My Degrees Explained
LaMar Herndon’s Letter of Explanation on Educational Degree’s
Just as there are no two people on the face of the earth are alike, so too are ministers. While most ministers in our Southern Baptist Convention and in other denominations pursue the traditional Master of Divinity Degree, God has not taken us in that direction. My focus has been on biblical studies but with an additional emphasis on leadership within the church. The schools that God has led us to be a part of were chosen prayerfully and carefully from hundreds of Christian colleges/universities across our nation.
Each university or seminary is an accredited and theologically conservative school of higher education. Each university/seminary has allowed me to continue to develop my leadership skills. I am still a conservative SBC minister theologically, yet progressive in methodology where reaching today’s postmodern generation is concerned. At this time however, our SBC schools do not offer the particular degree programs needed with an emphasis on organizational leadership within a 21st century worldview and church context.
Dr. Thom S. Rainer, former church growth consultant and now head of Lifeway Bookstores, in his book “Surprising Insights from the Unchurched”, has made the point that our seminaries do a good job of preparing men and women biblically for ministry positions, but do not do a great job on preparing them to be leaders in the church. Leadership dynamics are changing in the secular marketplace, and within the church itself. It is within this context that I have pursued education that focuses on leadership dynamics relative to growing people in their relationship with Christ. In the process, we will grow and develop 21st century churches capable of reaching a postmodern world.
Even within our own convention, there is concern that our convention itself is in great danger of its continued existence. If we do not make leadership changes that while not compromising the integrity of God’s Word, our Baptist Faith and Message, and how we seek to do missions; yet allow for changes to better facilitate the reaching of people today, we may by 2050 no longer exist as the denomination we now are. This is where leadership to grow churches and people on how best to reach people relationally in the hope of seeing them come to a faith relationship in Jesus Christ is so important.
At perhaps no other time in Christian church history than now do we need to develop leadership among men and women enabling them and our churches to impact a community and world for Jesus Christ. If you desire a pastor, who is committed to developing teachable spirited Christian men and women into leaders capable of reaching today’s generation, then let’s talk.
