Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Open Letter to the Global Board of Higher Education and Ministry

Dear Ms. Cape, Ms. Conklin-Miller, and whom else it may concern:

I started seminary at 22.  A new college grad, I was fortunate enough to live in Ohio where no matter our zip code, we are never more than three hours away from a University Senate approved seminary. After my first semester, I became a student pastor serving a two-point charge and after the second semester I was licensed.  My wife and I lived in the parsonage where we served and I traveled to and from the seminary for classes.

My story was the typical story for licensed local pastors in 1975.  It was the typical story for seminary students in 1975.  But it is 2016.  The Lewis Center released some data not too long ago that showed that in the last 30 years, the number of churches being served by licensed local pastors has nearly doubled (3,804 to 7,464) and in that same time the number of licensed local pastors over 55 has almost tripled (1,462 to 4,284).

There are 4,284 licensed pastors that are over 55, and while they have the option of attending seminary, for the vast majority of them, seminary is not a worthwhile investment, which is why the Course of Study programs are so important for our denomination going forward and the Board's recent decision to cancel the program at United Theological Seminary is baffling.  In an era where the typical local pastor is 60 years old, limiting their ability to receive a quality theological education will have negative consequences for the local church.

United had a unique program that allowed licensed local pastors to study online with periodic face to face encounters that for the thousands of local pastors who are deeply committed to the churches they serve gave them an opportunity at a quality theological education that the remaining programs cannot achieve either by virtue of distance or program structure.

Time will show that this decision hurts the local church most.  As the UMC relies more and more on local licensed pastors, losing this option for quality training will further hurt small membership churches.

I respectfully ask that you reconsider the decision to terminate the Course of Study program at United.

Grace and Peace
Rev. Caleb Speicher


Y Campus Pastor, Sulphur Grove United Methodist Church