On the other hand... I can remember a Local Preacher in training who I don't
think had passed any exams in his life. I managed to get him through his LP
exams by stretching to the very limit the instructions about reading and
finishing off time, and tutorial guidance. He proved to be a lively, gifted and
much loved preacher.
How he would have coped with the present system of preacher training I don't
know.
John Barnett
On 08 September 2021 at 08:12 NEIL BISHOP <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Martin asked: How far are you looking back, Neil?
Oh a long way! My trial services were in 1981 and 1982, and I entered
college in 1982. But of course. I have reported on others since, including my
most recent mentee only a few weeks ago. I think the report form has improved
with much more emphasis now on the impact of the service and less on the
details of what took place and what passages were expounded. And the training
is more practical. This quarter I have invited my mentee to write a report on
me, so that should be interesting. She is a very gifted preacher.
In my day you only had to read four short theological texts - and write
some essays about them - to qualify as a local preacher. If someone did will
in the exams it was almost impossible to fail them even if they were the most
uninspiring preacher since time began. So even the Local Preachers' Office
was guilty of equating preaching with a academic theology then.
Neil Bishop
