Okay, this is a random thought about the upcoming graduation.  I have spent four years at Southern and I am now graduating this coming Friday.  I will be continuing on for another four or five years after that.  After obtaining my Master's of Divinity Degree on Friday, you would think that I would be ready to begin some kind of Pastoral Ministry.  Well, I am not ready, not even close!

Southern is a great school and I have learned so much here.  But let's be honest.  There is no pastoral preparation.  Sure, you get alot of head knowledge about theology and most likely head knowledge about pastoring in other tracks.  But there is no "on-the-job" training for being a pastor.  Sure, you could say that we have SME's for that kind of experience.  But frankly, SME's are a joke.  I fulfilled my SME requirement by going to Oxford for three weeks and playing Risk. 

At the church I am currently attending I have been trying to get my pastor to take me on (even on a volunteer basis) and teach me about being a pastor of a church.  This transition hasn't begun yet, but just by observing the inner dynamics of my church, I know without a doubt that I am not ready to be a pastor. 

I think Southern could really do its student population a huge favor if the school would begin to set up serious and accountable internships with pastors that lasted more than just a semester.  At this rate, I think it will take me a couple of years of learning and experience, under the guidance of a senior pastor, before I will be ready to adequately minister to a congregation as the senior pastor.  It is my hope that there is something in the works at Southern that will begin to address this issue.