I spent

three weeks of June attending classes at Trinity

Episcopal School for Ministry in Ambridge, Penn., which

required that I be absent from my church on two

consecutive Sundays.

Before I left, several

people asked questions like, "Why are you going to

school? Don't you have enough education already?"

Or, "Are you going to get another degree and leave

us?" Or, "What if I have an emergency? Who will

I call on?"

These are all good

questions and, since many pastors engage in continuing

education, I thought I would give a few reasons why I

(and many other clergy) regularly go away, or should

consider going away, for several days or weeks of

training.

We don't know everything. I

know this comes as a great shock, but clergy persons

always have more to learn about God, the scriptures,

counseling techniques and processes, evangelism, and

other subjects that pastors deal with every day.

Ministers in the major denominations typically have a

bachelor's degree and a master's degree before they are

ordained and assume responsibility for a church and for

people's lives. Yet, even this, as they find out soon

enough, is not nearly adequate for the task.

More often than not, God

makes up the difference, but a conscientious minister

will want to improve his skills. Do you really want a

heart surgeon who hasn't read a journal or attended a

class in 20 years? Then why would you expect less from a

minister who deals with things much more eternal than

physical organs?

Ministers learn from each

other. "Iron sharpens iron," says a popular

proverb. During my three weeks, I sat with clergy of

different denominations from every part of the country

and one man was even from Peru. Some had large churches,

others small ones, but the youngest person was 39 years

old. This was an experienced group. Some were college

professors, psychotherapists, military chaplains, and

missionaries. All brought a wealth of practical

experiences, successes, failures, ideas, and insight with

them.

All of my professors were

learned, experienced pastors and I can't even begin to

explain what it was like to sit under James I. Packer for

a week!

It is an opportunity to

pray. I prayed for my family, my leaders, and my

congregation every day, several times a day. Often, I

would awake in the middle of the night and pray for

people, sometimes without knowing why. Not that ministers

don't normally pray, but, for me, it was more

disciplined, more regular. I was able to be unhurried,

focused, and intentional. It is a change of pace.

A time of study is not a

vacation! Before I went to my studies, I read between

4,500-5,000 pages, did 27 book reports, two

reflective papers, and three scripture analyses. I was up

at 5 a.m., studying by 6:30, in class by 8:30, out of

class not later than 5:30 p.m., and in the library,

reading, or writing until 9:30-11 p.m. each day,

excluding the weekends.

In order to complete the

classes, I will have to do the equivalent of nine papers

within the next six months. But it's not parish work.

One man once said, "I

wish I had your job so I could live an ivory tower

existence." The average pastor deals with, on a

regular basis, terminal diseases, death, tragedy, family

violence, dysfunctional families, divorce, people who are

mentally troubled, those who have lost their faith,

people who gossip and backstab, antagonists in the

congregation, and people in the church who will try to

undermine the pastor's ministry and influence.

Then the pastor has to go

home and deal with his own spouse, teenagers, financial

challenges, house repairs, lawns, and school meetings.

There's a reason that over

70 percent of surveyed pastors would not go into the

ministry if they had it to do over. So much for the ivory

tower!

But I love it and I love my

congregation. But, sometimes, I need a break. Besides, my

absence gives other people at home a chance to lead and

minister. They preach, visit the hospitals, counsel and

teach. It is a time to worship. All pastors need to be

able to visit a church service in which they have no

responsibility.

I attended five worship

services at three churches and went to 20 chapel

services, with an additional five services of noontime

prayer. I read scriptures, heard the word preached, sang

songs, confessed the faith, grieved for my sins, and ate

and drank the Body and Blood of Christ.

I wept tears of repentance

as I listened to a former homosexual, who got on his

knees in the chapel service, and passionately begged the

collected clergy to simply, "Love those who are like

me."

It is a time to fall in

love again. I terribly missed my wife and family and I

missed my people, those for whom I am a spiritual father.

I was ready to come home with a renewed commitment and a

rekindled affection.

When your pastor says he

needs to go away for a while and study, don't just let

him - encourage him! Pay for the studies and for the

trip. He (or she) sows his very life into you and into

your church. Sow into your pastor on a regular basis. The

return will be well worth the money and the brief

absences. He will be a better pastor and you will be a

better congregation. [Father David Epps is a doctoral

student and is rector at Christ the King Church in

Peachtree City. He may be contacted at [email protected] or at https://www.ChristTheKingCEC.com .]