In response to your comments, Neil, I can offer the following.
I can only talk about my own training for ordained ministry, which was from
2010 to 2012 at Wesley Study Centre, Durham.
In both years of training I took a preaching module. Because we trained
alongside Anglicans who had never preached they included the basics as well as
the more advanced stuff.
In both years I had my preaching assessed by college tutors, once in a
Methodist Church and once for a college service. I was also assessed
separately least twice on worship leading.
These were not pat on the back assessments but critical assessments designed to
help us improve both our worship leading and preaching.
Personally when I preach I ask for feedback from trusted Supernumeraries and
Local Preachers as we always have something more to learn and room for
improvement.
Yours in Christ,
Rick
Rev'd Rick Ormrod
Circuit Superintendent Minister
Burnley and Pendle Methodist Circuit
Registered Charity No. 1132972
www.burnleyandpendlemethodistcircuit.com
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On 28 Aug 2021, at 17:55, NEIL BISHOP <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Ann said, "Kindly explain “the very low bar that ministers have to get over."
Unfortunately, Ann, having a theology degree isn't the same as being a
competent preacher. They are different skills. And you are forgetting that
ministers don't necessarily have a theology degree because this isn't
considered an essential qualification, nor should it be.
So what training do ministers receive in preaching? Everyone who offers for
presbyteral ministry has to complete the Local Preachers' training, but this
thread started with complaints that there is no bar in practice to someone
sufficiently determined to become a local preacher.
There are two trial services as part of the candidating process but at least
one of those now happens in your own circuit where people are predisposed to
support you. In any case the reports often tell you as much about the person
compiling them, and their own level of competence, as they do about the
preacher.
While I was in training the tutors reported on my services once or twice each
year. There was probably a report from each of my placements, but again they
are only as useful as the person writing the report.
I attended a series of preaching workshops in college which were very good,
but they assumed a basic level of competence and they were more about
heremeutics than about how to develop good illustrations from personal
experience and events.
So all told I think ministers are in no place to criticise local preachers.
Everyone in your churches knows or has known some ministers, whether in the
active work or retired, who were or are less able preachers than the more
accomplished local preachers in the circuit.
Neil Bishop
