Update on making time to write

I thought it would be helpful to provide an update on my Sept. 12th blog entry, "Making time to write". At that time I was just starting to roll out of bed early. Now, three months later, I am astounded how much I've accomplished and the ideas that are emerging.

In these short months, I've written and submitted two articles to academic journals; both are currently undergoing peer review. I sent one to Teaching Theology and Religion and another to Canadian Military Journal. Now I am in the final stages of editing my PhD dissertation for publication. By the end of the month I will submit it to Wipf and Stock. My editor is concerned with the title, "In Vitro Education" so I am revising it to be less edgy and more mysterious. I'm toying with the term "Glassroom" as a way to hold onto "In vitro" (meaning "within the glass" or "inside glass") while avoiding the ideas associated with fertilization. I am aiming to submit my manuscript at the end of this month and the title may be something like "Glassroom Learning: virtual culture and online pastoral education".

In the new year I have more projects to tend. I've committed to review two books: one on multivocational ministry for Faith Today and the other deals with chaplaincy and spiritual care for Religious Studies Review (RSR). I am also hoping to start two book projects, one on technology and theology with my colleague, Joel Houston, and the other on multivocational ministry.

It may sound strange but I think these ideas are from God. They seem to be part of my new vocation as a professor and academic administrator. I have such clear ideas about things to write about and the energy and capacity to do them, I'm becoming convinced they are part of a calling into academic service; they are truly gifts from God. I'm grateful for this new calling and I look forward to seeing these projects and others become reality. 

Spiritual Theology

I have been teaching Spiritual Theology in the college this semester. It's a first year course focused on learning how to live Christian theology in the world. We've talked about spiritual disciplines, money, sex, and power. We've also taken time to read excepts from the writings of long dead saints. It has been amazing.

The best part has been hearing how the students are processing the ideas that arise in the class. They have inspired me to look at things from a different perspective and I suspect I've done the same for them. This past Tuesday I divided students into two groups and asked them to prepare for Thursday's class but researching one of two approaches to handling Scripture: one group was asked to look at traditional Bible Study methods while the other was invited to dig into Lectio Divina. On Thursday they squared off in a lighthearted debate about which approach is better. There were so many excellent perspectives raised on both sides!

This week is our final week of class and I'm sad it is coming to an end. I celebrate meeting and growing with the Spiritual Theology students. After Christmas I get to do it all over again with a whole different group of students as I teach a totally new subject, public speaking.

Setting aside time to write

Our late August faculty retreat featured Tyndale's research professor of education, Ken Badley, encouraging us to make time for writing. The next day, Briercrest's affiliate professor of Old Testament, Keith Bodner stopped by my house to catch up. Keith is a prolific writer so I asked him how he finds time to write. His answer was refreshingly straightforward. Carve out time in your schedule that works for you. Then use that regular window to write. 

I want to do that. I want to find a regular time to write. 

As a new dean I can already see how easy it is to abandon research and writing in favour of pressing administrative matters. I don't want that life. I want to be a dean that models the importance of research and writing for the seminary professors around me. I want to establish a culture where our faculty encourage one another to research and write in order to bring fresh insights to the classroom and world. Teaching without an active research agenda works but I think the best teaching flows from an active life of research and writing.

So, I'm going to roll out of bed a bit earlier and write. Down the road I hope my writing results in new ideas that get developed into papers and books. For now, I just need to set the alarm.

French Immersion? Why not Koine Greek Immerson?

I recently sat down with Dr. David Miller, associate professor of New Testament and Early Judaism, in his Briercrest office. He and another New Testament professor teach Koine Greek a bit differently than most seminary instructors. They use an immersive environment. Much like my grade 7 and 8 French Immersion experience, students are encouraged to read and speak Koine and Classical Greek in the classroom as a way to learn the language. Starting with the very first class, the professors speak Greek to their students. No more grappling with grammar as a springboard to the New Testament in its original language. Instead, students at Briercrest can enrol in Greek classes and spend the whole semester, Monday to Friday, all day every day, hearing and learning to speak Greek as a way to study the written text. At the end of their Big Fat Greek Semester they walk away with the equivalent of 5 course credits.

If you're interested in knowing more, I'd be happy to help you get connected with one of our exceptional New Testament scholars.

Thoughts from an Ontario native living in Saskatchewan

In July my wife and I officially became residents of Saskatchewan. It was not our easiest move; it was our most adventurous. Packing up a 26-foot U-Haul with our car loaded on a tow-behind trailer, we drove 2,700km from Ontario to our new home. My wife and I both landed great employment opportunities in the land of the living skies with an Aug. 1 start date.

