… from class this week that have been rolling through my mind (well, they may be close paraphrases, but you get the idea):
Speaking of class–I was afraid this would happen–my amazon.com wish list has grown my six more items. Crap.
In the class I am currently taking at Luther, we are studying the theology of ministry. More specifically, we are studying the “theology of the cross” as a foundation for ministry. To put it way too simplistically, the theology of the cross is essentially the understanding that the place where God breaks into the world and acts is in the midst of human suffering (the point of ex nihilo). Perhaps this theology may not be sufficient to be the only lens through which we understand God and the world, but it is certainly a lens.
If this theology is foundational to ministry, and I believe it is, then our churches are in for a rude awakening. It seems to me that the normative virtue in many churches today is that of comfort. Decisions are often made in such a way that the congregation is inconvenienced in the least possible way. Comfort is our normative theological virtue.
However, the theology of the cross states the act of God breaking into our world occurs not when we are joyful and comfortable, but when we are downtrodden, despaired, ex nihilo. This is not to say that churches should seek out suffering, but that churches should not fear it. To face suffering will require inconvenience upon a church. When a wife loses a husband, the children might need to be picked up from school. When someone loses a job, what true inconvenience would it be for the church to forego the usual Sunday morning treats (which are always claimed to be for the visitors, but the visitors are often too afraid to wade through the sea of members already eating the food) for a few weeks in order to free up some cash to help this family in transition? Or what if the church decided, instead of a capital campaign for building improvements, to keep the dirty walls and to hold a capital campaign in order to be able to assist members of the community when needs arise? All of these things allow the church to participate in and speak to the suffering of our brothers and sisters, but they would also require inconvenience.
Perhaps we should look to the difficult, odd, and uncomfortable as the starting place of action in the church rather than the way of the tried-and-true, path-of-least-resistance, or way-we’ve-always-done-things. Perhaps we would find ourselves closer to the ministry of God.
It has begun. I’m taking my first seminary class at Luther Seminary (where it is currently 34 degrees–fairly mild) called Ministry with Children, Youth, and Family: Theological and Strategic Frameworks (with Andrew Root). Or it could be called Theology for Ministry with Children, Youth, and Families, if that makes more sense. Two of the foundational texts for the class are:
by Douglas John Hall. This is a brief systematic-ish theology looking through the lens of the theology of the cross. It was pretty good and stands in start contrast to some of the popular ministry principles of the church. by Ray Anderson. I’ve just started this book, but it’s basic premise is that to do ministry is to do theology. A quote:Whether we realize it or not, every act of ministry reveals something of God. By act of ministry I mean a sermon preached, a lesson taught, a marriage performed, counsel offered, and any other word or act that people might construe as carrying God’s blessing, warning, or judgment (7).
Anderson’s book is good thus far, and I’m curious to see how he develops ministry as distinct from life. It seems to me that the statement could also be made (and I tend to make it) that to live life is to do theology, that every act of ours speaks of God, whether it is “ministry” or not.
I owe a debt of gratitude to Dr. Castleman, whose classes during undergrad instilled within me a love for theology. It is so much easier to participate in and interact with (and understand!) the class because of my theological background. It makes class really enjoyable when you don’t have to worry about what words mean or tons of concepts are brand-new.
I was a little worried that there would be a lot of overlap between my undergraduate education and my current classes, but with this class that hasn’t been the case. I’m sure classes like church history will seem redundant.
On another note, it has definitely been interesting to be at an official ELCA seminary where the majority of the students are lifelong ELCA church-goers. And there is chapel every single day. I haven’t been, yet.
Sorry it’s been so long since posting anything. It’s been a little more hectic the past few weeks for some reason.
Anyways, I thought I’d write a little bit about why I’ve decided to go ahead and pursue an M.A. degree from Luther Seminary.
I know it seems a little more than coincidental that I’m going to a Lutheran Seminary while working at a Lutheran church. But honestly, I really think I’d be pursuing this degree from this seminary no matter what church I was working at. I really think they offer the best experience for me right now.
My first class in in January (cold!) with Andrew Root. I’m pretty stoked.
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