What back to school wisdom would you offer someone who is beginning seminary?
This season is back-to-the-routine and back-to-school time for many of us. So this week we invited pastors, professors and recent seminary graduates to share some words of wisdom. We think their advice will inspire your #pastoralimagination as you begin your seminary journey or return to school this fall.
Be Open and Honest
“Be open. You may be certain you are called to serve a local church and discover a passion for nonprofit work. You may come in determined never to serve a church and discover you feel a calling to it. Calling is not static – God does not call us to specific things, but God does offer us a trajectory. Be open to all sorts of opportunities and be honest with what feels right for you . . . and remember that nothing is forever. Also, find a therapist ASAP. Therapy is an invaluable tool. 
What advice do I wish I had been given? Leaders are called to lead, not to be assimilated, but to be faithful. Don’t worry so much about fitting a mold. Be who God has created you to be and trust that you were created on purpose. And find a therapist!”
~ Rev. Dalton Rushing (he/him), Senior Pastor of Decatur First United Methodist Church
Leaders are called to lead, not to be assimilated, but to be faithful.
Take Charge of Your Learning
“This is YOUR theological education, so take charge of it: take what you need to equip you for the work God has called you to. Seek out the questions that matter to you, that you need answered before you leave this place.
Don’t wait for someone else to tell what to do, but rather follow the call that God that God has on your life in the way that God has called YOU to do it! Godspeed!”
~Dr. Erin Raffety (she/hers), Senior Research Scholar, Princeton Theological Seminary
Seek out the questions that matter to you, that you need answered before you leave this place.
Plant Seeds for a Lifetime
“I wish someone had explained to me the perspective of “seminary” as a seed bed. It is an environment where seminal knowledge, habits, and dispositions for ministry leadership gets cultivated. Seminary is not supposed to teach you “everything that you need to know for ministry.” It is a seedbed for lifelong learning for faithful discipleship and effective ministry.”
~ Rev. Jeffery L. Tribble, Sr., Ph.D. (he/him), Lead Faculty-Doctor of Ministry Program, Associate Professor of Ministry Columbia Theological Seminary
Write with Concern
“You will write a lot of papers—long and short. My students get tripped up by the instructions to write ‘academically.’
Yes, this is academics. However, the aim of many of your papers will be to identify what concerns the author(s) you are reading and how they go about addressing their concern. They also have ‘communities of concern’ in mind—as do you. When I shift to ‘concern’ language, it helps me add life to my paper-writing. Try it!”
~Dr. Shelly Rambo (she/her), Associate Professor of Theology, Boston University School of Theology, and Director, Trauma-Responsive Congregations Grant
Cultivate Curiosity
“Cultivate a spirit of curiosity about the ideas and people who perplex you. Asking a question such as, ‘I wonder why she thinks/says/ does/writes that?’ Instead of approaching them through a posture of ‘I like/don’t like/agree/disagree with X,’ maintain openness in the face of new or different experiences with people, texts, and contexts. It promotes better conversations, learning, and relationships!”
~ Rev. Dr. Joyce Ann Mercer (she/her), Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Horace Bushnell Professor of Practical Theology
Build Relationships
“Build relationships early. Be expansive in your elective selections. Seek out mentorship from professors who are doing ministry where and how you desire to minister. Establish a support community with your peers. While the work may feel arduous and time consuming, develop a rhythm of life whereby you have non-negotiable, untouchable time with the Holy Spirit.
“Allow your long-held perceptions of the Bible, life, and ministry to be challenged. Don’t presume you are right or wrong. Simply be open to learn and discern. Trust that the God who led you to seminary will allow you to leave with your faith intact and stronger than before. Trust that you will receive tools to fulfill the God’s call for you. Stay connected to the people and rooted to the things that brought you to this point. Know that you are good and good enough.”
~ Tara Ann Gill, Doctor of Ministry graduate, McAfee School of Theology in Atlanta, Georgia.
Stay connected to the people and rooted to the things that brought you to this point. Know that you are good and good enough.
We hope you enjoy this back to school wisdom! If you would like to download an image with a summary of this wisdom to print or use as a screensaver, you can do so here.
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“Back to seminary Wisdom” 2023
To help you follow the path of all this wisdom, we invite you to join the Baptized & Ordained community. It is place you can share your stories, connect with others on the journey of embracing God’s calling in their lives, and learn what strategies will make the kind of change you hope to see in the world. Doors to this year-long community close October 1. Learn more today!
