By DAVID EPPS
Pastor

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 FatherDavidEpps@aol.comor at http://www.ChristTheKingCEC.com.]

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