I thought it would be interesting to note a few of the things that differentiate my new province from my former. Saskatchewan, at least the part I'm living in, seems to be sunnier than Ontario. It also seems windier. In Ontario I would think nothing of heading out on my bike. Now, I have to check the weather to see which direction the wind is travelling and how strong it is blowing.

There are fewer people, more trains, and more heavy equipment on the highway than where I used to live. I hear train sounds everyday and I get to watch them rumble down the tracks near the TransCanada Highway on my way to work. In terms of huge vehicles, sometimes they are in the fields and other times they are on the road. The other day I watched great plumes of dust swirl high in the sky as five or six combines danced together in a field nearby. On one of my first days on my bicycle I was passed by a semi-truck loaded with only four tires, each one overhanging the trailer bed, stretching beyond the white traffic lines the truck straddled as it rolled along.

And then there is the people. While Ontarians are good humans, folks in Saskatchewan have so kind, caring, and helpful. It was hard leaving those we love to come to a new land with new people. Yet, those we have met have been wonderful. We chose to live this adventure and we are grateful for God's sustaining grace and abundant provision of new friends and colleagues.  

 

A new world with new friends - The Association of Theological Schools Biennial Meeting 2022 in Pittsburgh

A large part of my dissertation focused on the work of the largest accrediting body for graduate theological education in North America, the Association of Theological Schools (ATS). So, when some of my future colleagues at Briercrest invited me to attend an ATS gathering in Pittsburgh it was a no-brainer. This was an opportunity to meet the people behind the papers and articles I had read and quoted during my dissertation research. 

The conference exceeded my expectations in so many ways. I had the chance to get to know people from across North America in a relaxed (albeit in a business causal kind-of-way) environment. I'm grateful to my future Briercrest teammates, Jay and Beth, for including me in great things they are doing for the school and the multi-vocational project funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. I'm thankful for a handful of faculty and administrator friends from theological schools in Canada, such as a Scottish preaching professor from Acadia Divinity College, a Wycliffe College grant writer who knows something about everything, and the recently appointed dean of theology at Ambrose University in Calgary. He's going to be one of my first calls once I get settled in my new role in the Prairies. I also got the chance to meet and chat with some fine ATS people, including former Executive Director, Dan Aleshire. What an honour.

The only hiccup occurred the night before I was scheduled to fly back to Toronto. I received word that my early morning flight was cancelled and rescheduled for a nighttime trip with a stop in Washington. Two men from Horizon College & Seminary in Saskatoon who happened to be sitting at my table also happened to be on that cancelled flight. We all decided to drive back to Canada instead of taking our chances at the airport. As it turns out, Beth, my Briercrest colleague who lives in Toronto, had driven to the conference. She had space to squeeze me behind her passenger riding shotgun, the newly appointed principal of Emmanuel College in Toronto. What a eventful end to a great conference.

Big News and a Coming Move

I've been preoccupied. Overwhelmed is perhaps a more fitting term. So, for those who follow my blog, I apologize for my absence.

Just over a month ago I accepted an offer of employment from Briercrest College and Seminary as seminary dean and assistant professor. It's sort of a dream come true.

The same week my wife was hired as the director of spiritual care and mission at one of the very few facilities in the province of Saskatchewan that provide Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) training for spiritual care practitioners. God's hand was all over this.

So, three of four family members will be packing up and moving halfway across the country from Southern Georgian Bay, Ontario to Southern Saskatchewan. We'll be leaving the valley of apple orchards for the land of the living skies. Our daughter will remain in Ontario to finish up her final year of university. I think it will be harder on me than it is for her.

Pray for us. We are excited about the adventure that awaits but sad about the many friends and family members we leave behind. We are looking forward to new opportunities, friends, and a new place to call home.

The Future of Theological Education

There are very few books written about the future of theological education. I've had the chance to review most, if not all, of them.

This week, the Toronto Journal of Theology published my reviews of Daniel Aleshire's excellent book, Beyond Profession, and Barabara Wheeler's edited volume, Disruption and Hope. Both provide a thoughtful and important look at what might be around the corner for theological schools.

If you are interested in seeing what might be ahead for theological schools, I welcome you to read my review of Beyond Profession and my review of Disruption and Hope.
 

