IX Marks asked a roundtable of seminary presidents two questions:
Why is your seminary needed?
What’s an exciting example you have seen being done in a local church that would encourage pastors to think of raising up the next generation?
- Daniel L. Akin (Southeastern)
- Bryan Chapell (Covenant)
- Dennis P. Hollinger (Gordon Conwell)
- Paige Patterson (Southwestern)
Instead of “Why is your seminary needed?,” I think the more important question is “Why do students need seminary?”
I’ve seen a shift over the 20 years.
Before, most students went to seminary for credentialing so they could be hired by a church. Today, students are more likely to have a ministry position before thinking about seminary. If they decide to attend seminary at all, usually it’s because they want ministry development that will help them fulfill their calling.
The main reason for this shift is that a growing number of churches that hire from within to fill staff positions.
Sam Simmons
Rockbridge Seminary