New Posts For Thread: Formal education?http://community.beliefnet.com/go/thread/view/44061/29094249/Formal_educationWhen it comes to clergy, how important is formal education to you? I know that the liturgical churches' clergy are very well educated, but what about in other denominations?Here's where I'm coming from. I was reading a book earlier today that mentionWell, the situation is different in many other mainstream Christian denominations. In those denominations with formally educated clergy, the reason for the education is - very generally speaking - that nascent clergy (who have a vocational clericalhttp://community.beliefnet.com/go/thread/view/44061/29094249/Formal_education?post_id=520086967#520086967Well, the situation is different in many other mainstream Christian denominations. In those denominations with formally educated clergy, the reason for the education is - very generally speaking - that nascent clergy (who have a vocational clericalSat, 26 May 2012 06:58:30 -0500Well, the situation is different in many other mainstream Christian denominations. In those denominations with formally educated clergy, the reason for the education is - very generally speaking - that nascent clergy (who have a vocational clericalhttp://community.beliefnet.com/go/thread/view/44061/29094249/Formal_education?post_id=520081781#520081781Well, the situation is different in many other mainstream Christian denominations. In those denominations with formally educated clergy, the reason for the education is - very generally speaking - that nascent clergy (who have a vocational clericalSat, 26 May 2012 02:37:38 -0500Thing is, the LDS faith pushes the entire laity to be as highly educated in the theology as possible, and so under optimal circumstances a "formally educated clergy" should be redundant.What would you say in a similar situation?http://community.beliefnet.com/go/thread/view/44061/29094249/Formal_education?post_id=519958839#519958839Thing is, the LDS faith pushes the entire laity to be as highly educated in the theology as possible, and so under optimal circumstances a "formally educated clergy" should be redundant.What would you say in a similar situation?Tue, 22 May 2012 15:31:29 -0500Coming late to this discussion - which is a very good one, BD :-)I think a formally educated clergy is a must for any denomination. Without it, you have no basis in Church history, tradition, or liturgy. You also have the problem IMO of non-educatehttp://community.beliefnet.com/go/thread/view/44061/29094249/Formal_education?post_id=519953681#519953681Coming late to this discussion - which is a very good one, BD :-)I think a formally educated clergy is a must for any denomination. Without it, you have no basis in Church history, tradition, or liturgy. You also have the problem IMO of non-educateTue, 22 May 2012 13:04:29 -0500I heard somewhere on both sides (of the education 'coin' in relations to Christianity/ pastors/ ministers) where on the one hand some people look down at highly educated persons/ pastors (can't really remember why). On the other hand, there are thosehttp://community.beliefnet.com/go/thread/view/44061/29094249/Formal_education?post_id=519489059#519489059I heard somewhere on both sides (of the education 'coin' in relations to Christianity/ pastors/ ministers) where on the one hand some people look down at highly educated persons/ pastors (can't really remember why). On the other hand, there are thoseWed, 09 May 2012 06:27:06 -0500BD: Education is very important, but not just any education, or a secular education; a man of God, (i.e. priest or minister) should have a solid Bible centered education. If you're going to be a pastor to other people, you have got to know what Jesushttp://community.beliefnet.com/go/thread/view/44061/29094249/Formal_education?post_id=519482985#519482985BD: Education is very important, but not just any education, or a secular education; a man of God, (i.e. priest or minister) should have a solid Bible centered education. If you're going to be a pastor to other people, you have got to know what JesusTue, 08 May 2012 22:23:23 -0500Cos Davishttp://community.beliefnet.com/go/thread/view/44061/29094249/Formal_education?post_id=519471333#519471333Cos DavisTue, 08 May 2012 14:59:40 -0500Cliff, have you met voice-crying yet? She's another McGee disciple.Hey Moderators! How about a McGee Debate board?I agree that the criteria for credentialing of clergy should be rigorous and should include a high threshhold for education -- preferahttp://community.beliefnet.com/go/thread/view/44061/29094249/Formal_education?post_id=519387997#519387997Cliff, have you met voice-crying yet? She's another McGee disciple.Hey Moderators! How about a McGee Debate board?I agree that the criteria for credentialing of clergy should be rigorous and should include a high threshhold for education -- preferaSun, 06 May 2012 09:21:17 -0500.I got my first .22 rifle at eight years old. My dad showed me how to load it, how to cock it, how to align the sights, how to cross a fence with it, and how to carry it safely; but he never really taught me how to shoot it; and there is a differencehttp://community.beliefnet.com/go/thread/view/44061/29094249/Formal_education?post_id=519384345#519384345.I got my first .22 rifle at eight years old. My dad showed me how to load it, how to cock it, how to align the sights, how to cross a fence with it, and how to carry it safely; but he never really taught me how to shoot it; and there is a differenceSun, 06 May 2012 07:26:23 -0500I wonder why it would be considered acceptable (some even think it honorable) for someone to take the helm of a ministry without education or training when it would never be *thought of* in most other professions that have that level of influence ovehttp://community.beliefnet.com/go/thread/view/44061/29094249/Formal_education?post_id=519376635#519376635I wonder why it would be considered acceptable (some even think it honorable) for someone to take the helm of a ministry without education or training when it would never be *thought of* in most other professions that have that level of influence oveSat, 05 May 2012 21:36:05 -0500