Pastoral Credentials???

Hi Guys,

Just a question. I'm called to preach. I've known it for years. I wasn't always (if you'll pardon my Detroit slang...) "Cool with the idea", but I realize that the Lord has given me talents, and yes, that includes a good speaking voice. and a desire to preach the Gospel of Christ. and Yes, to minister to others.

Having said all that. I would like to ask a question of you all. I would like to have some sort of formal Credentials, I'm not too keen on mainline demoninations like the American Baptists or the Southern Baptists, or even the Free-Will guys, What I am wanting is a paper that says, Yes, this man is qualified to be a Pastor.

Is there some sort of mail corspondance course, that I can take to get a License to preach? or what excatly is there available? I don't have alot of money. but I do have the desire to do this, greatly...

I figured you old salts could give this ol' wanna be a point in the proper direction!

Thanks a Bunch!

-Chuck AKA BornBaptist

First, one must be willing to reach out, rather than punch-out.

Originally posted by Gershom:

First, one must be willing to reach out, rather than punch-out.

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<attack deleted>

[ September 06, 2004, 12:07 AM: Message edited by: C4K ]

Kind of reminds me of a man that was in a Bible study I led. He complained inwardly that there were not any Christians where he was working. He complained about not having any fellowship, until God got ahold of him. When God got ahold of him he started a Bible study and led some to Christ. He then had fellowship. Ministry is not done by letters after one's name but by the real credentials of walking with God. Certainly we may have those letters but that has never reached one person for Christ. It may help but it does not replace a real zeal for God.

Sometime read the book Power Through Prayer by E. M. Bounds. God wants men whom the Holy Spirit can use. Men who are mighty in prayer.

Ministry is not done by letters after one's name but by the real credentials of walking with God. Certainly we may have those letters but that has never reached one person for Christ.

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Amen. Pastoring is a spiritual gift. You could have all the professional schooling and credentials a man could have, but it doesn't make you a pastor.

Do you belong to a church? Have you talked to your pastor? Have you thought about apprenticeing under a pastor? You do know you need to be ordained?
You know there is a little more to this pastoring thing than meets the eye.
I urge you to talk to your pastor and get some guidance.When you have done some of these things done and still feel the call to be a pastor then get some training. You need to learn many things to pastor a church. It's not just getting up in the pulpit shouting for 15-45 minutes having a closeing prayer and shaking everybodies hand.

Formal education (seminary) is mandatory. A pator must be able to teach the body, and be able to give answers to any outside of the body. You fool yourself if you don't get trained.

Formal mentoring (assistant to a pastor) is mandatory. This will give hands-on experience while you are learning the day-to-day ministry.

I suggest a strong liberal arts education - heavy in philosophy, history, English, psychology, etc

Then 2-3 years graduate work in a seminary

Then 2-3 years work as an assistant.

This also gives you more than a diploma or mail-order ordination or other worthless credential. It gives you the experience needed for the work to which God calls you.

And you might start out by reading:
On Ministry:It's Nature,source of Power,& Reaponsibility by John Darby
The Reformed Pastor by Richard Baxter
Duties of a Minister of the Gospel by Thomas Coke
that way you might know something about what a pastor is, then decide if God has called you to be a pastor, because it is to Him you will answer if you are not.

If you want credentials then do what the rest of us preachers have done. Go into the ministry and prove yourself worthy by doing the good work. Then enroll in a good foundational Bible college, not a correspondance, where you can get fundamental teaching and mentoring from actualy ministers qualified to teach on a graduate level, and learn all you can from them.

Ministry is a life work and while there are those who do not receive formal training and do get in the easy way, none of them reach a full level of spiritual success. Only one in a million have a true blessing from God to be able to forgo all that.

Remember above all that if God called you then you will get into ministry in HIS time, don't try to rush everything now, even Paul took time to train before his ministry, even the apostles went three years learning before pentecost.

Born,

You say that you know God has called you, then give yourself some tests.

1. Do you meet the qualifications outlined in 1 Tim 3:1-8, Titus 1:9-11, and explicated in Acts 20:17-36?

2. Do you have an overwhelming desire to learn the Bible and doctrine?

3. Is your Christian life one of godliness and holiness on an increasing scale?

4. Read Is 6:1-10--what does that mean to you?

Practical matters...

If you are not a member of a church and learning how to work in a church, you will never be an effective pastor.

If you do not get training, you probably will not do well.

Over 90% of what a pastor does is something other than preaching.

1. He should spend many hours in study, contemplation and prayer--20-25 hours per week.

2. He will, of necessity, spend another 15-20 hours a week visiting the sick, counseling those who are in difficulty, and talking to other staff members, etc.

3. He will spend some time meeting with other pastors, meeting with committees in his own church, and talking to people on the phone. Say, another 10-15 hours.

Then, there are funerals, weddings, births, deaths (attending the family as their loved one lies dying).

Then you need to spend time with your family and leave a little time for yourself, and sleeping and exercise are good ideas as well.