Good News for Spiritual Care Practitioners seeking registration with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO)

Lately, certified spiritual care practitioners seeking registration with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) have been facing obstacles. Until recently, CRPO has been grandparenting spiritual care practitioners into the college by registering them without a rigorous verification process. Grandparenting is now over and many spiritual care providers are finding the CRPO has made it next to impossible for them to prove their training and education provided through the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care is substantially equivalent to a registered psychotherapy program.

This seemed unfair so I wrote a paper showing how Supervised Pastoral Education is substantially equivalent. The article was peer reviewed and published this week online in the Journal of Pastoral Care and Counseling. You can read it here.

The article has already been presented as part of an appeal to the Health Professions Appeal and Review Board (HPARB) challenging the CPRO's rejection of an application. I am happy to report the CRPO Registration Committee has responded favourably and are willing to grant a certificate of registration if the applicant takes four additional courses.

If you are one of the many applicants who have been rejected because your SPE/CPE educational units were not considered substantially equivalent to an registered program, reference this article and get in touch with me if you need more help.

The Pastoral Art of Spiritual Direction

I've had the privilege of sitting with a couple of wise spiritual directors over the past couple of months. One asks excellent questions that allow me to probe my thoughts and emotions to discern what God might be up to in my life. The other offers poetry, scripture, and imaginative exercises to help me find new ways of encountering Jesus. Both directors use distinct yet helpful approaches prodding me to grow in faith and I am grateful for their assistance.

Job, the Hebrew Bible figure, had a different experience. In the midst of devastating life circumstances his counsellors attempted to help get him in touch with God but, in the end, the LORD ended up judging them saying, "you have not spoken of me what is right..." (42:7). Yikes! They were so convinced they knew Job's soul and the mind and heart of God. Yet, in the end, they were off the mark.

I wonder how many pastors are like Jobs friends. No doubt, I'm in that company. Spiritual direction, coming alongside those seeking to grow in intimacy with God, is an important but often neglected part of ministry. If practised at all, it's usually done poorly.

I know I've blogged a lot about Eugene Peterson but I'm going to turn to him again. He believes spiritual direction is one of the central aspects of the pastoral vocation. He also believes its an uncommon part of church life. In his book Working the Angles: The Shape of Pastoral Integrity, Peterson describes several bad examples of spiritual direction from George Fox's Journal. In the end, Peterson describes the heart of good spiritual direction by pastors saying, "...there must be a predisposition toward prayer, a readiness for prayer. Spiritual direction is then conducted with an awareness that it takes place in God's active presence, and that our conversation is therefore condition by his speaking and listening, his being there" (p. 192).

I've sensed God's being there in times when I meet with my spiritual directors. It's something I want to cultivate in my own ministry as I provide that sort of prayerful space for others to discern God's speaking and listening. It's a beautiful grace wise directors have given me and I'm hoping to pass that gift along to others.

Love must be sincere

Romans 12:9 is clear: love must be sincere. But it's easier said than done.

Thomas Merton linked sincerity and love in his book, No Man Is an Island. He writes: 

If my will acts as the servant of the truth, consecrating my whole soul to what the intelligence has seen, then I will be sanctified by the truth. I will be sincere. ‘My whole body will be lightsome’ (Matt 6:22). But if my will takes possession of truth as its master, as if the truth were my servant, as if it belonged to me by right of conquest, then I will take it for granted that I can do with it whatever I please. This is the root of all falsity. …In the end, the problem of sincerity is a problem of love… And the secret of sincerity is, therefore, not to be sought in a philosophical love for abstract truth but in a love for real people and real things—a love for God apprehended in the reality around us. (Merton, 197-198).

Sincere love is expressed in the relationships we have with others. It includes arresting direct lies, about things we have or have not done, but also goes beyond by addressing the things we tell ourselves and others. If my will acts as, what Merton calls, "a servant of the truth" then I'm not spinning stories or speaking niceties just so I look better in the eyes of others. I should be self-aware enough to name the truth, even if it leaves me looking weak or incompetent. 

I had a colleague friend stop and ask me a few weeks ago, "How are you?" Normally, I'd say "doing well!" or something like that. But that day was different. I responded honestly and said, "I'm not doing very well." That led to an exchange about some things that I was wrestling with. He didn't laugh or judge but did something surprising; he opened up about his life too. 

Loving and being loved start with sincerity. After "Love must be sincere", Romans 12:9-10 goes on to say, "Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love." That kind of love for others and with others only comes from truth, honesty, and sincerity.  

