A Career in the Ministry

Abstract

"What follows is relatively easily dismissed as a ragbag of concerns not to mention prejudices with no very clear focus. If it has one it is· my conviction that we should create a career structure for the Baptist ministry offering properly qualified people the prospect of progressing from lesser to greater responsibilities. lt might have existed in the past; that is for the historian to say. lt exists in what I imagine the past was like, when, invariably, a man was called first to a small church and moved on to medium sized and larger ones earning a little more money and gathering greater prestige as he went. That situation does not exist now. The most striking evidence I can offer is that over and over again comparatively young people get the top jobs. Whether it be the bigger churches or leading posts in colleges (even one or two Superintendents look young) you can make it by your mid 30's. In many ways such youthful contributions are good for the denomination, in other ways bad, especially for the people concerned. They are unlikely to refuse attractive and challenging opportunities 'when offered at an early age, but they will soon suspect that it represents too much too soon. After a decent period of service they realise there is nowhere to go except to stay put, or move sideways if they are allowed to, or look outside the denomination for another job. They are frustrated and their talents are lost"