Jim Pace

Interested in a demon? Northern Seminary has a plan…

October 1, 2010 | 1 Comment

Alright, perhaps my post title was a bit misleading.  Or really misleading.

What Northern Seminary is offering is a new D.Min (read Doctorate of Ministry) program.  And while I am overall very un-excited about demons, I mean.. look at that thing…I am very excited about this new offering.

I often get the question of why I haven’t pursued a graduate degree in some aspect of ministry.  I have been in vocational ministry for almost 15 years, have been on a panel that has been able to speak into the development of a Masters program at a seminary, and highly value the intellectual component of my pursuit of God.  So, it seems strange that I have yet to get my Masters.  When I first came on staff I had three reasons and now I have a different three.  I’ll let you in on those and then tell you why they make me so excited about Northern’s program.

Reasons I didn’t initially pursue a graduate degree…

Go Hokies!  Okay, I just wrote that because I bet that very few outside of my mom (Hi Mom) will read this section.  Honestly I am not sure that I would.  But I do think I had some valid and not so valid reasons for my decision.

1.  We were super-poor, no way we could afford it.  The first few years of Tracy and I being in ministry were financially very tight.  Once she sat on her $5 sunglasses, and we couldn’t afford replacements for a several weeks.  The cost of a graduate degree was simply out of our reach.

2.  Hubris.  Plain and simple.  I didn’t value graduate education in ministry.  I thought it was primarily an institution that was funded by very wealthy churches that were out of step with where our culture is today.  That seminaries were preparing ministers for a world that didn’t exist any longer.  Just for the record, I still feel that can often be the case.  My hubris came in with my pre-judging all programs based on my awareness of a few.  I thought too highly of myself.

3.  I wasn’t yet sure enough of what I believed to find a program that would challenge and push me toward what I sensed God was pushing me to become.  Honestly, I am glad I didn’t go early in ministry for this reason.

Here is why I haven’t gone recently…

1.  Time.  It would appear that while finances can still be tight, the most tight comodity I have in my life is my time.  With the churches, congregations and non-profits that [nlcf] has launched and my roles in many of those, added to my roles in other organizations, my roles within [nlcf], my family, time spent with the writing and launch of my book, the plans for another…  Yikes.  Things get busy very fast.

2.  Lack of a program that I am really excited about, that I can meaningfully engage remotely.  Yes there are programs around me, but none that truly generate that level of excitement in me.

3.  Lack of a direct need to have one.  The reality is that I ask my friends who are attending seminary to share their reading lists with me and I read many of those books.  I have several groups around me where I can share my reflections and have those reflections challenged.  I feel intellectually invigorated and am growing.  I enjoy these times greatly.

But I sense that God might be moving in me to take the plunge.  Tomorrow, the reasons why Northern’s approach is key in that. If you have found yourself in a similar situation to what I was in or where I am now, you will want to hear about Northern’s program and heart behind it.

See you tomorrow!

Categories: General, life, Mission