Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Friday, August 23, 2013
Seminary & School Debt - Can Ministry Move Forward Like this?
After 15 years of service as a professor, I had a new experience this past week. A talented, smart, winsome student came to me with his school bill in hand asking me if I could help him pray about and find someone perhaps who could help him. His current need (3rd semester of 8 semesters likely) was over $10,000.00. WOW!
Where I work, many years ago, visionary leaders created an intern program that offered profound tuition discounts for ministry students engaged in internships. Offering a scaled up-scholarship where the scholarship dollars grew with each year, so that Seniors in the program attended with full-tuition remission,this program has been cut down in cash value over the years, and restructured intentionally to get students "in" the University doors. In other words, it has been clearly stated to faculty that this university has moved to using scholarship funds to get students in the door now - with a changed focus from getting students to finish - and to finish debt free. [Naturally, the university wants learners to finish, too . . . but the incentive and focus has shifted, with ideological shifts that favor entrance into study programs and away from ministerial students graduating with less debt.]
I note these things as I just read this article about a trend regarding Seminary students graduating with significant Seminary debt. The dollar amounts in the article cited here, are consistent with actual statistics one of my Theology & Ministry colleagues has maintained for our undergraduate Theology & Ministry learners over the past 15 years. The article cites:
First and foremost, it has morally contingent and ethically challenging issues personally. I know - and have always known, of course! - that "my" students incur expense and debt in order to take "my" classes. But, in truth, the weight of that did not sink in to me as profoundly as when this single student had a single current amount owed of over $10K. That is a LOT of money! And, my salary is a part of what he is paying. Honestly, perhaps just $20 or perhaps as much as $200 of his money comes to me and the rest goes to the "University" economy (sports teams, utilities, maintenance of the grounds and buildings, buses, new buildings, and the list goes on!.) And yet, my participation in this thing called the University requires of him this significant debt. I feel bad about that as I'm not sure "every" learner should pay for "all aspects" of any Universities structure and governance - and yet it has become an accepted norm. [The highest salary ranking faculty members at many Universities - with the highest cost programs - are the football programs. Of course, I know, too these are income generating streams, too - - my notes here, though, about about ministerial preparation programs though, which do not need football as a connection for Church service.]
Second, these issues cause me to think about a future for theological education that could create new opportunities for young people to train in ministry - without being saddled with this debt. I know there are ways - and I have visions for possible futures - where the right amount of contributions from large donors (denominational bodies could do it - or through private funding) coupled with technological options (internet, MOOCs)- could create options for ministry preparation that would be much more affordable theological education, at a significantly less cost. [This MOOC hopes to drop educational costs by over 80%! ]
Someday, I hope the intersections of my life will allow for the training of more ministers, more effectively (efficiently?) with radically lower indebtedness for education - in order to better FREE ministers from educational costs and debt so that their life engagement in ministry might be empowered for service!
Where I work, many years ago, visionary leaders created an intern program that offered profound tuition discounts for ministry students engaged in internships. Offering a scaled up-scholarship where the scholarship dollars grew with each year, so that Seniors in the program attended with full-tuition remission,this program has been cut down in cash value over the years, and restructured intentionally to get students "in" the University doors. In other words, it has been clearly stated to faculty that this university has moved to using scholarship funds to get students in the door now - with a changed focus from getting students to finish - and to finish debt free. [Naturally, the university wants learners to finish, too . . . but the incentive and focus has shifted, with ideological shifts that favor entrance into study programs and away from ministerial students graduating with less debt.]
I note these things as I just read this article about a trend regarding Seminary students graduating with significant Seminary debt. The dollar amounts in the article cited here, are consistent with actual statistics one of my Theology & Ministry colleagues has maintained for our undergraduate Theology & Ministry learners over the past 15 years. The article cites:
It no longer is unusual for seminary graduates to leave school with $70,000 to $80,000 in debt, Sharon Miller, associate director of the Auburn center told the Huffington Post in 2012.This is a complex set of things for me, personally, in several ways.
An official at one Baptist seminary, who asked not to be identified, said a recent graduating class revealed the depth of the issue. Of 57 graduates, 21 had no debt, six owed less than $20,000, another six between $20,000 and $50,000, eight between $50,000 and $90,000 and 11 more than $100,000 — all acquired while at the seminary.
First and foremost, it has morally contingent and ethically challenging issues personally. I know - and have always known, of course! - that "my" students incur expense and debt in order to take "my" classes. But, in truth, the weight of that did not sink in to me as profoundly as when this single student had a single current amount owed of over $10K. That is a LOT of money! And, my salary is a part of what he is paying. Honestly, perhaps just $20 or perhaps as much as $200 of his money comes to me and the rest goes to the "University" economy (sports teams, utilities, maintenance of the grounds and buildings, buses, new buildings, and the list goes on!.) And yet, my participation in this thing called the University requires of him this significant debt. I feel bad about that as I'm not sure "every" learner should pay for "all aspects" of any Universities structure and governance - and yet it has become an accepted norm. [The highest salary ranking faculty members at many Universities - with the highest cost programs - are the football programs. Of course, I know, too these are income generating streams, too - - my notes here, though, about about ministerial preparation programs though, which do not need football as a connection for Church service.]