I suggest you read "The Art of Prophesying" by William Perkins, written in 1602. It has nothing to do with the modern interpretation of prophecy, but deals with the call to the ministry and the exercise of the gift of preaching.

Preaching and teaching will take 3-5 hours a week.

Born:

The first thing you have to do is get into a church. I read over your profile and home page and you need to find a pastor that you can support and learn from.

The call to preach comes from God but your license and ordination will come from a group of local believers who will affirm that call. They will see the call of God on your life and the affect his Spirit has had upon you.

You won't necessarily agree with your pastor on every detail but you can learn from the mistakes he makes as well as from the things he does well.

I do not intend this to be critical, but it appears that you have a lot to learn and I would plan on years of study before you feal qualified to pastor.

Dear BornBaptist,
I pray you have not taken any of this as destructive critism.Every poster here has your welfare in mind.Being a pastor of a church is an awsome responsibility.You as the undershepherd (Jesus Christ is the Shepherd)have more to answer for as a pastor.This is never to be taken lightly.When you embark on this calling it is all of our wishes that you go prepared and biblically equipped.Things will go tough enough as it is.
Please understand we are not trying to rain on your parade. You were wise enough to seek counsel,please be wise enough to heed it.

what was it the comic book hero that slings webs once said? Oh yes, with great power comes great responsibility.

If you want to be a great pastor then go through the right channels and learn all you can friend

Originally posted by BornBaptist:
I would like to ask a question of you all. I would like to have some sort of formal Credentials

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I would check to see what other Baptist pastors of your like and kind do. Most SBC pastors I've known have at least a master's degree in divinity or similar field. I don't know what kind of education you curently have. But, if, for example, you currently have a Bachelor's, getting a ministry degree is a mere two years of work, and much of it can be done online.

I know that it sounds like a lot of work, but look at it this way. Getting practically qualified is considerably easier than getting spiritually qualified (you appear to already have the spiritual qualification, so you're 90% of the way there!!). And, it will make you work as a Pastor considerably easier once you have the practical education to back you up. And, in the long run, it won't seem like as much work as you thought.

Well ... Chuck ...

I am trying to be short
... My father has been near death
... so forgive me if I am too short.

I reckon there might be two possibilities ...

ONE:

I think you should start by approaching your denominational elders and ask them what are the requirements of your denomination for preachers.

I have never heard of the CCNA (except in computers). So, I really have no idea of what you need to be doing for that denomination.

TWO:

If you are deciding to change denominations ...
2a. I think the tentmaker makes a very good recomendation. But, it may take many years before you would outgrow your old church and grow into Baptist theology.

2b. Non-denominational might also be an avenue for you to look at.

In Christ,

Wayne

The CCNA is a Pentacostal group.

RESOLVED, that in these last days God is pouring out His Spirit upon all flesh in Pentecostal fullness (Acts 38-39), resulting in the forming of and the coming together of Pentecostal churches of born-again (John 3:3) and Spirit-baptized (Acts 2:4) believers and these Pentecostal churches have associated themselves in general unity for the propagation of their distinctive testimony under the name of the General Council of the Christian Church of North America, Incorporated, and since this, the General Council, has made provision for the care and development of local churches through the agency of District Councils, we gladly assumed this solemn obligation that has been committed to us and hereby assemble ourselves in spiritual order and recognize ourselves as the Great Lakes District Council of the Christian Church of North America and agree to be governed by the following Constitution and By-laws.

I'm not too keen on mainline demoninations like the American Baptists or the Southern Baptists, or even the Free-Will guys, What I am wanting is a paper that says, Yes, this man is qualified to be a Pastor.

Paper's good for training puppies and not much more if it's not from a good school.

I did what many said not to do.
Recieved my diploma from seminary ext, but I did have some hands on expereince. I was a youth pastor for 3 years and filled the pulpit for those years while the pastor was gone.
Some might be led to go to a seminary, but some have kids, job, busy schedule, etc...
God can use pastors with seminary degrees and ones without, but we should always be wiling to learn.

Steveo:

That's a good point. There are many educational options open to pastors today. I got my training through seminary extension and then took correspondence classes until I eventually earned my Master's degree. It took me about 7 years that way (I just received my degree in June).

Practical experience as youth our associate pastor is a big part of your education as well.

Steveo,

I don't see anything wrong with the way you received your degree and training. Not everybody can do it the same way. As long as a man is trying to learn and grow and not take some short cut in order to get a title or position. I think that is the flavor of the OP in this thread. Not everyone can get away to Seminary, but everybody can have a desire to grow and genuinely learn as they work hard. I pray God will bless you in the ministry He has placed you in.

Bro Tony

Thanks for the encouargement
I do have to say that I am still learning every day and I would like to get more education if the doors open.
God is definitely blessing our church.
We had 63 in attendance Sunday, compared to about 12 last year, and its not because of some program. I told the church when I came, that I would preach all the Bible and they should do what God calls them to do, and lets see what God does. God is good.