“Are you in debt so as to embarrass you in your work?” That is question number sixteen asked by a United Methodist bishop of those who present themselves for ministry in The United Methodist Church. The question sometimes brings awkward giggles and laughter at the annual conference session when it is asked. Even the episcopal leader posing the question may make a side comment to lessen the tension and unease! Some have suggested the appropriate answer should be, “I don’t embarrass easily!” Yet, the reality is, a major source of potential embarrassment is the cost of the candidate’s education.
Student debt is an ongoing subject in the media. It also weaves its way into student conversations, deliberations by academic administrators, and—when thinking about theological education—the church. Of particular concern is the size of the debt for which a student is responsible at the completion of her or his education, whether it be undergraduate or graduate studies—or theological study.
A study of graduates from a Lutheran seminary reported the total educational debt for graduates increased from $28,882 in 2000 to approximately $40,000 in 2010. The figure represents the combined debt from both undergraduate and seminary education.
A Presbyterian survey indicated the average Master of Divinity graduate in 1991 left seminary with a $5,267 debt as a result of her/his seminary education. Ten years later, the average debt had tripled, to $15,599. By 2010, the debt is likely to have increased to $23,000. When a modest undergraduate debt of$16,000 is added to the mix, a student may leave seminary with as much as $39,000 in total educational debt.
Considering modest pastoral salaries, it could take an individual fifteen to twenty years to pay back the loans. That is a long time!
Garrett-Evangelical annually awards more than $2 million in financial annually. Even with generous aid packages, students must secure loans to pursue the training necessary to fulfill their call—and meet the requirements of the church—to be an ordained clergy. The average student debt accrued from study at the seminary is approximately $27,000.
I have a modest proposal.
In United Methodism, an individual pursuing ministry goes through several steps. A criterion for being recognized as a Declared Candidate is to be recommended by the charge conference of one’s local congregation. The folk of the church, in essence, attest they believe the individual is worthy to be a declared candidate and recommend her/him to be one. A requirement to continue in candidacy is the annual recommendation by the charge conference.
Without the official annual support of the home congregation, an individual cannot continue in candidacy toward ordination!
My proposal is “support your candidate!” Support occurs in several ways. The official action of the charge conference or other sponsoring body is one. Ongoing prayer and affirmation is another. There is a third: financial support.
Underwrite the candidate(s) for ministry from your congregation with a scholarship. The annual scholarship could range from $5,000 to the total unmet financial need—as much as $8,000. Over the three years of study for a M.Div. degree, the total financial support would range from $15,000 to $24,000.
What a difference that would make when the bishop asked clergy candidates the “embarrassment” question!
It is a special moment when a United Methodist congregation has an individual emerge from their midst to declare a call to ministry. For most congregations, this happens more rarely than regularly. The needed financial support would challenge the congregation to grow their budget for a few years. Alternately, the congregation could include the cost of the scholarship investment as part of a major fundraising campaign. I am sure there are other options.
One individual has reflected that “financing healthier graduates can only benefit the church."
I see the proposal as more than finances; it is investment in Christian leadership and ministry for generations to come.
It all fits together: a demonstrated commitment to the clergy candidate by a vote of affirmation, continued prayers of encouragement, and providing the financial support necessary for the candidate to prepare for ministry.
Dr. Jim Noseworthy is the Senior Assistant to the President at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. His personal blog is at http://drjimnoseworthy.wordpress.com/
Jim
ReplyDeleteWhen I was enrolled in ETS (prior to GETS) I was a student from MN. In the EUB tradition, the church did support students that were preparing for ministry. In fact my seminary tuition was covered by both denominational support and Annual Conference support. Yes I had to served 5 years in the ministry as repayment, but I didn't enter the ministry in debt. Now I work with the Development Office at GETS to see that the scholarship fund is increased enough to allow other future leaders of the church to experience the same support I did.