant contexts).

Dan

January 4, 2011 at 3:52 pm

I’d agree in Protestant contexts. I just don’t see Orthodox or Catholics struggling in this way.

Craig Benno

January 4, 2011 at 4:46 pm

I’m dissapointed that he left Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Eugene Peterson from that list of modern pastoral theologians.

I see the need for more pastoral theologians within the Pentecostal / Charismatic movement; unfortunately their is still much suspicion from within the rank and file pastors towards intellectualism / academia….though I am seeing many signs that this is changing.

I consider myself more Charismatic than I do Pentecostal; even though I study at a AOG bible college. There are two areas of reform I wish to bring to the pastorate when the day comes for me to do so…

1.) I want to be a pastor…not a leader and therefore pastor from a pastors heart.
2.) I want to preach widely and deeply; to engage deeply with the community in which we live, build up the community who we are, building on the foundations of the community of the past so that we can move into the future.

1. Dan
  
  January 4, 2011 at 4:48 pm
  
  Craig, you’re two stated goals are my heart as well. I’m sure the absence of Bonhoeffer and Peterson comes from the brevity of the article.
  
Mark Stevens

January 4, 2011 at 5:00 pm

Dan, I try every day to model this approach and let me tell you it is a battle (especially in a small parish where I am required to do a lot) but I think it is what it means for me to be faithful to the gospel vocation to which I am called. I just find it hard when so much literature and ministry culture wants me to be something else!

1. Dan
  
  January 4, 2011 at 9:28 pm
  
  We are in the same boat. Remaining faithful to pastoring (as Craig said) rather than leading is my heart. When I am in that vein, the Lord is so good! It won’t get any conference speaking engagements for me… but WOW is it good!
  
The Pastor-Scholar? « συνεσταύρωμαι: living the crucified life

January 4, 2011 at 6:32 pm

[…] The Pastor-Scholar? January 4, 2011 brianfulthorp Leave a comment Go to comments There’s been a lot of discussion on Facebook about an online article by Gerald Hiestand over at the First Things website. Pastor Dan just put up a post and I am simply going to pass along his thoughts and add a few of my own. Here is it cut an pasted from his blog: […]

T.C. R

January 4, 2011 at 11:23 pm

Dan,

Thanks for this post. Wow! A clarion call! As a pastor who aspires to that level of a theologian, my heart and head remain for the church.

Dave

January 6, 2011 at 1:46 pm

Scot McKnight’s blog on this topic here really gets at a couple of my concerns with this article. Dan, I’d be interested to see what you think of it.

http://www.patheos.com/community/jesuscreed/2011/01/06/pastors-not-theologians

1. Dan
  
  January 6, 2011 at 2:05 pm
  
  Well, I posted a LONG reply, then lost it. Bummer. I wish I could remember it! LOL
  
  At any rate, McKnight’s concerns are as valid as Hiestand’s, with the exception of McKnight’s snippy little comment at the very end of the post. 😉
  
  As to conferences, I would answer McKnight by saying “NO! Conferences are NOT theological enough. It’s all pragmatics.”
  
  As to professors being “involved” in their churches, I am sure he is. “Involved” is a wide thought. Pastoring and being involved are two different things.
  
  There are clearly frustrations but my heart is that pastors would truly be more intentional in theological thought. At least in our movement, I just disagree with McKnight. We do NOT think theologically as pastor.