Online Classes From Calvin Seminary

Steve, there are many resources out there.  Biblicaltraining.org is a great place, full of information, I believes it offers courses for credit as well.  It was started by William (Bill) Mounce who wrote the textbook "Basics of Biblical Greek".  I do think the seminary will be making more courses available, but perhaps you can contact the seminary directly and tell them which course you would be interested in taking.  The seminary was incredibly accommodating to me when I was trying to finish my MDiv. while pastoring a church in Alberta.  They allowed me to finish my 3 year course work via a combination of in-class (for 3 months at a time, back then they still had the quarter system) and online courses where I was able to listen to the recordings of the lectures and participate in online chats and posts.  Unfortunately, I'm not disciplined enough for distance education to work for me, I function much better in a classroom setting.  God bless you in your studies and in your service!

One of the continuing issues is how one balances the job they do with the desire for training and continuing education. I would be interested in filling the holes in my education but would also appreciate the opportunity to 'test out' of certain requirements. on a way toward whatever certification is being planned. Having planted a church that now owns its own building and is pretty much self supporting, I don't think that I need a complete education, just a filling in of holes. I currently have a hand in starting four new CRC churches and my two jobs require a good deal of time and energy and don't leave a lot of time for full fledged educational endeavors. I also, as a ministry associate, get paid far less than the average CRC pastor so cost quickly becomes an issue.

For me self-education has become the primary way that I can continue learning. I read constantly and would appreciate a listing of must read books and good websites that would be helpful for continuing training in the various aspects of ministry. There is a valuable place on the seminary website that offers advice on finding good commentaries and I appreciate refering to it when looking to purchase more commentaries.

There have to be low cost delivery systems for continuing education in a denomination that prides itself in having a highly educated clergy but since we don't actually honor ministry associates at the denominational level, I doubt there will be much action on your request there. The local classis and various leadership development networks is the place where we need to turn for help and encouragement, but that also can be a frustrating place to find help. Finding mentors among those who are doing what you wish to do is probably the best way to learn and develop skills. Mentoring has been a primary way in which I have learned to work to plant churches. I suspect there are folks who do what you want to do who you can also watch and learn from.

Originally the office of ministry associate was called the office of evangelist. It was a specialized task that came about to recognize the unique contributions of those who planted churches primarily in cultures where having a theologically trained seminary graduate was not tenable. We used it to promote work in the Navajo nation and in other places where no one seemed to want to go because of poverty and the conditions in the field. Eventually it became a tool with which to raise up leaders elsewhere but always with the missional bent. With the closing of the Article 7 door, it becomes the only way for those who are unable to become seminary trained to become pastors. Even then, and now, it is assumed that the evangelist only serves until a group is gathered and until they can hire a 'real' pastor. When we threw the blanket term of 'ministry associate' over all the various types of ministries--church planting, worship leader, youth pastor, care ministry coordinator, etc,--we effectively went to a two tier system. The only problem is that we have trouble just saying that out loud and then setting up systems locally to raise up, honor, and train those 'who work hard among us'. It also means that the mechanism to train people who aren't primarily involved in mission work is even further off the radar.

Perhaps some day things will change.

Rod

Rod and John, I appreciate your contributions to this discussion.  Allow me to offer a bit of response...  

Rod, in your recent comments you say, "    There have to be low cost delivery systems for continuing education in a denomination that prides itself in having a highly educated clergy but since we don't actually honor ministry associates at the denominational level, I doubt there will be much action on your request there."    You might be interested to know that CTS is currently offering two low cost programs (a certificate program and a diploma program) with non- accredited course work for whomever is interested.  These programs will be offered on line beginning in the fall of 2012 (as will a distance MDiv program).  I hope this encourages you -- and I hope that it challenges you in your statement that "we don't honor ministry associates at a denominational level".  You know, Rod, that I am one who is seeking to actively offer more honor to ministry associates.  I'm hoping we can encourage even good steps in the future.

Both John and Rod seem to touch on this "honor" issue.  One factor in this discussion is that all pastors (ministers of the Word and ministry associates) are facing economic challenges, cultural pressures that question what once was a universally honored profession, etc.   If a given ministry associate doesn't feel very honored, he/she is in the same company as many a minister of the Word.    As far as giving ministry associates opportunity to do ministry, it seems to me that the doors are more open now than they have ever been in the CRC.  John's quiries about "who should be allowed to do what" are answered currently by saying "either a ministry associate or a minister of the Word" .  In fact, the practice of ministry associates serving in solo positions in established churches is on the rise.  Rod's assertion re "a real pastor" being a minister of the Word rather than a ministry associate  is being challenged on a number of fronts -- many are concluding that "pastor" is the designation, and "ministry associate" and "minister of the Word" are church order, practical categories indicating the level of training and the breadth of endorsement the person has received.

