When I talk to Bible college and seminary students, I’ve noticed a surprising trend: many show an interest in going into academia rather than into church ministry. Why is there this desire?
Maybe you find yourself feeling similarly. In this article, I will run through three different reasons why someone might be drawn to academia instead of the pastorate and offer some responses for each.
1. They, or Someone They Know, Has Been Burned by the Church
This is a common one. Maybe the student served as an intern for a period and had a bad experience. Maybe a parent was in ministry and was fired from the church. Maybe their family had an experience that made them leave the church.
Many people see how pastors and ministry leaders often get burned and think to themselves: why would I want that? I should go into academia instead of church ministry.
Response: The Risks Exist in Both Places
While there are troubles that exist in church ministry, there are also many troubles that exist in academia. People lose their jobs. Conflicts exist between faculty members. Students can give harsh feedback. Your book can get unfairly evaluated and dismissed in an academic review.
Going into academia rather than pastoral ministry does not ensure a life without getting burned. The risks exist in both places.
2. They Love Theology
Students love studying theology in seminary and believe that, to be a true theologian, they need to be a seminary professor.
Response: Theology Belongs to the Church
This reality says something about the state of evangelical churches in Canada. Imagine telling a student they are too theologically minded for the church. Is theology not meant for the church?
I think the reason so many students think they need to pursue academics is because they think serious, deep theological teaching is not appreciated—or potentially even welcome, for that matter—in the church. We, as the church, need to address this need. How do we show young students that we need pastor-theologians?
And I mean serious theologians. I am not talking about people who know some proof texts for trendy theological issues. I mean people who know the Trinitarian formula espoused in the Nicene Creed. Or how to explain the aseity of God and why it is important. Or the difference between the preterist, futurist, historicist, and idealist readings of Revelation.
If the church can see the value in such discussions, then the young people in love with theology will be able to see that there are exciting opportunities within the church, not only in the seminary.
3. They Like the Structure and the Clear Aspects of Accomplishment That Come With Academia
I sympathize with this point. Pastoral ministry is filled with rhythms and recurring tasks. A pastor preaches Sunday after Sunday. A pastor goes to meetings, week after week. A pastor meets with the same people over and over. There are not many clear accomplishments in pastoral ministry. Pastoral ministry is rooted in a rhythmic lifestyle rather than a list of items that are checked off.
Academia, however, gives a person a sense of accomplishment. Submit this assignment and get a grade. Get this grade and complete a class. Complete enough classes and get a degree. There are clear structures, timelines, and accomplishments.
Once one becomes a professor, such realities continue. Courses begin and end. A paper gets published after a long period. One conference is completed and the next one begins.
Response: Faithfulness Over Accomplishment
Some pastoral ministry is by necessity rooted in a way of life. Pastoral ministry cannot be overly structured. However, pastoral ministry can involve certain aspects of accomplishment. For example, one can complete a sermon series through a book of the Bible or complete a teaching series through a midweek class on a theological topic.
Nevertheless, there is also the question of whether we should be living for such accomplishment in the first place. Ministry, whether in the church or the academy, is more about faithfulness than it is about task completion. While it is good to be productive for the sake of Christ and his kingdom, we also need to guard ourselves from thinking too much of our personal goals at the expense of faithfully ministering to others.
Both pastors and professors need to be ready to lay aside their personal projects for the sake of faithfully ministering to the people God has placed before them.
So, Should I Pursue Academia or Not?
Well, it depends. We do need professors who teach in the seminary. But the reality is that there are far fewer professor positions than there are pastoral positions. Thus, on a purely practical note, it is far more likely that one will get a permanent job in a church than in a seminary. (Further, one can always try to teach as an adjunct professor alongside doing a full-time church ministry position.)
That being said, if a person wants to get a PhD but is happy to do so and then serve faithfully in the church, then a PhD can be a great asset as a pastor. You can be a faithful pastor-theologian who has a PhD and who looks to seriously think and teach theologically in the local church. A PhD also gives significant credibility for doing research, writing, and speaking. We need such pastors who are entrenched in local church ministry and have been academically trained to think at the highest level.
So for those reading this who are wondering if they should pursue academia or church ministry, the answer could be both. In the case that you really excel in academia and the Lord opens the door for you to teach in the seminary, then praise God. This will happen to some people who graduate with a PhD—but also know that for many, it will not. And in the case that the Lord does not open such a door, then you can use your skills and abilities as an academic for the sake of serving in the local church.
Lead book studies. Teach Sunday school classes. Mentor interns. Preach theologically robust sermons. Think through difficult theological issues and write on them and teach on them. Be a faithful pastor-theologian situated in the local church.
And if someone asks you why such “academic” theology is necessary in the local church, be ready to give an answer. Any proficient theologian should always be ready to show how any theological issue, no matter how precise and nuanced, has an impact on the Christian faith and life.
There is no such thing as too much theology. The church needs good theology. And the academy trains people for serious theological thinking.
Use your passion for learning theology for the sake of building up the church as a pastor-theologian.
