tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20132153.post7505050342181814640..comments2024-01-28T03:39:57.181-06:00Comments on Sean Michael Lucas: Ministerial Students, Calling, and PhD StudiesSean Michael Lucashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06911661966197928859noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20132153.post-5131009398192244412023-06-24T13:33:52.752-05:002023-06-24T13:33:52.752-05:00Glad to visit your blog. Thanks for great post tha...Glad to visit your blog. Thanks for great post that you share to us...Arun Sharmahttps://www.antalyaheights.co.in/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20132153.post-79618136101454065722022-06-09T12:53:52.323-05:002022-06-09T12:53:52.323-05:00What a blog and i am very impressed after reading ...What a blog and i am very impressed after reading this type of blog. Visit us if you want to get <a href="https://digitallygrowmore.com/" rel="nofollow">on page seo</a> services.digitallygrowmorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02319242924968273822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20132153.post-20594680717404347672012-02-28T02:08:47.490-06:002012-02-28T02:08:47.490-06:00Everything begins with believing.Everything begins with believing.en kaliteli saç ekimihttp://fuesacekimifiyatlari.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20132153.post-67107016360392390362012-02-27T03:28:16.850-06:002012-02-27T03:28:16.850-06:00Great information thanks for sharing this with us....Great information thanks for sharing this with us.In fact in all posts of this blog their is something to learn . your work is very good and i appreciate your work and hopping for some more informative posts .<br /><br /><a href="http://www.theawesomebackyard.com/page.cfm/LightCommercial.html" rel="nofollow">daycare playground sets</a><br /><a href="http://www.theawesomebackyard.com/page.cfm/LightCommercial.html" rel="nofollow">daycare playground equipment</a>commercial playgroundhttp://www.theawesomebackyard.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20132153.post-17736460807221024172012-02-26T15:01:08.668-06:002012-02-26T15:01:08.668-06:00Excellent piece of information.Keep sharing such s...Excellent piece of information.Keep sharing such such lovely post.Flat Managementhttp://www.redbrickpm.co.uk/who-are-our-clients/residents-management-companies/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20132153.post-39627640788326138412012-02-17T01:06:11.508-06:002012-02-17T01:06:11.508-06:00It's just too good. 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website design | we...Thanks for sharing! Nice post!<br /><a href="http://www.onlinewebsitesdesign.com" rel="nofollow">website design</a> | <a href="http://www.designerevaluation.com/web-design/" rel="nofollow">web design</a> | <a href="http://www.facebook.com/designerevaluation/" rel="nofollow">free website design</a> | <a href="http://www.realsofttech.com/" rel="nofollow">flyer design</a>Aria Kerryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14847645632997755011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20132153.post-44885102570842401622008-05-17T14:51:00.000-05:002008-05-17T14:51:00.000-05:00Dr Lucas,This is a very interesting and helpful po...Dr Lucas,<BR/><BR/>This is a very interesting and helpful post. Thanks for writing it.<BR/><BR/>I also find it surprising how so many guys want to train pastors without ever having been one. I do wonder, though, if this is a largely American phenomenon? I hadn't met many Europeans who have this desire (probably because European Christianity works on a different paradigm with, generally speaking, less diverse opportunities etc). However, since starting my PhD I have met plenty of Americans who fall into this camp.<BR/><BR/>I think there is also the category of men who want to pursue PhDs simply because it creates more avenues for service. Seminary training and a PhD means you are available to minister and/or teach. Furthermore, if you have a PhD, it makes you very useful in many foreign mission contexts (in terms of providing theological education etc).<BR/><BR/>After seminary (at the Free Church College, Edinburgh), I started my PhD (New College, University of Edinburgh) simply to create avenues of service. I think there's a lot to be said for carefully choosing a subject that will equip you academically, but will also be of direct benefit to potential pastoral ministry.<BR/><BR/>I fully agree that if you want to train pastors, be a pastor first. If you want to do a PhD and then pastor (as an end in itself, or with a view to later training pastors), I think there is a lot to be said for carefully choosing an edifying PhD topic. <BR/><BR/>I am studying Herman Bavinck, who is a tremendous mentor for Christlike thinking. Emotionally, I would find it hard to spend three years analysing the use of Hebrew verb pointings in some obscure text, knowing that once I graduate I would start work in a congregation for whom my topic is basically irrelevant. <BR/><BR/>(Not that I anticipate many congregations will have a deep interest in the nuances of Dutch Neo-Calvinism; but if they are interested in Christ-centred thinking, Bavinck is equipping me to do that! Am I being too hard on the Biblical studies guys?)<BR/><BR/>What advice would you give for PhD topics that will be directly useful in the ministry itself?<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your time,<BR/><BR/>James EglintonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20132153.post-10858539434559979312008-05-17T05:15:00.000-05:002008-05-17T05:15:00.000-05:00I'd agree, but simply add that some, when exposed ...I'd agree, but simply add that some, when exposed to the broader horizons of the Christian tradition in their first graduate studies, are confronted with legitimate questions which may not find a legitimate place in their Christian communities of origin. Sadly, this can make the academy seem like a safer (or alternatively more honest) place to reside.