The Kitchen Sink
An occasional piece of paper
June 1, 2008
Vol. 11 no. 21

Everything But...
           All this time I have been ensconced in the bosom of a seminary. That sounds rather odd, but then, what is a seminary? In rapidly spoken English, sometimes it is mispronounced as “cemetery.” Students at such an institution might well say that cemetery is closer to the reality.
          The word comes from the Latin seminarium or “seed-bed.” Jesus’ parable of the sower of the seed fits - a place to allow good seeds of faith to germinate and grow. The label has remained, however, and I am sitting here surrounded by Princeton Theological Seminary, where those preparing for the ministry, to become members of the clergy, are being educated.
          Yet, everyone I have talked with laments the same lack of interest in education in their denominations. Why spend so much time and money on education for the ministry when anyone can preach a sermon, read the Bible, celebrate communion, visit someone in the hospital, run a meeting and turn off lights and close doors? True. Short cuts abound today to place someone in the pastorate faster with the minimum of training. Pulpits are filled, the church soldiers on, everyone is better off.
          Few are listening, but allow me to offer one reason for an educated clergy – and a theologically educated laity. The study of our faith and tradition and scriptures is a life-long joy and pilgrimage. You never learn it all since, after all, God is infinite and you and I are not. And, in the best of ancient traditions, study is a form of worship, thinking about God and what that means. The minister, the church, that stops worshipping, stops studying the Word, stops. Our faith is infinitely enriching, but if we no longer believe it is worth the commitment to study and explore, then our faith is no longer worth anything. As for me, I’ll study.