SML Jan 25

January 26, 2017 My Dear Friends: As you know, I’m teaching this week at RTS-Orlando. I’ve been reflecting on how wonderful the weather is in Central Florida in January. Wow! Could we import this to Memphis? But I’ve also been thinking about how important theological education is to the life of the church. One of the best means that we have for preparing a wide range of Christian leadership is through theological education.

Of course, that means we train pastors at seminaries. But what are we trying to do when we prepare “educated clergy”? To be sure, we are giving them the tools necessary to do the work of ministry—biblical languages and knowledge; systemtic-theological categories; historical understanding; ministry skills.

Yet theological education is more than simply information transfer and download. It is about shaping identity: I see myself as training and preparing men to be pastors. And that means helping them integrate the theological knowledge that we give with the practical outworking and pastoral insight necessary to lead God’s people well.

But we don’t simply train pastors: we train a range of people who serve beside them. We train staff members, both ordained and non-ordained, and lay leaders. We want them both to have the same kinds of theological knowledge and pastoral vision that their pastors have. How vital it is to have men and women who aren’t ordained teaching elders and yet who are equipped to assist in leading God’s people!

I say with Moses: Oh, that all of God’s people would prophesy, would have the biblical-theological knowledge and pastoral sensibility that theological education provides.

We are so blessed in our neck of the evangelical world to have solid theological schools that share this vision, preparing leaders with a mind for truth and a heart for God. In God’s providence, I’ve worked at each of them—Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia, Covenant Seminary in St. Louis, and Reformed Theological Seminary. I’m so grateful for the leaders and faculty and trustees of these places. I hope you know how vital their work is and why we need to support them financially and prayerfully.

The health of the church here and abroad depends on our theological schools. And so, we participate in the advancement of God’s mission as we support this work of training pastors and leaders who are equipped to preach God’s Word and lead God’s people.

In the grip of God’s grace, Sean