I've now met with my supervisor and he, generally, felt I preached well on Sunday. I delivered well, had a good beginning (though he felt there wasn't an ending - I'll come back to that) and raised a couple of questions.
One question was around a comment I'd made that I an no theologian. He called me to task on this, as I am being theologically trained. I could see where he was coming from, but think that's down to my understanding of what my statement really meant, which could be a sermon in itself. Basically, my calling is not as a theologian, but as a minister. While theology will (and does) inform that, it is not who I am. In my first degree cartography played a bit part, but I am no cartographer. That said, though other places I have preached (on and off placement) would have understood where I was coming from, it's good to keep my supervisor's comments in mind as different congregations may interpret that in different ways.
Though I preached on love and defined it by way of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, I did not define it beyond that. My supervisor felt I should have made a practical application of love. Mmmh. I did ask the congregation to reflect on what Paul's words meant and how they could apply them to their lives, but left it at that. That was deliberate, as I think sometimes it's good for congregations to be left with questions and routes to explore, rather than be given all the answers. Not something I'd do all the time, but think there's no harm doing so occasionally.
I did let my supervisor know I was trying to hold in tension my own inclusive, moderate theology with the knowledge many in the congregation were more conservative. I wanted to be true to myself, without coming across as disrespectful or dismissive of where they were coming from, after all, I am a guest there. My supervisor did comment he respected my bravery for doing that.
So, overall, good. Some things to keep in mind. I am also aware preaching is easier (for preacher and congregation) where they are known to each other. That's a relationship I can only develop over time with a congregation, as I get to know them and them me. Then I might get away with saying I am not a theologian (perhaps I should have said great theologian?).
Actually, as part of your calling, you have been set aside for a time to learn how to think theologically. You are called to go back into the community with the skills you have gained and become, as minister of word and sacrament, your community's full-time theologian - to unpack scripture, to help others unpack it, to talk of the things of God with people, to equip and enable, and in turn be enabled - theology is not done in a vacuum, it is an ongoing discussion - in the academy and in the community.
ReplyDeleteSure, you're not a Barth - but he was called to be in the academy doing his theology in a particular milieu. You are called to do your theology within a parish setting. Just because you're not going to do theology in the academy does not mean you are not a theologian...and your congregation will wonder what the hell you went and trained for, if not to do/discuss theological things in a way that is meaningful and pertinent to them where they are...
Given that, I'm with your supervisor on this one ... :D
Yeah, I'll just get my coat, lol!!
That's pretty much the argument my supervisor gave...you don't happen to know him, do you!!!
DeleteAs I said, in other settings no one would have batted an eyelid, as they would have know what I meant. It's also me having an adversion to seemingly being 'above' the congregation. I know in a parish setting I will have the theological education (by not necessarily exclusively), but that doesn't mean I have all the insight theologically.
Basically, these are among the arguments which put me off accepting my call for a very long time. The minister being 'above' the congregation and some congregations wanting the minister to have all the answers because they have been academically trained.
Unsurprisingly, I'm with Nik and your supervisor.
ReplyDeleteWhether you like it or not, you are a trained theologian (although you may not be the only one in the place). That's got nothing to do with being 'above' anyone else - that's an attitude of mind, not a mark of training or qualifications.
In your charge there will be people who are better theologians, better pastoral carers, better bereavement counsellors, more faithful prayers, more avid scripture readers. Nevertheless, they will have called you to lead them. They may not always agree with you. They may not always support all your ideas. But your place is as their leader, and it's because of your theological and ministerial training that you are able to do that.
Having theological training doesn't necessarily give you better insight than someone else, but you have been trained to think in a way they may not. Whether you agree or not, you will be aware of the wider theological arguments; you will have a better sense of historical and cultural context; you will have the benefit of being exposed to a whole raft of ideas which another person may not even be aware of.
All of that makes you better placed to encourage growth, offer correction (or at least highlight the issues), see a bigger picture, and generally be a better leader without it.
Does that make you 'above' everyone else? Certainly not, but is does make you more uniquely placed to meet your calling, its responsibilities, and its challenges.
Just for clarity, I do see I am theologically trained, enjoy it and completely support and understand why I need to it. But I don't see theological training as making me a theologian. In my first degree, cartography formed a big part of it; I was never a cartographer. Maybe this is a secmatic thing and we all agree, but have different perceptions of the implcation of the word.
DeleteHehehe, no, I do not know your supervisor mate :)
ReplyDeleteBit of a ramble... this based on thinking very much of a favourite quote of mine which is copied further below.
I think you have to find a point where you can wear your training and eventually the task you are called to do more easily/ loosely: maybe find ways of defining yourself and what you do by who you are, not who you are not?
I'm not sure the 'I'm not a this, or that'/ 'I'm not special' is helpful as a process [though very British!]. We use our experiences, our skills, etc. where we are placed.
You will be placed within a congregation to guide/ lead... as part of that process, you are undergoing specific training and gaining specific skills; whether you like it or not, that training puts you in a position where you become the community's theologian - using the skills gained to help tease out how all can better understand and follow God.
People within the community that you are called to will naturally, because of the training you have undergone, ask you stuff, because mostly they have not had the time, the opportunity, or the particular calling, to go and study theology etc for c.3years. Of course you're a theologian - not Barth or Augustine maybe - but you have been and are being equipped to think theologically. Other folks are equipped to do open-heart surgery and others understand the mysteries of plumbing and things electrical. It would be an odd thing if someone who trained in one of these areas said to the person they were visiting 'oh, I'm no expert on plumbing/ hearts/ insert your word of choice here'. Er, you really want to have the person who has done some study on the stuff, don't you? Perhaps it's the word 'expert' - we're not called to be experts, we're called to have a good working knowledge.
Rather than saying 'I'm not a theologian/ I'm no expert' perhaps 'I've a decent working knowledge of theology' is okay to say? :)
Actually we are all of us special and amazing; it does a disservice to God and the people of God to hide lights under bushels - and this is as much the case whether one is a bus driver, minister, or whatever [speaking to self here as well!!!].
And the quote I'm very much minded of?
Marianne Williamson's famous quote on power:
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.' We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." (A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles", Harper Collins, 1992. From Chapter 7, Section 3])
Challenge for both of us then is how we [after gulping a wee bit and taking several deep breaths] get on and do this...
Sorry for the long-winded ramble :D
Are you perhaps trying to say something...?
DeleteLights under bushels...best place to find them. Makes me a bit of an expert finding light in others, as even under bushels, the light will try to eminate.
And you have got me thinking, honest. Need to work this one through...
"Lights under bushels...best place to find them."
DeleteBut not the best place to keep them.
And maybe it is a matter of semantics. You seem to equate 'theologian' with 'expert'. If you really want to be pedantic, a theologian is simply one who speaks of God, just as theology is simply 'how' we speak of God. None of that implies expertise, but training in the discipline certainly offers greater insight.
As for thinking... not a bad thing.
As for working this through... you will, and as Nikki suggest, you'll reach a point of balance in the tensions. But, better yet, try and learn to live within the restless tension that it creates. Blether to Nikki about 'restless theology' sometime.