Second, these issues cause me to think about a future for theological education that could create new opportunities for young people to train in ministry - without being saddled with this debt. I know there are ways - and I have visions for possible futures - where the right amount of contributions from large donors (denominational bodies could do it - or through private funding) coupled with technological options (internet, MOOCs)- could create options for ministry preparation that would be much more affordable theological education, at a significantly less cost. [This MOOC hopes to drop educational costs by over 80%! ]
Someday, I hope the intersections of my life will allow for the training of more ministers, more effectively (efficiently?) with radically lower indebtedness for education - in order to better FREE ministers from educational costs and debt so that their life engagement in ministry might be empowered for service!
Thursday, August 22, 2013
New, life-long friendships!
Statistically speaking, about 20 of 24 students in my Old Testament Theology class started life-long-friendship with me today, and they don't know it yet!
But I do!
I hope they beat the statistics and all 24 will chose to share friendship with me for a lifetime!
But I do!
I hope they beat the statistics and all 24 will chose to share friendship with me for a lifetime!
Young people need mentors! - from Forbes & Stanford
I often think about how I mentor others - and how I am mentored by others.I've always given advice, shared wisdom, and with a few persons (mostly students) been a mentor, and for the past years I have become convinced that mentorship and intentional "discipleship" of others is urgent. Mentorship is not one-time-bits of advice. It's long term, relational work.
Articles like this one in Forbes magazine - about a program at Stanford University, based in good research with leading thinkers, reinforces what has become more clear to me over time . . . young people need time to reflect in life - and, they need help doing that with wise counsel from caring persons.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Compelling Sermon for Pastors and all those called to Serve
I've heard many, many sermons. This 20 minute sermon is compelling.
MarvinMcMickle is the President of Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School in
Rochester, NY. – a church with a famous history since MLK, Jr. is an alumnus
of this school.
President McMickle is
also Professor of Church Leadership and Director of the Program of Black Church
Studies
In this, 2012 Convocation Address he speaks more
directly, powerfully, and clearly about Christian leadership than most sermons
I’ve ever heard.
Every pastor in ministry – and every person preparing for ministry
– should view/hear this sermon, so I share it here!
It begins with a prayer at the 27:15 minute mark. From that starting point, it is just 20 minutes long – and I will
summarize the direction and script of the text below. Hear the Word of the LORD.
Working Transcript:
McMickle begins by noting that Joshua 1 and Acts 1 talk about a time in church leadership when there was a vacancy - an 'in-between' time.McMickle speaks to “all of you” “preparing for ministry” - which is truly all Christians, though pastors as shepherds of God’s people, for sure.As people looked for new leadership in the between time – they wanted leaders who, more than anything “know Jesus” – having walked with him and talked with him and having been nurtured by Jesus.“Amidst and among all the other things that you learn here – do not lose your sense of Jesus. We will not go with you into your ministries . . . . [Hospitals, Graveside, Prison]. But the promise is that God will.”“'I will go with you!' The President won’t know the route, but 'I’ll go with you.' Faculty will be teaching the next generation, but God will go with you.”“Have the boldness to declare something concerning him!”“What would you preach if Jesus is not raised from the dead?” “Now is Christ risen from the dead!”Now, here’s the trick – having laid out the criteria – they found out there were two capable people.“For every vacancy that exists, God has at least two equally qualified candidates. You are not that special.”“Without God we can do nothing. Without us, God still has a shot!”A great personal story about how Dr. McMickle thought he was irreplaceable as a Pastor and Leader in the church. A moving , poignant illustration that begins just after 36:15.“God has someone warming up in the ballpen.” About 41:00.“Who is Mathias?”It’s a name that hardly anyone knows.“Can we serve God faithfully even if we never gain fame in the process?”
"In this generation of preachers that are breaking their necks for celebrity – [tweets, FB followers, my church is the 'most' 'mega'] – Can you just be Mathias? Name never called? . . . Just promise, that if you serve faithfully unto death that God will give you the crown of life?”“What do you do if your name is not on the list? The answer is ‘Preach on!’”“You will not get every office or honor you seek.”“You may never be ranked to the lists of this or that.”“Will you therefore get mad or walk away?”“You do know there is always someone around just as good as you. You must know that there will be times that your name will not be called even when you serve faithfully. And if you don’t get what you seek, will you stay and serve or sulk and leave?”If I Can Help Somebody (A. Bazel Androzzo, © 1945, Alma B. Androzzo)
If I can help somebody as I pass along,If I can cheer somebody with a word or song,If I can show somebody he is trav’ling wrong,Then my living shall not be in vain.Then my living shall not be in vain,Then my living shall not be in vain;If I can help somebody as I pass along,Then my living shall not be in vain.If I can do my duty as a Christian ought,If I can bring back beauty to a world up-wrought,If I can spread love’s message that the Master taught,Then my living shall not be in vain.Then my living shall not be in vain,Then my living shall not be in vain;If I can help somebody as I pass along,Then my living shall not be in vain.“Let your journey begin today.”
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