Dr. Timothy Tennent: The Case for Theological Education
A well-trained clergy has always been at the heart of the Wesleyan vision of pastoral leadership. Wesley was deeply committed to theological training. He produced a steady array of serious training materials and insisted that they be mastered before someone could become a certified Methodist preacher. Proper theological education was the driving force behind the whole structure of the Methodist movement’s commitment to sanctification of both heart and mind involving trained clergy, and a network of class meetings, bands and societies which were built on this foundation. Indeed, serious theological reflection stands as one of the hallmarks of Wesley’s capacity to unleash a new Christian movement.
Tragically, the contemporary church is awash with spiritual superficiality, biblical illiteracy, and theological confusion. But, let me ask you two questions: First, are pastors entering seminary with less biblical and theological literacy than they had thirty years ago? Second, are the theological and biblical challenges those same pastors are facing greater than they were thirty years ago? The answer to both questions, sadly, is yes. Therefore, it would not be wise for any church to reduce its commitment to proper theological training. Indeed, precisely because we are entering a clearly post-Christendom, post-Christian phase in our nation, there has never been a more urgent time to reclaim biblical and theological thinking and living. The wider culture does not “have our back.” If we do not forge a distinctively Christian life, witness and ethic, then we will not survive the relentless catechesis which is forming entire generations with alternative values.
The majority of our over 12,000 Asbury alumni are, broadly speaking, part of several dozen denominations which are part of that great ecclesial stream which emerged out of the First Great Awakening led by John Wesley. The famous Christmas Conference in 1784 was the beginning of this stream in N. America and dozens of church movements have arisen over the last 236 years. Whenever a new denomination is formed it is important to pay close attention to the proper training of clergy. James Heidinger, II’s, landmark book, The Rise of Theological Liberalism and the Decline of American (Seedbed, 2017) demonstrates profoundly how the United Methodist Church has been ruined by faulty theological education. But, when this happens in the United Methodist church, or any other, the answer is not to diminish commitment to theological education, but to strengthen it and put it on proper grounds. If your denomination finds itself with poor theological education, the answer is not “less” theological education, but “better” theological education.
Today, there is a door opening for a distinctive Wesleyan voice to bring leadership to theological education in North America in ways which were unimaginable even ten years ago. There is a something stirring in the church which could unite Christians around a deeper consensus which is more ancient, more patristic, more conciliar, yet rooted in historic Christian confessions. In short, what is before us (and by “us” I do not mean “United Methodists” alone, but all of “us” who part of this ecclesial family) is not merely an ecclesial moment, it is a profoundly theological moment. If our movement continues to move into a kind of easy, generic, experienced based evangelicalism we will not have the ballast necessary to bring effective, global leadership to the church. Let’s be honest, many of the contemporary forms of user friendly, minimalistic Christianity have not demonstratably proven that the faith is being effectively transferred to the next generation. However, if we recapture a deeper commitment to embody a truly transformative Christian worldview, which can only happen with a concomitant commitment to theological education, then we will be poised to dramatically shape the future contours of Christian identity. This also means that theological education itself needs renovation to more adequately address the unique challenges of pastoral formation in a post-Christian society. But, we should not relinquish our historic vision for a well-trained clergy. The rebirth of class meetings, small “band” accountability, the emergence of thousands of new church plants, and a more articulate, faithful church can only be accomplished if our future clergy are prepared and trained at the highest level.
We must not forget the observation George Whitefield made as he looked back on his ministry and compared it to the ministry of John Wesley. Whitefield said, “The souls that were awakened under his ministry (Wesley’s) he joined in societies, and thus preserved the fruit of his labor. This I neglected, and my people are a rope of sand.” There are no Whitefieldian societies now. But there are tens of millions of Wesleyan believers around the world. Let us not create a new “rope of sand.” I appeal to all those across the beautiful family of denominations which carry the Wesleyan banner, to work together to reclaim our Wesleyan heritage and our deep roots in evangelical faith which are grounded in solid theology and biblical literacy.
Please balance spiritual holiness with social and ethical justice too. Rev. Dr. Kevin R. Murriel, Senior Pastor of Cascade United Methodist Church in Atlanta, Georgia wrote an outstanding book,
Breaking the Color Barrier: A Vision for Church Growth through Racial Reconciliation! What is ATS teaching in this regards???
Great article! I believe the education people are receiving now at ATS is much better than what I received when I graduated the first time in 1983 and the second time in 2001. Keep up the good work Dr. Tennent!
Thank you for this “good word”, Dr Tennent. It seems the Lord has always sought to impress this about sound, solid biblical theology and teaching at Asbury, as well as the complimentary need to be truly abiding in Christ, living and walking in His Holy Spirit within. The Lord opened a door for me, starting in 2010, to minister to ministers (Vice President of the NACM – National Association of Christian Ministers), and one of my continual emphasis with our more than 50,000 member ministers is the indispensable importance of solid, sound biblical theology in this time of relativism and compromise. I like to emphasize inductive Bible study, too (thanks to Dr Traina)…and inductive preaching (thanks to Dr Ralph Lewis); as well as the primary necessity of being truly one with Christ in Spirit, yielded to Him and His will as much as possible – also learned well from the leadership of ATS! Thank you again for this timely word, and may Asbury continue to hold to these tenets without waver.
Great article, with one historical mistake. John Wesley did not lead the First Great Awakening. It was led by Johnathon Edwards and contemporaries in the early 1700’s. Depending on which historian one cites, there have been five or six “awakenings” in US history.
Well said, Dr. Timothy Tennent. Thank you. This article challenges me to critically reflect on the quality of theological education being produced on the African Continent within the Wesleyan context, and our need for improvement. We need to foster theological education that not only impacts the hearts and minds of our current and future pastors, but undergird it with contextual African discipleship training that enhances church depth.