As the Associate Pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church in Hutchinson, KS, I write a weekly article for the newsletter article. I invite both members of the church and other visitors to my blog to share their thoughts!

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By the time this reaches you I will be just about to walk across the stage, receiving the hood that signifies my Master of Divinity degree from Saint Paul School of Theology.  (Technically I still have to take an intensive class in June to make up for the one I had to drop after my accident, but they’re letting me walk at Commencement anyway).

For those that are curious, the Master of Divinity degree, usually referred to as M.Div., is more or less the “standard” degree one gets to become a fully ordained pastor, or Elder, in the United Methodist Church.  It’s what Pat has and, I would assume, what most of Trinity’s previous pastors have had as well.  It requires more credit hours than most Master’s degree programs (most require 60, M.Divs require 90), and most people take twice as long to do it.  Pat helped me put into words why– it’s also change in identity.  When one challenges one’s faith and theology– the very root of their being that got them to seminary in the first place– you can’t help but emerge as something different on the other side.  This is especially true for those who left careers to become pastors.

So have I grown?  Unquestionably yes.  Am I “better” for all the formal education?  I am better suited to certain tasks maybe, but I am constantly amazed when I talk to all of you and realize how much I can still learn from every person I meet.

May none of us ever forget that.

I welcome your thoughts at http://ministrygeek.net.