p. 1132 | Education for the Ministry by J. L. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Nov 20, 1913

Education for the Ministry

By J. L. S.

The recent council of the General Conference set for the first time a definite educational standard for young men entering the ministry as licensed preachers. While no other qualification is so necessary as the spiritual, yet it is evidently certain that the educational qualification of candidates for the ministry should be raised.

Conferences and schools are henceforth recommended to urge young men looking toward this calling to finish either a ministerial or a literary course. Conferences licensing young men for preaching will expect them to have finished at least an academic course of twelve grades. The resolutions as passed by the council are as follows:—

“For the purpose of encouraging young men to study for the gospel ministry, and in order that our evangelical work may be strengthened, we recommend,—

“1. That our conferences and schools urge young men who are looking toward the ministry to finish either a ministerial or a literary course in one of our denominational schools.

“2. That conferences in licensing young men to the ministry require at least the completion of an academic course of twelve grades in one of our schools, or its equivalent.

“3. That young men who are now licensed ministers who have not completed the academic course be urged to pursue studies in our training-schools, or in the Fireside Correspondence School, with a view to reaching this educational standard before ordination.

“4. That a reading course for ministers be prepared each year by the General Conference Department of Education, in counsel with the General and North American Division Conference Committees, and that the course shall be conducted by the General Conference Department of Education.”

The call of the gospel ministry is second to none other in importance. God in his plan of salvation has seen fit to commit his messages unto men, calling them to the ministry, that, as his representatives, they may stand as mouthpieces for him. We cannot speak too strongly of the need of spiritual and educational preparation for that work.

Many young men have entered the ministry and have made failures. They did not know their Bibles, nor have the faith and piety which are so necessary, and they had not laid the foundation that a good education provides.

While it is true God has used in a very remarkable way men who have had a poor education,—for he is able to use every instrument for his work that is wholly consecrated to him,—yet the fact remains that he wishes young men preparing for his service to make use of all the educational advantages within their reach. This is an era of educational activity. Never before has there been an age of such intellectual activity, since the world began. Schools, colleges, and universities have multiplied in civilized countries. As the result of the printing press, publications of every form are increasing. People have a wealth of information crowded in upon them, libraries are springing up on every hand, and specialists in every avenue of human knowledge are going farther and still farther in their pursuits of knowledge.

For these reasons the world in general is becoming better informed, higher standards of education prevail. The messenger of present truth must labor to reach a class of people better informed than that of fifty years ago. An all-round education is a decided advantage, and the young man or woman who gets it, remaining humble and wholly devoted to the interests of God's cause, depending not upon literary attainments, but upon God, is prepared for the larger and more efficient service.

Our colleges and academies are very closely related to the preparation of young men for the ministry. The faculties of these institutions can do much in encouraging suitable persons to prepare for the ministry. The dearth of evangelical laborers is greatly crippling the work at home and in the mission fields. Resolutions were passed at the recent council of the North American Division Conference which in time, we trust, may be a means of bringing financial assistance to young men preparing for the ministry, and to others taking college courses as a means of fitting themselves for service. Of these we shall write more particularly at another time.

J. L. S.