Should We Train Locally-Raised and Seminary-Trained Clergy the Same Way?

Today's video asks questions that aren't asked these days, but should be.

• Are the leadership learning needs of locally-raised clergy and seminary-trained clergy the same?
• Should they take the same professional development programs?
• And should leadership programs aimed at clergy expect to treat these two categories of clergy the same way?

We stopped asking these questions as a way of saying "locally-raised clergy aren't less than seminary-trained clergy!"

But here, Clara King poses a different question: Do locally-raised clergy have, in some sense, more skills, and more resources for leadership, that seminary-trained clergy don't have?

After twenty years of advocating for lay-leadership in the church, Clara (a seminary-trained priest!) argues that the answer is yes, and this should challenge our understanding of which clergy need what kind of training in professional development.

• What do you see as the strengths that locally-raised clergy have over seminary-trained clergy?
• If you are seminary-trained clergy: what challenges have you faced in building relationships and developing credibility that the lay-leaders in your congregations already have? How have you wrestled with this issue?
• If you are a lay leader or locally-raised clergy: what has your experience been like, participating in professional development programming tailed for seminary-trained clergy?
• What thoughts and feelings do you have about this issue? I'd love you to send me a message and share them with me!