如今在这瞬息万变的世界中,牧师们面临着前所未有、变幻纷繁的环境。教牧继续教育是支持牧师信仰团体成长的关键基石,也是基督复临安息日会教派向全球信仰社区奉上的宝贵礼物。
本文来源:《传道者》杂志
翻译/朗读:TruthTV 翻译小组
终身学习,乃人类天性之使然,它引人增长知识、提升自我,提高生产力、专业技能和个人能力。1 终身学习有助于牧师们造就自身及他们所牧养的羊群。2 对许多职业而言,学习有赖于有意的继续教育(CE)。3 这个世界不断要求职业人更多地学习、实践、承担责任,而专业学习可能是紧跟时代、不至被弃的唯一方法。4
在传道领域,牧师们明白,学习应当与上帝安排及人生呼召的步调相一致。经上记着说:“使智慧人听见,增长学问,使聪明人得着智谋。” (箴1:5) 5 “你们若充充足足地有这几样,就必使你们在认识我们的主耶稣基督上不至于闲懒不结果子了。” (彼后1:8)因此,是否渴望不断进步是衡量一个人的真正标准。
终身学习
牧师在负责自身专业进深和灵命成长的同时,还有义务培养会众的学习和灵性发展。怀爱伦写道:“拒绝学习的人,不适于向不信者传讲福音。” 6 虽然目前的研究尚未纳入本会的成员,但数名研究人员已在专业传道人中探究了持续继续教育的问题,并认为理论学习和专业实践似乎与教牧事工的发展存在关联。6
斯特朗威发现,有意的学习和有挑战性的经历是培养牧师领袖的关键。8 迈耶斯和约翰斯通认为,在工作期间学习对教会、传道实习生和管理者都是有益的,并且职业发展规划兼顾继续教育和应用实践时,才是最好的。9 吉维登指出,参与继续教育的牧师更有可能在日益壮大的教会中服务,这表明学习与牧养效能之间存在着联系。10 卡尔森·约翰逊也强调了继续教育在救世军教会中对积极服役的副官的重要性。11 关于继续教育在教牧终身学习中可能发挥的核心作用,P.A.肯尼提出牧师的职业生涯和人生发展是贯穿一生的,并且认为在瞬息万变的世界中,继续教育是解决新兴需求的关键。12
员工的敬业度
员工敬业度可能是个人对蒙召献身传道热诚与否的另一个指标。研究显示了敬业的员工(或译作忠心的仆人,下同)队伍所带来的益处。“(敬业的员工)用手、脑和心工作”13, 并表现出“知识共享、创造性、主动性和适应性”等特质。14 他们知道如何达到预期的结果,并懂得在逆境的压力中如何保护自己。15 此外,他们还投入充沛的精力和极大的热情。16
基督复临安息日会长期致力于多方打造一支敬业的教牧队伍,如每年开办2个为期20小时的继续教育项目。
本会继续教育史
基督复临安息日会在成立之初就曾一再探索开展一个成功的继续教育项目。1870年,怀雅各牧师开办了“基督复临安息日会牧师讲道协会”。17 虽然总会在1881年通过该方案,但随后又被认为无法持续。从1889年到1896年,卜思克在巴特尔克里克运营总会圣经学校。18 1896年,卜思克和琼斯将圣经研究转向本会的高等学府。19 虽仍无正式的牧养继续教育项目,但在后续几十年里,怀爱伦等人经常谈到教牧继续教育项目的重要性。20 1919和1922年,全球总会会长也强调了教牧继续教育项目的必要性。21
总会在1926年启动了一项正式的牧养实习计划,名为“传道见习计划”,详细介绍24项牧养技能,并尝试将正式教育与在职实践结合起来。A. G.丹尼尔斯作为新成立的“全球总会传道协会”的秘书,领导了该项目。22 1964年,总会领导层编制了《牧师见习指南》以支持在岗牧师。23 但当其他教派在上世纪60年代增加合作牧养学习参与度时,本会却退缩了。24
教会于1972年建立了短暂的(短期)基督复临安息日会牧师学院。学院要求学员每年学习50小时。25 1980年,全球总会指出了教牧继续教育的重要性,1981年,在美国安德烈大学组建了继续教育中心,并由拉乌尔·德伦担任首任受薪的主任。同年北美分会(NAD)会长查尔斯·布拉德福特委托佩妮·谢尔对教牧继续教育进行研究。27 一年后,总会任命弗洛伊德·布雷西为继续教育牧师担任主任。神学院研究揭示了持续牧养对实习生的特殊重要性。28 到1985年,继续教育中心为教牧继续教育编纂了一本追踪手册。29
获得全球势头
当全球总会传道部将牧师就业与继续教育参与情况的挂钩时,教牧继续教育(事业)才会真正地迎来春天。这也就需要各分会建立自身的监督机制。30 教会最大的牧师大会——世界牧师理事会,于1985年召开一个继续教育会议。世界牧师理事会会议5年之后,全球总会指派雷克斯·爱德华兹负责牧养继续教育(事业)的监管。31
1988年,(总会)领导层新增传道主任一职。该职位的10项工作职责就包含支持完成每年20小时的牧养继续教育。32 从上世纪70年代至90年代初,教会推出了成功的继续教育项目,并向33多教派的受众传道。34 1990年,总会传道部为实习生制作了涵盖50项技能/职能的《牧养手册》。不幸的是,它的接受度有限。35 从1996年到2005年,尼科拉‧撒特梅杰举办了极具反响的牧师继续教育研讨会。
1995年,南德联合会实施了一个正式的继续教育项目。37认识到牧养继续教育工作的空白后,北美分会开始联合希望频道和本会的媒体制作公司提供数字形式的继续教育。38 2000年,超过7500名牧师在多伦多、安大略总会会议期间参加了牧养继续教育活动。39 2001年,领袖们委任沃尔特·威廉姆斯作北美分会传道部副主任兼继续教育校外协调员。此外,北美分会还建立了InMinistry competency/proficiency专业的全日制、在线教育的神学硕士学位。40
在此期间,全球总会传道协会筹划并举办了100多场继续教育研讨会。41 2006年,全球总会任命安东尼·肯特为传道部副部长,他的工作职责之一就是推动继续教育。他专注于为世界各地的牧师提供专业发展(规划),协调传道专业发展研讨会。传道专业发展研讨会后被《传道者运动》接替,这是一个由肯特、德里克·莫里斯和伊万·威廉姆斯共同主持的周刊视频系列,旨在探索传道工作中的最佳实践。42
