Pastor as Teacher

Education is important in the Christian tradition.

Jesus was called ‘rabbi’ by his disciples. A disciple is a student. Jesus taught with such power and authority that the people of his time compared him to their contemporary teachers and said that he was the best! When Jesus left this earth, he instructed his disciples to go out and make more disciples. That would mean that they would become the teachers. There are numerous examples of the disciples teaching.

Education is also important in the Lutheran tradition.

Luther was a professor at the University of Wittenberg. He loved to teach and write educational tracts. He translated Holy Scripture into everyday German so that people could read it for themselves. His work helped establish a model for future schools in Germany. He wrote the Small Catechism with the intent that it be used by the parents to teach the children.

Education is still important in the Lutheran tradition.

Our pastors (after receiving a college degree) must graduate from approved seminaries before we consider calling them to serve in a congregation. We train our pastors under a strict academic model. We expect that they will maintain that strong educational tradition. Continuing education is a requirement for pastors to maintain their ‘pastor’ license. Some pastors continue in graduate programs and receive doctorates. It is true that pastors are teachers and constant learners.

Pastors are often expected to teach: classes on the sacraments, confirmation, Bible studies, adult classes and even a little teaching in sermons (the didactic model). Teaching is a good way for pastors to learn, especially when teaching adults and answering their questions. I encourage all adults to participate in some form of faith growth education. I have seen adults try to handle adult problems with the faith understanding of an 8th grader (when they finished confirmation instruction)…and it just doesn’t work. As we grow older our challenges and problems grow bigger. We need an adult faith to help us handle our adult-size problems. Pastors are here to help.

It is true that our faith life involves more than education. I’m reminded of the slogan, ‘faith can’t be taught, it must be caught.’ We aren’t going to educate ourselves out of many problems, but the pastor as a teacher can help build a good foundation for us to lean upon in challenging times. And learning is fun!!!

Thanks be to God!

Pr Mike