I received a letter from somone not long ago that suggested minsitry associates should be called "elders" and not "pastors".  (The CRC Church Order currently overtly states that ministry associates serve as elders in the churches that have called them, but the underlying assumption for ministers of the Word is that they also function as an elder.)  I'm wondering if this is what John was suggesting in his recent comments.  I find this thinking to be a bit out of step with the direction I have just described, and with the direction the CRC is choosing.  What are your thoughts?

Yeah, while I largely agree with Rod, I take a slightly different approach towards honor.   While applause is nice, it is somewhat arbitrary and in itself can be applied to any position, even to those of lesser "honor".   My feeling is that the church order itself sets up the lesser honor of other offices in the way it deals with them respectively speaking.   If a "minister of the word" is worthy of numerous articles of calling, examination, deposition, re-installation, ordination, lending, retirement,  etc., etc.,  why are the other "equally honorable" offices not worthy of such consideration and deliberation?  

If a "minister of the word" preacher is worthy of a pension, why is the same consideration not given to other equally honorable offices of paid preachers, evangelists, pastors?   Are they preaching something "other" than the word?   What makes an evangelist less significant or less able or less gifted, or less worthy than  a preacher of an established congregation?   Why not the other way around, for example?   Why does the "evangelist" not receive the pension fund and the preacher or pastor in an established congr not left to fend for themselves, or rely on the mercy of the church? 

Why does the church order not emphasize and stress that all offices(and particularly the elders) are equally able to administer the sacraments, since we know already that a seminary degree is not required to understand or teach these sacraments, or to give the Lord's blessing and benediction, and that all office bearers are apt to teach and ought to be able to teach what these sacraments mean.   Is this really about function or is it about allocating a different degree of honor? 

Why is the idea of "a profession" mixed up in the calling and function of the office?   Is this what the problem is?    Is there a biblical warrant for this? 

I agree the doors are more open, except perhaps for article 7.  As far as calling ministry associates elders, yes, that would be honorable, provided they are indeed elders.   You might say, 'elder so and so" who is a pastor in his church.   Or 'elder so and so" who often preaches in several churches.   Could you say, "pastor so and so" who however is not an elder nor deacon in his church?  But what you call them is not so much the issue as how you treat the office.   For eexample, every elder should have authority to preach, and be encouraged to preach at least once or twice, or maybe more if they agree or are able.   It is a shame when 98% of elders who are supposed to be leaders, have never ever preached or taught even a basic simple message from the word of God (even if this may not be their main gift).   We are all communally culpable for such a poor state of affairs.  It either means too many of our elders should not be elders, or the elders are not being trained, or we do not really believe in the biblical qualifications of elders.   IMHO. 

Rod and John,

There is something in me that is adverse to this network format:  I don't want to sound argumentative, because indeed I have had many a warm personal discussion on these matters with Rod, and we both deeply appreciate one another.  John, although I'm still eager for the opportunity to meet you personally, I'm confident that when we do we'll recognize a warm smile and a respectful eye in one another.

Yet the topic at hand is ":honor" , in particular for ministry associates.  Rod, I would challenge much of what you have recently said:  it applied to the CRC of a decade ago, but not today.  At two of the recent synods there has been standing  applause given for ministry associates present; Synod now DOES make and present a list of retiring ministry associates; ministry associates CAN be delegated to synod as pastors (if they are serving as solo pastors in an established church). A ministry associate would NOT be encouraged to step aside from his congregation upon becoming an established congregation -- at least not in your classis and in a number of other classes...--synod just this year affirmed the flexibility that the church order gives in this regard. 

Granted, we are not "there" yet, but we've come a long way, baby.  But now back to "honor".  What does it mean to be "there".  John's ideas of honor sound a bit different from Rod's.  All three of us (and is there anyone else in this conversation??)  need to remind ourselves that the church order is not the Bible, but is based on Scriptural teaching and order.  IS there a basis for a difference between elders and pastors?  Most churches through the centuries have said yes.  And, certainly, there is a perpetual tension between pastors using their gifts and pastors taking over...  It would be intersting, John, for you to try out an overture along the lines you suggest.  A cynic would say too many pastors would object for such an overture to pass.  What I wonder is if the elders on their own would, as a whole, really decide to delegate the pastors to the role of an observor.  My experience with elders through the years is that they have been deeply appreciative of my partnership with them  and my service among them, and I'll say it, even my leadership.  Although, very honestly, the same goes for me toward their partnership, service, and leadership.  We DO have different offices, and we DO have mutual honor.  And this is what the CRC church order says should be the case.  

For Rod's longing that ministry associates be "equally honored" with ministers of the word, I have heart agreement, yet I doubt that even Rod would want a world with no seminary trained pastors -- Rod "honors" them.  (at least most of them....)  The tough question is how to structure the church so that we have both, in healthy partnership.  Anyone have more ideas on how we can enhance such a partnership?  Or do some of you believe we've already lost our balance?