2014 年到 2016 年,我和亚当·芬纳在基督复临安息日会学习中心(ALC)任职时,曾与北美分会传道部合作,建立了继续教育标准和架构,并将其与学习中心平台整合。然后,他们开始协助制作牧养继续教育的数字课程,数目多达几十个。2015年5月,基督复临安息日会学习中心也启动了(含教牧继续教育跟踪计划)。
2015年7月,伊万·威廉姆斯曾领导北美分会传道部举办了“呼召”大会,逾6000名来自北美分会和世界各地的牧师出席了会议。教会针对继续教育事业提出了新的工作重心,并附带一份概括了七个牧师必备的核心素质的文件。在2014至2018年间,北美分会致力于整合本会牧师的七大核心素质和优点,其跨度之广,涵盖从“本科生”到“老牧师”的职业发展。43 在此期间,南太平洋分会建立了与之类似的七项牧养能力架构模型。44
在2017年北美分会的年终会议上,安德烈大学基督复临安息日神学院院长吉希·莫斯卡拉宣布将七大核心素质纳入神学硕士课程。45 此外,北美分会更新《工作方针手册》时,将每年20小时继续教育或两个继续教育项目的政策纳入其中。46 2018年,神学院在实施了新的录取标准,即将本科阶段牧师七大核心素质的完成度纳入考核。47
2019年11月,泛欧分会传道部主任帕特里克·约翰逊在泛欧分会年终会议上新提出了一个牧师七项能力框架。48 全球总会传道部持续领导所有分会的牧养支持,是各教派牧师职业发展的主要提供者。各联合会和区会又(隶)属于分会传道部。49
养成会众学习
牧师被赋予了令人敬畏的责任。他们不仅要保持自己的专业进深和灵命成长,还要牧养会众的灵命发展。他们应当构筑会众在教会和社区中持续提升的学习文化。研究表明,“随着技术、经济和社会潮流的变化,公民必须适应‘活到老,学到老’的新常态。”50
在如今这瞬息万变的世界中,牧师们面临着前所未有、变幻纷繁的环境。教牧继续教育是支持牧师信仰团体成长的关键基石,也是基督复临安息日会教派向全球信仰社区奉上的宝贵礼物。
- See Maren Elfert, “UNESCO, the Faure Report, the Delors Report, and the Political Utopia of Lifelong Learning,” European Journal of Education 50, no. 1 (March 2015): 88–100, https://doi.org/10.1111/ejed.12104; Ulrike Hanemann, “Lifelong Literacy: Some Trends and Issues in Conceptualising and Operationalising Literacy From a Lifelong Learning Perspective,” International Review of Education 61, no. 3 (July 2015): 295–326, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11159-015 -9490-0; Malesela J. Masenya and Johannes J. Booyse, “A Community Needs Responsive Management Training Model: Re-envisioning Management Training for Pastors of the International Assemblies of God Church,” Verbum et Ecclesia 37, no. 1 (2016): 1–9, https://doi.org /10.4102/ve.v37i1.1498; and Kapil D. Regmi, “Lifelong Learning: Foundational Models, Underlying Assumptions and Critiques,” International Review of Education 61, no. 2 (March 2015): 133–151, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11159-015-9480-2.
- See Sharon Aka, “A Quantitative Comparative Study of Employee Engagement Among Full-Time Seventh-day Adventist Pastors in the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists and Its Relationship to Level of Participation in Annual Pastoral Continuing Education,” (PhD diss., Andrews University, 2020), https:// digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/1728.
- Malan Nel, “Continuing Theological Training at the University of Pretoria,” Verbum et Ecclesia 30, no. 3, (2009): 1–7, https://doi.org /10.4102/ve.v30i3.130.
