Before attending a Methodist seminary, check to see if the school is recommended by your particular branch of this denomination. Make sure you understand the positions taken by faculty members on key issues affecting the church, then decide whether or not those positions are in line with your own beliefs. Knowing how various groups within Methodism differ on social issues can help you do this. See if you might become ordained, or licensed to preach the Gospel, after graduation from one of these seminaries.
The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry located in Nashville, Tennessee, US, is a committee dedicated to recruiting and educating future leaders within the United Methodist Church. Other branches of Methodism may also refer to an agency such as this for advice pertaining to biblical studies. Talk to your pastor and ask him to help you get in touch with one of these groups so you can discuss your educational goals with them.
When talking with a Methodist seminary, find out if you need to live on campus while attending school. If this is the case, it can sometimes be mandatory to attend worship services several times each week. This can sometimes make it difficult to hold down full-time employment while completing your studies. You may want to think about taking classes online if quitting your job could cause you a financial hardship.
As a Methodist pastor, you will need to be familiar with Methodism as a whole, as well as your church's stand on social issues such as abortion, euthanasia, and gay marriage. Find out if any classes deal with these topics. You may also want to know if the Methodist seminary you are considering places emphasis on righting social injustices or if students are expected to do volunteer work while completing their course of study.
After you graduate from a Methodist seminary, you may want to become ordained in the ministry. You may want to become a part-time local pastor or a full-time minister. A part-time local pastor normally has a full-time occupation outside the church and preaches to smaller congregations. The type of training you receive can determine the role you play in Methodist church leadership after completing your studies.
If you wish to become a preacher within this denomination, a Methodist seminary could be a good place to begin. Attending one of these schools can help you accomplish this goal while increasing your biblical knowledge and awareness of social issues. By consulting church leaders, you should be able to choose the seminary that will help you meet your goal as a pastor no matter what branch of Methodism you are associated with.