 

"Pastoral work requires a small community"

I wrapped up listening to the Mars Hills podcast this week. In the midst of swirling thoughts and lamenting over that community's rise and fall, another large church scandal hit the headlines. Only days ago the teaching pastor of a large, well known, Ontario church resigned due to an abuse of authority and sexual harassment; what he called an "adulterous relationship". Now, this church joins Mars Hill, Willow Creek, Harvest Bible Chapel, and countless other megachurches that have said goodbye to their pastors because those same leaders' ethics and values were at odds with the Good News they preached.

I'm not surprised. It reminds me of something Eugene Peterson wrote in his July 2, 1990 journal entry, captured in his authorized biography, A Burning In My Bones, by Winn Collier. Pastor Eugene penned himself a dire warning about unencumbered church growth:

I'm about to be dogmatic on one detail in this: good, authentic, pastoral work--the working out of vocational holiness--cannot be done in a large congregation. It requires a small community. "Big" introduces dynamics and perceptions that destroy intimacies. I am willing to concede occasional exceptions--but only in exceptions--never as models. We must repudiate the desirability of the large congregation and the so-called professional staff. 500 is top number. (Collier, 194)

Did you catch that part in the middle? "Perceptions that destroy intimacies". The bigger a church grows, the more power becomes consolidated in a smaller group of people who make big decisions in order to prevent expansion constraints. That smaller group of people allow the leader to isolate himself (I thought about writing him/herself but I am not aware of any female megachurch pastors who have been in this situation) from those who may otherwise challenge them. Without those who challenge, the isolated leader starts to believe they "deserve" to be treated differently or they are allowed to take liberties that others cannot or should not. Their perception about themselves and their churches gets skewed. Intimacy with real people erodes and, well, you know how the rest of the story unfolds.

I had the opportunity to pastor a church of close to 500 people and recently my wife and I co-pastored a much smaller church. Both had their celebrations and challenges. Usually the challenges came in the form of resistance. Getting resistance and push back feels deflating. Sometimes humiliating. But I'm grateful for those who resisted, pushed back, and made my life difficult. They were God's gifts to me and the church. While it was difficult to see at the time, I see how important they were in my vocational holiness. They kept me humble and made me holy. And, as I rubbed them the wrong way, I may have been helping some of them become more holy too. Spiritual growth happens when pastor and people worship in this environment. It may be difficult but so is the way of the cross. This sort of tension is not a great way to grow a church numerically but it keeps a pastor and a church humble. And, according to Jesus and the Scriptures, humility isn't a bad attribute to aim for.  

Thanks Eugene and Jan!

The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill Podcast

I'm halfway through listening to episodes of The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill. (Thanks for the recommendation, Aleks!) This podcast is eye opening. The narrative follows the rise of a church in Seattle led by Mark Discoll. I didn't know much about Driscoll before listening to the episodes and now I'm too familiar. Excerpts from his preaching are downright shocking. He screams, swears, and talks openly about former pastors he ran over with the Mars Hill "bus" a.k.a. church on the way to achieving the mission. Somehow, his leadership and preaching appealed to thousands of people who attended services and groups.

When I first started out in pastoral ministry the church growth movement was in full swing. Business models of congregational leadership were in vogue and I, along with others, flocked to conferences to hear megachurch pastors pontificate about how to grow a church. Today, many of those big churches led by larger than life pastors have been plagued by scandals and run into substantial problems. Mars Hill is one example.

If you want a good analysis of a grow-at-all-costs ministry model, and the problems arising from that mentality, The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill is worth a listen. Parts of it are good fodder for a pastoral theology course. Invite students to consider Driscoll's pastoral theology alongside others such as Eugene Peterson, Will Willimon, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The contrast could not be starker.

 The full Podcast is available here. Below is a teaser to get you started.

What subjects do ministers wish they learned more about in seminary?

In a 2020 article published by the Association of Theological Schools, data collected from alums about their biggest unmet seminary course wishes were boiled down and analyzed. What's the one thing they wanted to learn more about? Here's what the article says:

It is probably not surprising that, for all respondents, categories unrelated to theology proper—"Administration" (19.7%), "Leadership" (15.3%), and "Finance" (15.1%)—stand at the top of the Wish-Learned list. One-fifth of alums marked "Administration," far exceeding all other categories.

Administration? The findings are not particularly revolutionary but they point to a divergence between theological school courses and the real world of pastoral work. Seminaries seem to do a good job preparing pastors to preach and write academic papers but haven't quite figured out how to help students administer and navigate complex congregational systems. 

My own experience confirms what I read in the article. When I was a lead pastor,  I sat on hiring committees, worked on church budgets, administered staff performance reviews, wrote proposals and reports for committees and the board, and all those tasks were on top of my traditional pastoral work of preaching, counseling, visiting, and praying. 

