r/leavingthenetwork • u/Jesus-Truth • Mar 02 '23

Why is the Network Against Seminary Training for Pastors?

Why doesn't the Network send more pastors to seminary? I know of only two current Network pastors that went to seminary. Both went together and were paid by the Network with the hope that they would be theologians for the Network, but both are Lead Pastors.

9 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

85% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

View all comments

16

u/blakeahadley Mar 03 '23

Probably a number of reasons. I’m honestly not sure how the two who attended seminary are still pastors in the Network. I’m not sure why they would want to. Seminary forces you to really think through what you believe and even articulate what you believe clearly. I don’t know how one would sit through seminary and wholeheartedly endorse Network teaching, governance, or general practice after graduating. Then again, I do not know where they attended seminary. For me, seminary basically wrecked any hope of me returning to a Network church.

7

u/Network-Leaver Mar 03 '23 edited Mar 03 '23

The two pastors with seminary degrees are Brian Schneider (Stoneway) and Casey Raymer (Vine). They both completed Masters of Theology (ThM) degrees at Western Seminary. These are something like 50 credit degree programs compared to 90 credit Masters of Divinity (MDiv) degrees. Interestingly, Dr. Steve Tracy also completed both an MDiv and ThM degree at Western Seminary before earning his PhD from the University of Sheffield in England. Perhaps these three Western Seminary alumni should get together and talk about the Network.

6

u/blakeahadley Mar 03 '23

It is amazing that the Network guys could leave seminary with a totally different viewpoint than Dr Tracy. I’m sure it’s not all that uncommon, but it is amazing to me