A 6-Month Trade School Training for Pastors
 

This is a quote by Eugene Peterson. How true is this?

A 6-Month Trade School Training for Pastors

For a long time I have been convinced that I could take a person with a high school education, give him or her a six-month trade school training, and provide a pastor who would be satisfactory to any any discriminating American congregation. The curriculum would consist of four courses:

Course I: Creative Plagiarism. I would put you in touch with a wide range of excellent and inspirational talks, show you how to alter them just enough to obscure their origins, and get you a reputation for wit and wisdom.

Course II: Voice Control for Prayer and Counseling. We would develop your distinct style of Holy Joe intonation, acquiring the skill in resonance and modulation an unmistakable aura of sanctity.

Course III: Efficient Office Management. There is nothing that parishioners admire more in their pastors than the capacity to run a tight ship administratively. If we return al telephone calls within twenty-four hours, answer all letters within a week, distributing enough carbons to key people so that they know we are on top of things, and have just the right amount of clutter on our desks — not too much or we appear ineffient, not too little or we appear underemployed — we quickly get the reputation for efficiency that is far more important than anything that we actually do.

Course IV: Image Projection. Here we would master the half-dozen well-known and easily implemented devices that create the impression that we are terrifically busy and widely sought after for counsel by influential people in the community. A one-week refresher course each year would introduce new phrases that would convince our parishioners that we are bold innovators on the cutting edge of the megatrends and at the same time solidly rooted in all the traditional values of our sainted ancestors.

–Eugene Peterson, Working the Angles: the Shape of Pastoral Integrity, 7, quoted by Matt Chandler

Re: A 6-Month Trade School Training for Pastors
 

Don't you think your (OK, Eugene Peterson) being just a tiny bit harsh, comic intent not withstanding?

I will say in many strong holiness church's the lack of content in a typical loud sermon is frightening, but by and large I don't see that the above quote applies all that often.

Re: A 6-Month Trade School Training for Pastors
 

You have to admit that the voice control thing sounds a little true. I just sound it interesting. Not sure how true it is though.

I used to read the message version of the bible a lot but have not read any of his other books.

Re: A 6-Month Trade School Training for Pastors
 

except for this one boring jesuit priest I saw on EWTN, every protestant preacher has a voice "control" thing

Re: A 6-Month Trade School Training for Pastors
 

this would probably work in churches where they are not familiar to the move of the move Ghost, operation of the Gifts of the Spirit, and the unction of annointed preaching.

Having said that, it gave me a chuckle.

Re: A 6-Month Trade School Training for Pastors
 

Pretty much anything that is real can be faked, that doesn't make the real any less real.

Re: A 6-Month Trade School Training for Pastors
 

All of the above is true; these traits are teachable. However, the real qualifications for ministry cannot be taught. Loving others beyond yourself, laying your life down for the sheep, resisting pride, walking peaceably with all men, humility, not motivated by money, etc. these all come with a new heart...

Re: A 6-Month Trade School Training for Pastors
 

Well, staysharp, I know you are a credible teacher and preacher but how many do we know that are just monkey see monkey do. ;)

Re: A 6-Month Trade School Training for Pastors
 

:thumbsup

The move ghost? ??