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Pastor to Pastor

Pastoral Training (2)

The local church is the context for pastoral training.

Giants of the Reformation (7)

For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God… Titus 1.7

Institutes of the Christian Religion
John Calvin (1509-1564)
“First, then, they were entrusted with the opening and closing of the church…Afterward they were called ‘acolytes,’ to assist the bishop in household tasks and continually to accompany him first for honor’s sake, then that no suspicion might arise. Moreover, that they might gradually become known to the people and acquire commendation for themselves, and at the same time learn to be seen by all and to speak before all; that, when made presbyters, they might not be covered with shame when they came forward to teach – they were given opportunity to read from the pulpit. In this way, to prove their diligence in individual exercises, they were promoted by degrees…”

Becoming a pastor in Calvin’s Geneva involved a lengthy process of study, spiritual development, acquiring ministry skills, on-the-job training, and gaining the confidence of the people. This approach to pastoral preparation proved highly effective, and could be of great benefit to churches in our day, although a typical seminary setting makes such training rather difficult. Internships for seminary graduates provide some help, but they are typically short and poorly structured. Existing denominational structures do not encourage a “home-grown” approach to pastoral training either. The requirement that pastors should only be selected from among those who have earned an accredited degree has yet to prove the best or only way to prepare men for ministry. Poor training for ministers creates poor pastoral leaders, and poor pastoral leaders lead shallow and marginalized churches.

Suppose your church might want to begin encouraging some young men to seek the ministry as a calling. What might your church do to begin their training now, even if, at some point, they must go off to seminary?

T. M. Moore

Mission Partners Outreach
The Lord calls all His sheep to live out their faith by being His witnesses; but being a witness for Christ doesn’t just happen. The flock of the Lord must be equipped for this calling, and Jesus has set shepherds over the flock to do that work. How can we equip the sheep to live for Christ and be His witnesses? Our Mission Partners Outreach provides the resources and framework for making witness-bearing disciples in your church. Want to learn how it works? Watch this brief video, then contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.for more information. I will show you how to make this ministry work in your church.

The Fellowship of Ailbe is supported through the generous and faithful gifts of those who benefit from and believe in our work. Does the Lord want to use you in this way? Please look to Him in prayer over this question. You can contribute to The Fellowship of Ailbe by using the Contribute button at our website, or by sending your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452. Thank you.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
All quotations from John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, John T. McNeill, ed., Ford Lewis Battles, tr. (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1960), Vol. 2, Book IV, pp. 1012ff.

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
Books by T. M. Moore

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