NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — Amid declining enrollment at seminaries and new models being developed as alternatives to traditional theological education, LifeWay Research has released a survey finding the vast majority of pastors value the training they received while in seminary and use it in their ministry.
Scott McConnell, associate director of LifeWay Research, says the findings are good news for seminaries facing an enrollment slump.
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In telephone interviews with 1,004 Protestant pastors during the first week of December 2008, the research division of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention found 85 percent of pastors have taken seminary classes. Pastors of smaller churches were less likely to have been to seminary. Of churches with an average worship attendance fewer than 50, just 74 percent had pastors with seminary training.
Of pastors who attended seminary, 96 percent said if they had it to do over they would take the seminary classes again. Three percent said no and 1 percent said they did not know.
Ninety-five percent said they regularly use things they learned in seminary — 71 percent agreed strongly with the statement and 24 percent agreed somewhat.
Eight in 10 (83 percent) agreed that attending seminary was worth the time and money.
Two-thirds of Protestant pastors reported having at least a master's degree — including 12 percent with doctorates. One in five had only bachelor's degrees and just 3 percent did not attend any college courses at all.
"This is encouraging news for seminaries at a time when a 2009 report from the Association of Theological Schools indicated seminary enrollment is in a slump," said Scott McConnell, associate director of LifeWay Research. "The lack of new students does not appear to be linked to any decline in the perceived relevance of seminary education among pastors. In fact, pastors use the seminary education they have received and value the investment it required."
In December, Gregory Jones, dean of Duke Divinity School in Durham, N.C., wrote a Christian Century article observing a trend away from requiring a master-of-divinity degree for ordination and looking more at effectiveness than credentials.
Brian McLaren
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Jones cited Brian McLaren — a pioneer in the emerging-church movement with bachelor's and master's degrees in English — as an example of senior pastors without seminary degrees who lead large and influential congregations.
Meanwhile, Jones said, independent megachurches are developing their own leaders. John Piper's Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minnesota, for example, started Bethlehem College and Seminary in 2009, expanding a lay-leadership institute established a decade before.
Jones said the M.Div. will probably still be an important degree 25 years from now, but he predicted that eventually it will be similar to an M.B.A. — a valuable degree if from a strong program but not a necessary credential.
While valuing seminary in their own ministries, just 10 percent of pastors polled in the LifeWay survey said they would require a seminary degree before hiring someone to lead an age-group ministry in their church. Sixty-two percent said prospective staff members should have some practical ministry experience and 87 percent said they should agree with the church's beliefs or statement of faith.
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Bob Allen is senior writer for Associated Baptist Press.