- American Nurses Credentialing Center, “Nursing Continuing Professional Development,” https://www.nursingworld.org/organizational-programs/accreditation/primary-accreditation; Dorothy Sutherland Olsen, “Adult Learning in Innovative Organisations,” European Journal of Education 51, no. 2 (June 2016): 210–226, https://doi.org/10.1111/ejed.12170.
- Scripture is from the English Standard Version.
- Ellen G. White, Pastoral Ministry (Silver Spring, MD: General Conference Ministerial Assoc., 1995), 48.
- See Julie Lynn Carlson-Johnson, “An Initial Evaluation of the Continuing Professional Education Program of the Salvation Army Eastern Territory” (EdD diss., Trevecca Nazarene University, 2019), https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED604675; T. R. Ferro, “Toward Refining a Theory of Interdependence of Providers of Continuing Professional Education: A Case Study of Selected Lutheran Seminaries” (EdD diss., Northern Illinois University, 1989), https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=5899314; Dan R. Jividen, “Study to Show Thyself Approved: The Case for Clergy Continuing Education” (DMin diss., Liberty University, 2009), https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=1314&context=doctoral; Stanley G. Johnstone, “Continuing Professional Development of Canadian Forces Chaplains: The Way Ahead” (DMin. diss., Acadia University, 2001), https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses%3A2984; C. A. Meyers, “The Training of Church Ministers at a Distance by Means of Correspondence Study: A Program Evaluation” (doctoral diss., Oral Roberts University, 2007); and M. D. Strangway, “The Development of Transformational Leadership in Pastors of Protestant Churches” (EdD diss., University of Georgia, 1999), https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=5296837.
- Strangway, “Development of Transformational Leadership.”
- Meyers, “Training of Church Ministers” and Johnstone, “Canadian Forces Chaplains.”
- Jividen, “Show Thyself Approved.”
- Carlson-Johnson, “Initial Evaluation.”
- P. A. Kenney, “Pastoral Ministry as a Developmental Process: Sustaining Excellence Throughout the Clergy Career,” (PhD diss., Michigan State University, 2002), https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=5386398.
- Tracy Maylett, “Engagement Magic: The Five Keys of Employee Engagement,” DecisionWise, accessed January 19, 2021, https://decision-wise.com/5-keys-of-employee-engagement-magic/.
