Educational Background Non Denom Pastors

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He also asked me when we spoke on the phone if Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior? I said “yes” but us Catholics don’t say that.
 
??? I am Catholic. Jesus Christ IS my Lord and Savior. Why on earth would you think Catholics don’t say that?

I say that several times at every Adoration. I seriously doubt I’m unusual in that regard.
 
I always thought of that as more of a Protestant thing . At the elevations I do strike my chest (gently) and say to myself, “You are my Lord and my God.”
 
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That’s our baptismal promise. When we are baptized (believers baptism), we are asked if we “have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour”. With a yes answer we are baptized.

When non-Catholics are able to tell you the day they “accepted or found” Jesus it’s because they can remember the date they were baptized, much like a birthday.
 
Ok. I think he asked me if Jesus is my Lord and Savior after I asked him if going to that church would mean I’d have to be re-Baptised under water, if I’d convert.
 
I would suspect that the training of a Lutheran or Anglican or Orthodox priest would be consistent with a Catholic priest.
 
JonNC said:
I would suspect that the training of a Lutheran or Anglican or Orthodox priest would be consistent with a Catholic priest.
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The Master of Divinity degree that Presbyterians generally require is a 3 year program with a prerequisite of having a baccalaureate degree.
 
If you’ve been baptized once, you shouldn’t have to again…but some churches are kinda…let’s say…out there.
 
Hope1960 said:
As many of you know, I checked out a non denominational church awhile back. Well, I’m thinking about going to another service there, but are their pastors even educated nearly as well as our priests are?
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You should get a hold of Tim Staples conversion story, he touches on this. First thing I thought of when I read your post. Pulled it back up on my phone and started listening to it again today…


50% off through tomorrow

God Bless
 
He said that I wouldn’t have to, just that some people like being Baptised by immersion. I don’t think I’d like doing that.
 
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Augustinian said:
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Hope1960:
As many of you know, I checked out a non denominational church awhile back. Well, I’m thinking about going to another service there, but are their pastors even educated nearly as well as our priests are?
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“non denominational” clergy aren’t required to have any education at all- at least here in America. Theoretically, anyone can set up a church, call themselves a minister or evangelist or a bishop. Although the negative side is that they have to convince people to attend.

Different denominations have different requirements for certification or ordination. Some require more, some less.
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To say that they are not required to have any education at all was an over statement that fuels bigotry. I doubt that any exist at all whose level of education was failing Grade 1 repeatedly. I have faith that you really did not mean what you actually stated.
 
Wannano said:
To say that they are not required to have any education at all was an over statement that fuels bigotry. I doubt that any exist at all whose level of education was failing Grade 1 repeatedly. I have faith that you really did not mean what you actually stated.
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Of course, the vast majority of ministers are educated men, but “non-denominational” folks have no one to answer to but Almighty God and can do what they think is best.

Marjoe Gortner was ordained as a minster at age 4 to preach the gospel so it isn’t unheard of in non-denominational circles.
 
My dad and grandpas. 4 year degree from any university but usually from the Concordia university system. Then 3 years of study at seminary followed by a year of vicarage then a 4th year or capstone year to finish their master of divinity at back at seminary. Most guys are now getting into the field now work toward their doctorate in Ministry after a few years in the field. Or like my new pastor who was a catholic priest and upon completion of his colloquy was conferred a Dr. in Ministry.
 
  1. regarding the Bible college, SOME of them are technically part of larger Christian colleges, which might make them harder to find online (but not impossible). Also, some are known by nicknames or older names. So I would not think too much about this.
  2. now to the bigger part of your question… while some are very highly educated, my experience is that most non-denomination & other fundamentalist Protestant ministers are NOT as educated as Catholic Priests.
Many Catholic Priests have a Bachelor’s in Philosophy (and the ones who joined the seminary after earning a bachelors have typically taken at least the core Philosophy courses), and a Master’s in Divinity. Plus, many also have a masters or doctorate in Theology too.

So ALL Catholic priests have at least one master’s degree and have training in classical philosophy. And many have multiple graduate degrees.

Note: To be fair, Anglican clergy also put a focus on education too

God Bless
 
It’s becoming clear that priests are usually much more educated than non-denom pastors.
 
Hope1960 said:
It’s becoming clear that priests are usually much more educated than non-denom pastors.
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I think that’s pretty accurate. But when you are talking about denominational pastors with denominations like the Presbyterians or Episcopalians or Lutherans, the education is about equal.
 
Augustinian said:
I think that’s pretty accurate. But when you are talking about denominational pastors with denominations like the Presbyterians or Episcopalians or Lutherans, the education is about equal.
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I’ve got a lot to chew on. For me, my pastors need to be highly educated. I don’t see how they can lead their Churches otherwise.

Which brings me to Pastor #2 in this non-denom Church. All he has is a Bachelors from some college I’ve never heard of, cant find online and he didn’t say what his degree is even in.
 
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I watched all the videos and they were good. And Fr. Mike is a cutie.
 
Hope1960 said:
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Augustinian:
I think that’s pretty accurate. But when you are talking about denominational pastors with denominations like the Presbyterians or Episcopalians or Lutherans, the education is about equal.
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I’ve got a lot to chew on. For me, my pastors need to be highly educated. I don’t see how they can lead their Churches otherwise.

Which brings me to Pastor #2 in this non-denom Church. All he has is a Bachelors from some college I’ve never heard of, cant find online and he didn’t say what his degree is even in.
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Is the non-denom your only other option? You are sort of looking at both ends of the spectrum.
 
Ya, probably…but that doesn’t mean their education is all faith based either… The priest at my wife’s parish go his undergrad in an engineering field.
 
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