Question about Church denominations (Specific answers please)?
March 22010
Can anyone tell me a specific Christian church or fellowship that believes that higher education past high school is not required for serving in the church, including Pastoring (assuming you have God’s calling) ? I am asking this, because God may be calling me to Pastor a church someday, but I want to know *all* of the denominations that currently exist (if any) which would allow me to do this…otherwise I would start my own denomination (not to rebel, but to follow God’s calling). Also, does the size of the church, the church’s location, and/or something else factor into determining the education level for its Pastor? Would appreciate your help!
Stay away from the "calvary chapel" that one person above suggested. They are VERY authoritarian and there has been much abuse, emotional and sexual.
They also teach a lot of false doctrines, like for instance that their "pastors" are Moses. It is a dangerous place.
In answer to your question, though, many baptist groups don’t require it, and most non-denominational Bible groups don’t require it either. Find someone in your area not affiliated with anyone. You can email me if you need help doing that, since I’ve done what you’re talking about before.
March 3rd, 2010 at 12:35 am
If God found all professed Christian demominations acceptable, with all of their conflicting and unbiblical doctrines, that would make him a God of confusion. And we know he isn’t.
There is no such thing as a true Christian denomination. Either one is a Christian or he’s not. As 1 Cor. 1:10 says: "Now I exhort you, brothers, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you should all speak in agreement, and that there should not be divisions among you, but that you may be fitly united in the same mind and in the same line of thought."
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March 3rd, 2010 at 1:01 am
some baptist
i will pray for you and hope if God is calling you that you do as he wants you to do.God Bless
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March 3rd, 2010 at 1:15 am
as far as i know you don’t have to do any further schooling in the Mormon church to get called as a bishop or what not
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March 3rd, 2010 at 1:58 am
As far as I know, you need to go to seminary which requires you to get a college degree.
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March 3rd, 2010 at 2:11 am
How can you teach with out being educated in theology ? About 4 years of schooling
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March 3rd, 2010 at 2:41 am
I’ve heard that JW’s do not require higher education after high school, which incidentally many JW parents accomplish through home schooling. But then I could be wrong.
Peace be with you.
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March 3rd, 2010 at 3:02 am
Calvary Chapel doesn’t. You may have to disciple under the pastor, but other than that you don’t have to have any formal schooling. It’s always a plus though.
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March 3rd, 2010 at 3:48 am
I am not sure that lacking education is a positive thing. Certainly the Catholic Church permits serving in ordained and vowed positions in the monastic orders and as deacons, but I am not sure why you would not want years of training in scripture, church finances and the spiritual care of people before taking on such a role. While the Church does not require a college degree, they will end up giving you the equivalent of one. Monks for example, sing the entire book of psalms every week and cycle through the entire bible once per year or it might be once every two years. The Catholic Church is more concerned about forming your spirituality and moral character than book knowledge, after all the apostles never had a higher education either, but they take years making sure you really want the task for the rest of your life and you are committed.
Baptists do not require even high school education, but you will lose out to a more qualified pastor if one exists. Most all of the small sectarian churches have no standards at all, you simply set up shop and you are a pastor. Of course Jim Jones that massacred all those people was ordained and the Church of God thought he was nuts when they did it.
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March 3rd, 2010 at 4:17 am
So, what you’re asking, is which denominations embrace ignorance, and a lack of formal education?
Non-denominational churches seem to be blessed with un-educated pastors.
With less education, theology and Christology is less developed and simplified, and the view develops that the King James Version of the Bible is the ‘true’ word of God, because people are too ignorant to know the facts.
The greater your education, the deeper your understanding of who God really is — not just who you THINK God is.
The Bible repeatedly mentions education, and preparation — Jesus went into the wilderness, Paul disappeared for years — the Bible is much less clear on the benefits of remaining ignorant.
It’s easier to help other people grow spiritually, to council, to nurture, and to lead, if you’ve been formally trained.
Start taking classes in community college. From there, get a BS in the Liberal Arts, from there, go to an accredited seminary — someplace that will challenge you and make you grow.
Steel is tempered by fire — the fire of having your beliefs challenged and the fire of having to defend what you believe as you learn and grow. This is what education is, and what the process of getting educated does — it forms you for the rest of your life, and prepares you to lead.
Godspeed.
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March 3rd, 2010 at 4:22 am
Stay away from the "calvary chapel" that one person above suggested. They are VERY authoritarian and there has been much abuse, emotional and sexual.
They also teach a lot of false doctrines, like for instance that their "pastors" are Moses. It is a dangerous place.
In answer to your question, though, many baptist groups don’t require it, and most non-denominational Bible groups don’t require it either. Find someone in your area not affiliated with anyone. You can email me if you need help doing that, since I’ve done what you’re talking about before.
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