I think there is room to rethink pastoral education to bring the process and outcomes more in line with what today's congregations require. However, there is an equal need to examine congregational life and ask whether its time to rethink the expectations congregations have for their pastors.   

Student Spiritual Formation in Theological Schools

I stumbled across a handful of surprising and concerning findings in an Association of Theological Schools (ATS) publication from 2018. According to the publication, Five Things We've Learned About Assessing Personal and Spiritual Formation, only 59% of theological schools have a formal definition of personal and spiritual formation. Given that personal and spiritual formation should be one of the highest priorities for current and future church leaders and pastors, it is surprising that the institutions educating them aren't more definitive. 

What's even more concerning? Most theological schools (90%) use a tool to assess student spiritual formation. Nothing wrong with that, except the tools have nothing to do with "formation". 

According to my dictionary, formation is, "the action of forming or process of being formed". Formation implies a movement or change to the subject or object in question. If it is a human being then the person is being shaped or moulded. Christian spiritual formation implies a process of change that leaves the person more like Jesus Christ.

With that in mind, shouldn't the tools measuring spiritual formation measure aspects of change? If so, it is surprising to see the most common tools for assessing spiritual formation:

• Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) (46 schools)
• Spiritual Gifts Assessments (24 schools)
• Enneagram (19 schools)
• StrengthsFinder (19 schools)

How many of these measure the process of change within a person? As far as I understand, all of the above tools measure things that don't really change. They address static gifts, strengths, temperaments, etc. I did an MBTI test in Bible College close to twenty years ago and I'm fairly certain my four letters are the same today.

It might be time to take a closer look at better measuring tools for personal and spiritual formation.

More on Prayer

In learning to pray, I've been reliant on some saints from the past. This week, two in particular.

The writings of Trappist monk, Thomas Merton, have been peeling back the skin of my God-directed petitions, showing that it's actually my response to God's action (or perceived lack thereof) that forms the basis of prayer. We recognize our nothingness in the presence of God's everything:

"Prayer is inspired by God in the depth of our own nothingness. It is the movement of trust, of gratitude, of adoration, or of sorrow that places us before God, seeing both Him and ourselves in the light of His infinite truth, and moves us to ask Him for the mercy, the spiritual strength, the material help that we all need." (Thomas Merton, No Man Is an Island, 43)

Julian of Norwich, a Middle Ages ascetic, has opened my imagination to see myself in relationship to the Trinity. She received "showings" (visions) from God and writes about them and her reflections on them. I've found her depictions helpful as I envision what dwelling "in" God or God "in"dwelling me looks like:

"We ought to take great joy that God dwells in our soul, and even more joy that our soul dwells in God. Our soul is made to be God's dwelling place, and the dwelling place of the soul is God, that is unmade." (Julian of Norwich, Revelation of Love, Chapter 54)

Slowing Down and Learning to Pray

I recently reconnected with a Spiritual Director who helped me during a challenging season of ministry. The last few years, as I finished my PhD and worked as a pastor/chaplain, I worked too hard without enough rest. Now, I'm slowing down and starting to learn healthier work/rest rhythms. As I described this to my former Spiritual Director, she pointed me to some authors. One such writer was Martin Laird and his book, Into the Silent Land. Unfortunately, it wasn't part of my library. However, that evening I went down to my daughter's room to say goodnight and I noticed a book on her bedside table: Into the Silent Land. Coincidence? More like God's provision. It's one of the textbooks for my daughter's mindfulness course and I'm grateful she let me borrow it.

Laird's text is just what I needed. I've been slowing down and implementing his practical tips for contemplative prayer. It has also provided grounds for stimulating conversations with my daughter.  

If you need to slow down and rest, I recommend Laird's book. His practical tips are simple and helpful: find 20-30 mins per day; sit in a quiet place; choose a short key word or phrase (such as, "Lord Jesus, have mercy"); link the word(s) to your breath and breathe slowly and deeply. You'll find distractions surfacing but just keep coming back to your breath and keyword(s). There is so much more to discover but this is a good start.

 

My PhD thesis is now publicly accessible

For those of you interested in reading some or all of my PhD dissertation, it is available here. I received an email from U of Toronto this week saying it is now publicly accessible.

It's amazing how many changes occur over the course of one year. Last January I was working on my third chapter wondering how I would even get the whole thing finished in time to submit by the April deadline. I made it, by God's grace alone.