Theology In Ministry
Tuesday, October 4, 2022
4:58 PM
The goal of this class has been to introduce the basic theological vocabulary and to get you attuned to the ways we think about theological issues--I.e., in conversation with biblical, historical, contextual, denominational, and contemporary resources.  
Now we come to the question—what is the theological role of the minister?  OR more specifically—how ought a minister function as a theologian?  
Steward of a System.  For many Christians theology is a set of answers to a pre-set list of questions.  This can be as simple as a catechism or as complex as a multi-part dogmatics.  From this perspective, the minister's role is to pass on the theological understanding:
Evangelism is understood as the presentation foundational truths and convincing people to ascent to these truths.  
Discipleship (my preferred term for Christian Education) is understood as the deepening of people's understanding of the corpus of doctrine to which we adhere. The principle virtue is truth.  
Preaching and Teaching seeks to adhere to and make accessible those things which we collectively identify as theological truth.  
Some things to consider before you walk the aisle and commit to this as your dominant paradigm.  
Taken extremes, this can lead to fundamentalism.  
It's a hammer of a tool—and if the only tool you have is a hammer, you treat everything like a nail.  
It tends to be information rather than formation.  
Before you ditch this option completely.
To some extent, people need some starting points.  
The advice given to another young minister—you can choose to depart from the tradition, but you cannot be ignorant of it.  
There are probably some things you genuinely regard as true and essential.  Pretending like you don't or not identifying what they are is inviting abuse.  
Guide within a theological journey.  The pastor does not assume to have a grasp on theological truth and view the congregants as recipients of that truth.  The pastor is on a journey toward theological insight with those they serve as congregants or clients or students (depending on how one names the recipients of their ministry). 
Evangelism is understood as the invitation into a life of "faith seeking understanding." 
Discipleship is approached as tool sharing—helping people read the Bible for themselves, inviting them to ask the theological question, listen to other people's answers, and finding dialogue partners within the biblical, historical, contextual, denominational, and contemporary contexts.  The principle virtue of Discipleship ministry from this perspective is freedom.  
Preaching and Teaching is done more "As One Without Authority" and as a narration of one's own questioning, reflection, and perhaps tentative "for now" conclusions with a clear invitation to others to engage.  
Before you walk the aisle and make this your dominant paradigm
It only works if people aren't willing to participate.  
Agreeing to disagree and disagree agreeably doesn't work when you're trying to create a church budget.  Consensus is necessary for collaboration.  
Before you leave this entirely
Faith formation is participatory.  People only really believe that which they freely believe.  
Collaborator in the construction of shared theological understanding.  The shared faith of the body of believes—whether as co-workers in a ministry or members of a congregation—is as important as the individual faiths of the persons.  The minister works with the congregants in asking the relevant questions and seeking theological answers that connect their shared work.  
Evangelism is as the invitation to belong to a community—centered in Christ and formed in relationship.  
Discipleship is essentially a process of engaged dialogue and an attempt to find consensus and common ground—shared meaning.  The principle virtue of Discipleship is community.  
Preaching and Teaching is a context for conversation—a way of summarizing and synthesizing what "we" believe—if only what we believe in this moment. 
Before you walk the aisle and make this your dominant paradigm
Community is incredibly hard to nurture and maintain—unless you're a cult leader.  
If people aren't equipped to think theologically, your shared theology will always be the lowest common denominator.   