- Liat Eldor, “Looking on the Bright Side: The Positive Role of Organisational Politics in the Relationship Between Employee Engagement and Performance at Work,” Applied Psychology 66, no. 2 (April 2017): 234, https://doi.org/10.1111/apps.12090.
- Eldor, 233–259.
- Saar Langelaan et al., “Burnout and Work Engagement: Do Individual Differences Make a Difference?” Personality and Individual Differences 40, no. 3 (2006), 521–532; Eran Vigoda-Gadot, Liat Eldor, and Lior M. Schohat, “Engage Them to Public Service: Conceptualization and Empirical Examination of Employee Engagement in Public Administration,” American Review of Public Administration 43, no. 5 (2013), 518–538.
- Walton A. Williams, “Evolving Adventist Theological Education (Part 1): A Historical Perspective,” Ministry, August 2001, 8–11, https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/2001/08/evolving-adventist-theological-education-part-1.html.
- Gilbert M. Valentine, “William Warren Prescott: Seventh-day Adventist Educator” (PhD diss., Andrews University, 1982), https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/748/.
- Valentine.
- Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5 (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1948); see Penny Shell, “A Study of Selected Variables Dealing With Continuing Education Interests of Seventh-day Adventist Pastors and Judicatory in the North American Division” (EdD diss., Andrews University, 1983), https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/694/.
- Williams, “Evolving Adventist Theological Education,” 8.
- Williams.
- Williams, 10.
- Shell, “Selected Variables,” 31.
- W. J. Cleveland, “Academy of Adventist Ministers,” Ministry, November 1972, https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/1972/11/academy-of-adventist-ministers.
- Floyd Bresee, “Continuing Education for Ministry,” Ministry, February 1985, https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/1985/02/continuing-education-for-ministry.
- Shell, “Selected Variables.”
- Williams, “Evolving Adventist Theological Education,” 11.
- Bresee, “Continuing Education.”
- Bresee.
- Rex D. Edwards, “Pastoral Continuing Education: Fast Food or Planned Meal?” Ministry, February 1990, https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/1990/02/pastoral-continuing-education .
- Floyd Bresee, “Pastor’s Pastor: How Ministerial Secretaries Help Ministers,” Ministry, October 1988, https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/1988/10/how-ministerial-secretaries-help-ministers.
- PREACH is an acronym that stands for Project Reaching Every Active Clergy Home.
- Personal communication with Nikolaus Satelmajer, January 2017.
- Bresee, “Ministerial Secretaries Help Ministers.”
- Personal communication with Nikolaus Satelmajer, January 2017.
- Roland E. Fischer, “Mentoring Interns and Young Pastors,” Ministry, September 2014, https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/2014/09/mentoring-interns-and-young-pastors Ekkehardt Mueller, “Training for Pastors: A German Model,” Ministry, October 1995, https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/1995/10/training-for-pastors-a-german-model.
- Nikolaus Satelmajer, “Beyond the Expected,” Ministry, January 2006, 4.
- Personal communication with Nikolaus Satelmajer, January 2017.
- Walton A. Williams, “Evolving Adventist Theological Education (Part 2),” Ministry, October 2001 , https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/2001/10/evolving-adventist-theological-education-part-2.
- Satelmajer, “Beyond the Expected.”
- Derek Morris, “Ministry-in-Motion,” Ministry, September 2012, 4; Jarod Thomas, “Ivan Williams Joins Ministry-in-Motion Team,” https://www.nadministerial.com/stories/2017/1/17/ivan-williams-joins-ministry-in-motion-team.
- North American Division, 7 Core Qualities (Silver Spring, MD: Ministerial Department, North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists, 2014).
- Personal communication with Brenden Pratt, September 2016.
- Personal communication with Jiří Moskala, October 2017.
- North American Division, Working Policy 2017/2018 (Columbia, MD: North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists, 2017).
- Personal communication with Jiří Moskala, October 2018.
- Personal communication with Patrick Johnson, November 2019.
- Personal communication with Anthony Kent, November 2017. See https://ministerial.adventist.org/continuing-ed.
- Senad Bećirović and Jasmina Sinanovic, “The Determinants of Lifelong Learning, European Researcher 103, no. 2 (2016): 107, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/298215074_The_Determinants_of_Lifelong_Learning

