Why Churches Must Partner with Seminaries in Pastoral Training
“What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” – 2 Timothy 2:2
One of the hardest parts of going to seminary for me was the practical disconnect with the local church. I remember moving to a new city and trying to find a local church to join. We ended up worshipping with dear saints who graciously cared for us. However, the nature of seminary education meant that, since we were new to the church, service opportunities were limited, and relationships were non-existent. In addition to starting classes, we were starting from scratch with the local church, and I found it frustrating not being able to apply what I was learning or use my gifting to benefit the church.
My experience is common for many seminary students, and it brings to light an important dynamic in pastoral training: churches and seminaries must partner together. I emphasize the word “must” because “should” doesn’t carry enough weight. While all seminaries have church attendance and ministry participation requirements, these only scratch the surface of the spiritual need for churches and seminaries to be hand-in-hand in theological education.
The symbiotic relationship between seminaries and churches
One by-product of the Reformation was the explosion of protestant theological education. Fast forward five centuries in the West, and we have no shortage of theological schools training ministers. Despite this fact, or perhaps because of it, churches and seminaries have drifted apart. The former seeks to make and mature disciples of Jesus, the latter to educate ministers, but this isolation or insulation hinders both institutions from accomplishing their goals. Theological education without the church means students may quickly lose sight of the purpose of their education. Churches that refuse to use seminaries may find it hard to find competent pastors. Like it or not, churches and seminaries have a symbiotic relationship. Churches and seminaries must work together in pastoral training for the purpose of theological education, the need for church-informed application of curriculum, and the spiritual health of the students.
Churches and seminaries partnering together in pastoral training is essential to achieve the purpose of theological education.
The goal of theological education is to train pastors and scholars for the benefit of the church. While different institutions may word it differently, the bottom line is training saints to advance the cause of God’s kingdom. John Curried notes how the aim of the Genevan Academy (founded in 1559 by John Calvin) was church-focused. He explains that the students “were pastor-scholars who did not stay in the ivory tower, but they sought to find the truth and then apply it to the people. The purpose of the academic work was to affect the church and the world with the truth and the power of the Word of God” (Calvin and the Biblical Languages, 60).
Maintaining a strong link between churches and seminaries facilitates meeting that goal. Seminary students who are not well-grounded in the church will find it difficult to apply their education for its intended purpose, even if they intend to pursue an academic career.
Seminaries and churches must stick together
Second, churches and seminaries must stick together because churches need trained ministers equipped to minister the gospel in the real world. The tasks of learning Greek, Hebrew, systematic, and biblical theology, hermeneutics, and homiletics are all necessary. But when the seminary student is well connected to the local church, they find opportunities to apply what they’re learning right away. This benefits both the church and the student: the church puts the gifting of the student to use, and the student may see new reasons why it’s important to steward their education well (read: that Hebrew class does matter!). Students may also ask important questions of their professors based on their experience in the church, which further helps keep their education focused on its goal.
The spiritual health of the students
Third, churches and seminaries working together is best for the spiritual health of the students. Seminaries cannot be the church for the students because they are not the church. Crises of faith, marriage issues, financial struggles, and career questions are some common issues seminary students face. While seminary professors care for their students, they likely do not have the time to shepherd them. When churches embrace their short-term role of providing spiritual care for seminary students, they can help them endure and succeed in their education.
This all sounds good in theory, but how can churches effectively partner with seminaries in pastoral training?
- Churches need to identify and engage with seminary students in their area. If your church is near a seminary, partner with the school in finding and welcoming seminary students into the church family with a clear view of what that entails.
- Set up a mentoring program where a pastor or church leader meets regularly with a seminary student to encourage them, hold them accountable, and help them see the forest for the trees. This relationship may make all the difference between a student surviving seminary or thriving in it.
- Create opportunities for seminary students to use concepts they’re learning, and they’re gifting for the benefit of the church. This involves some risk, but it yields a long-term payoff. In some cases, it may even lead to seamless transitions to internships or full-time employment.
While there are certain irreplaceable benefits to in-person education, one advantage to the increasing availability of online education is that seminary students can stay plugged in at their local church while they take classes. For churches without a local seminary, this is the best-case scenario from a shepherding perspective.
Whether in person or online, churches and seminaries partnering together is essential to the success of both institutions and the growth of the kingdom of God.
©2023 Ryan Boys. Used with permission.
About The Author

Ryan Boys
Ryan Boys serves as the lead pastor of Green Pond Bible Chapel in Rockaway, NJ. He is the author of the forthcoming How to Preach Apocalyptic with Fontes Press.