The Cleveland Plain Dealer ran an interesting article on September 23rd regarding the state of "mainline" Protestant ministry in the United States. Apparently there just aren't enough pulpits for all the graduates. The problem isn't a lack of churches, however, but rather the kind of churches that actually hire seminary grads. Jewish and Roman Catholic congregations, for example, are in need of more clergy (and the later institution only hires celibate males). Evangelical and "independent" churches are also hiring, but, strangely enough, they don't necessarily require their clergy to be seminary educated.
This brings two things to mind:
1. Are seminaries telling their 80,000 students that the chances of their getting a pulpit are slim? And are they telling prospective students this before encouraging them to relocate, give up jobs, separate from families, and invest $30,000+ in an MDiv? Or are they just saving this news for a surprise?
2. How can anyone argue for the "standardization" of the MDiv as "the" professional degree for clergy when those denominations that DON'T require it are those that actually have the job openings?
I am not against the MDiv. I have one myself and it has proven to be very valuable degree. But I believe that the Christian community has got to reassess the way it thinks about education and preparation for ministry. Does academic accomplishment really do much in the formation of good clergy?
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