<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://americasyoungtheologian.blogspot.com" REL="nofollow">Dan Morehad</A><BR/>Ph.D. Candidate<BR/>University of AberdeenDan Moreheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192472590372793072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20132153.post-455793709917006212008-05-16T21:39:00.000-05:002008-05-16T21:39:00.000-05:00Sean,Good stuff here. In my experience Cov Sem, D...Sean,<BR/><BR/>Good stuff here. In my experience Cov Sem, DID NOT glamorize or romanticize the ministry. Quite the opposite. Good work to the seminary in that regard. Also, I have a friend who got his MDiv at Cov and is finishing a PhD and just took a call as a youth and family pastor. How hot is that. Many told him he was committing career suicide. Career suicide? Are you kidding?<BR/><BR/>Nathan C.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20132153.post-20572599086924551912008-05-14T09:35:00.000-05:002008-05-14T09:35:00.000-05:00Thank you for the encouragement, brother. Blessin...Thank you for the encouragement, brother. Blessings.<BR/>-Paul @ the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (MDiv)Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12472858259889364865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20132153.post-7719031423428209392008-05-12T14:20:00.000-05:002008-05-12T14:20:00.000-05:00Hi Sean, I think I am one of the few who want a Ph...Hi Sean, <BR/><BR/>I think I am one of the few who want a PhD to better equip myself for pastoral ministry (an maybe some teaching as well, in the church setting). Are there programs out there you suggest for such ventures? I know Regent University has a special distance based program for those in ministry. Do you know of any others? <BR/><BR/>Thanks<BR/>Brian Fulthorp (MDiv, AGTS '07) <BR/>Co-Pastor Grand Canyon AGAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20132153.post-47412588289026954262008-05-12T09:36:00.000-05:002008-05-12T09:36:00.000-05:00Interesting article. Personally, I think it would ...Interesting article. Personally, I think it would be very helpful for the seminary student to be engaged in some form of ministry before they even start seminary, so they can go into seminary knowing more of what ministry is instead of being so naive.Daniel Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00678184721218949112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20132153.post-2648289366360976522008-05-11T23:19:00.000-05:002008-05-11T23:19:00.000-05:00As a current Ph.D. student, I appreciate this post...As a current Ph.D. student, I appreciate this post. As I went through my M.Div program I honestly thought I would move into either a pastorate or educational minister position. However, a piece of advise my uncle (a former pastor and naval chaplain now on faculty at a small baptist college) gave to me has always guided me in discerning my calling. <BR/><BR/>Over the years people within the church, professors, and friends were unified in directing me to a more academic route. Even as I applied to Ph.D. programs I expressed concerns to professors about whether I should take that step, to which they encouraged me and affirmed that I had a place in academia. <BR/><BR/>The advise I received from my uncle is the same I would give to anyone considering a Ph.D. (or any other area of service to the church): Seek the advise of professors, pastors, and laity because often times they are better able to discern where a person is called to serve. Often times an individual has too limited a view to see clearly the path that is marked out for them. The counsel of others often times serves to remove some of the fog surrounding the path.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20132153.post-19464442665686040602008-05-11T22:14:00.000-05:002008-05-11T22:14:00.000-05:00Excellent! I enjoyed it and agreed.I remember sit...Excellent! I enjoyed it and agreed.<BR/><BR/>I remember sitting down in the office of one of my seminary professors telling him I wanted a PhD. He suggested a DMin and the pastorate. I was shocked and disappointed. Eventually I went on to enroll in a PhD program and nearing completion. However, I am so eager to learn that sometimes I imagine going ahead and finishing a DMin, too. By the way, I have never stopped pastoring.Dr. David Ritsemahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09868511567318566965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20132153.post-2174059878514304292008-05-10T20:32:00.000-05:002008-05-10T20:32:00.000-05:00Ditto to the others...Great post! For me, and I t...Ditto to the others...Great post! For me, and I think this applies to seminary students in general, this is an issue of calling (internal and external). My experience, at Covenant, was that a large number of students had not wrestled with their calling in any significant manner. Certainly this can be done while in seminary, but this also brings a lot of difficulty. Personally, I had the benefit of working in a PCA church for four years prior to attending Covenant under a pastor who really helped me to discern my calling. I also found reading Ed Clowney's book, <I>Called to the Ministry </I>, in advance of seminary to be very helpful. As a result, I was able to come in with a strong and realistic sense of why I was there and found this sustained me through the difficulties (lack of money, Greek, Jan-term Hebrew, my pride being tweaked when I was no longer the "rising star"...to name a few).<BR/><BR/>Thanks for this thoughtful post.<BR/><BR/>Thanks, Adam<BR/>M.Div '03; CTSAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com