Most people who have looked into seminary (or other venues for higher education for that matter) are aware that institutions are more and more seeking to make their services available via distance formats (e.g. online or modular formats). It simply is the way things are going.
The question, though, particularly as it relates to seminaries and the preparation for ministry, is this: do distance formats adequately prepare an individual for the pastoral role? My school, Moody Theological Seminary in Chicago, obviously believes so. During my last time down at campus in January, it was made abundantly clear that Moody was going to be pushing even further in this direction. Others, though, are not so sure. R. Scott Clark, professor at Westminster Seminary in California (and a man I respect), recently posted a five-part series on his blog heralding the superiority of traditional on-site seminary over and against distance format options. The latter, he argues, simply cannot prepare individuals adequately for the pastorate. I encourage you to read his posts here: http://wscal.edu/blog/contributor/R.+Scott+Clark.
As someone who is preparing for ministry in exactly the way that Clark disparages, I am concerned. Concerned, but not convinced. I simply do not see that there is one way and one way only to prepare ministers adequately. For some who are called, such on-site training may not be feasible. In some parts of the world, it simply doesn't exist. So, again, I am not convinced.
So, how about it? What do you think? Can distance format seminary training adequately prepare men for pastoring? A big part of this is a follow-up question: what is the role of a local church in providing training for those called to ministry? I look forward to anyone's comments!
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