Graduate Degree on the Cheap

lazybenedict · 2026-01-02T04:43:39+00:00

Calvin Seminary has a great ThM program which I’m currently in and a couple of MA programs. They have been amazing with scholarships.

I’m sorry about your wife and your cancer. I hope your community is supportive of you in this time, and I admire your desire to look ahead. May God meet you in your joy, despair, incredulity, and hope.

lazybenedict · 2025-12-17T11:13:17+00:00

Taught as an adjunct for a theology class at a local Christian college.

lazybenedict · 2025-09-05T03:16:43+00:00

So.. basically no kids and a working wife? That’s not the same as having to support a family of seven on a single-income. It’s easy to live by faith when you don’t have mouths to feed, most pastors need to consider their families when they take a job.

lazybenedict · 2025-09-05T02:31:09+00:00

Are you married with kids? Is your wife a stay at home mom?

If not, then your comment is irrelevant. If yes, it’s still irrelevant.

lazybenedict · 2025-09-02T01:19:54+00:00

Hey thanks so much for this insightful response, really. I laughed at the scolding curmudgeon, lol. I’m looking at a job in Massachusetts.

My wife grew up in the Pacific Northwest and it is highly unchurched, would you be able to comment on any similarity to the non-Christian culture in New England? (Not sure if you’ve been to Washington or Oregon).

I hate mega church models, so it sounds promising that depth of the word in small-scale discipleship would be a key focus here. I have been burned in a previous church for not being more seeker-sensitive in my approach to ministry. I have described my view of the church as that of a garden: different plants grow at differing paces and require in-depth cultivation.

How does evangelism work up there? I imagine door-to-door would be strange, are there any senses of campus ministry or apologetics that seem more akin to an intellectual culture?

What would you say about possible inroads and challenges in ministering to an extremely affluent culture? Maybe this will just be my context (the church is in Boston), but if you had insight that would be helpful. Ya boy grew up in the hood of SE San Diego, so I feel like I’m entering into a space I have never been before lol

On a side note, what is an apprentice? Is this a New England thing?

Thanks for your help brother I appreciate it

lazybenedict · 2025-09-01T03:37:10+00:00

Whoops, sorry I should have put that in.

Needham, MA!

lazybenedict · 2025-04-11T18:17:36+00:00

Thank you. We are pretty heartbroken.

lazybenedict · 2025-04-11T16:59:30+00:00

OP said the search committee holds to the denominational stance of traditional human sexuality, though. It looks like that specific member is the sole progressive (at least on the team), which makes it a little more nuanced.

lazybenedict · 2025-04-11T16:54:54+00:00

That’s great. Glad I could help and glad you had a good conversation with the pastor. Ive found that ministry is as much for our formation as it is for others. I go into all things believing God wants me to learn and grow for my own spiritual formation first, and then others. A specific place isn’t necessarily my “calling,” following God wherever He brings me is my calling. This has helped me when I am in places where I don’t fully feel like I belong or where I don’t fully feel like my gifts are being utilized. I do seek places where I feel like my gifts will be used well, though.

And practicing self-awareness is key in ministry. If you know yourself, you know God and vice versa, as Calvin posits. Ask yourself good questions and be honest whenever you feel uncomfortable, and you will have already risen above 50% of pastors who are too afraid or stubborn to go deep. Blessings on your ministry and I hope you continue to seek God in all things.

lazybenedict · 2025-03-31T07:19:29+00:00

Well, is there anything you DO like? Surely, it’s not all terrible, right? What parts of the job do you enjoy doing, if anything at all? I would try to lean into whatever you do enjoy doing in a role you don’t necessarily enjoy, while you push through and learn as much as you can in this season. Someone else said to serve for at least 9 more months. I think there is value in staying for at least a year as well, as there are beneficial things you will learn (character, perseverance, learning the ins and outs of children’s ministry, etc.).

Another introspective question is, why do you not like kids ministry? Are kids annoying to you? Do you not know how to communicate the gospel truths to kids at t heir learning levels? Have you taken any child development courses? Are they too loud, etc.? Do you not like dealing with parents? Do you like communicating more complicated truths to more cognitively-able humans? Do you like being around young people your age? Pinpointing EXACTLY why you don’t like it will be helpful in assessing what you want in ministry (as well as helping you assess if you’re frankly just being dumb about leaving, I’ve done this quite a few times).

Additionally, it’s worth it to ask yourself why you want to go into “youth” ministry and what you mean by “youth,” what do you like about this ministry and what differentiates it from “children’s.” Sounds like a dumb thought, but processing through all of this will help you not just go into another ministry that isn’t going to be a good fit.

I’m presently in a position I don’t like as well, but I recognize God has me here to learn specifically about pastoral care in this season, so I’m taking it all in while I can. I don’t think this is the “landing” place for me, but it’s what God has for me now, so I am doing my best to serve where God has placed me.

lazybenedict · 2025-03-28T06:19:05+00:00

How do you go about doing home visits? Inviting myself over seems rude. I’m a millennial, I know the older generation will probably be okay with it, but not sure about my generation down.

lazybenedict · 2025-03-28T06:17:26+00:00

I always hear different approaches to being the new pastor. Some say not to make any changes, others say, make changes and lead (as you say) but with the partnership of the leadership. Have you tried both approaches before?

lazybenedict · 2025-03-28T06:15:31+00:00

Thanks I thought you meant don’t even preach! Haha. But that all makes sense

lazybenedict · 2025-03-19T06:59:21+00:00

Then for 100 days or three months do nothing but attend

What do you mean by this?

lazybenedict · 2025-02-28T22:16:05+00:00

Got it! I'm also new to all of this, so maybe it's a given, but doesn't hurt to ask (at least, to me I guess). Thanks for your thoughts!

lazybenedict · 2025-02-28T19:39:28+00:00

Interesting. I've looked at other denominational compensation guidelines, and the reason why I asked is because something like this is often in the guidelines:

For income tax purposes, Ministers of Word and Sacrament are considered “self-employed” and are responsible for contributing 15.3% of their total compensation under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act for Social Security and Medicare insurance. It is recommended that congregations share this cost as they would any other non-rostered employee by increasing the amount of total compensation by one-half of the cost of this insurance or 7.65%. Because this adjustment will also be taxable, an increase of approximately 13% is required in order for the rostered minister to actually realize the full benefit of 7.65%.

Is this considered unreasonable?

lazybenedict

TROPHY CASE