Posted on 11/08/2013 8:23:18 AM PST by Gamecock
COLORADO SPRINGS — Big names and big surprises converged before a nationwide audience at the Pastors Draft this season.
“I’ve been waiting a long time for this,” said Alvin DeWalt, 26, of Fuller Seminary, pacing his apartment in Pasadena and watching the draft on the Daystar network.
His wife had made guacamole, and thirty friends were on hand to see which church picked DeWalt, one of this year’s top ranked prospects.
In the first round, Geoff Parsons and Rick Benson, of Westminster and Calvin seminaries respectively, went first, as scouts had predicted they would. Parsons heads to a struggling mid-sized Methodist church in Memphis, Tenn., which had the top pick this year. Benson was drafted by a mega-church in Casper, Wyo., which had traded two mid-career pastors for a higher pick. Both draftees say they are ready to “help their teams.”
Calvin Seminary overall showed surprising strength, placing two dozen graduates at leading churches around the country, plus sending many more to minor league ministries. Of the Big 10 schools, last year’s leaders, Dallas and Asbury, showed less strength. Both call this a “building year” and say next year’s classes will be much stronger. Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Westminster say they were “pleased” with how many grads they placed in respectable positions.
The mammoth North Shore Christian Church of Reston, Va., selected wildcard rookie Pat Jameson, who has struggled with morality issues, but is still considered a major league talent. Jameson, speaking at a press conference wearing a North Shore polo shirt and cap, told reporters he was “ready to make a clean start.”
Church on the Rock (Houston, Texas), known for scooping up mid- and late-career pastors at low salaries and getting impressive results, traded a first-round pick for two associate pastors with “executive pastor potential” according to a widely respected scouting report.
A number of pastors near retirement entered the free agent market, having been traded for early-career pastors.
“They’ll miss my experience in the pulpit,” says one elderly pastor who was traded for two rookies and a youth pastor.
One highly watched rookie, David Humphreys of Luther Seminary, went lower than expected, due to what many consider unreasonable demands including an outsized automobile budget and eight weeks of “sabbatical” per year.
DeWalt of Fuller Seminary was picked even higher than he expected by a Florida church which is “transitioning to a purpose-driven model” after years of stagnation. He slumped on the couch, smiling as friends congratulated him.
“I’m just happy it’s over,” he said. •
I’m appalled.!
From the Internet: This is not a complete list, but aims to provide a comprehensible overview of the diversity among denominations of Christianity. As there are reported to be approximately 41,000 Christian denominations, many of which cannot be verified to be significant, only those denominations with Wikipedia articles will be listed in order to ensure that all entries on this list are notable and verifiable.
I wonder what former-Catholic Father Martin Luther would say now about his 95 theses? I think he would mourn.
Calvin is a force to be reckoned with, I expect them to dominate next year!
No Minister of Music to be named later???
Wouldn’t the Calvin Award winner normally be drafted first anyway? Unless churches are drafting for specific need rather than simply taking the best available. Apparently God knew their draft position before He founded the universe, eh?
OK .. this IS about seminary graduates getting a pastorate .. right ?
OK, there has to be a joke about a Hail Mary in here somewhere...
They’re Calvinists, not Catholics.
WOW! Back up to 41,000!
Of course the site noted above includes all the different little sectlets found under the broad umbrella of Rome.
Gone are the heady days when we had a million denominations!
I still mourn for the loss of a zillion denominations!
OK, then there it is. Thanks.
I think I’m being suckered in ...
What would Luther say about this clown show?
He’d say if you’d ever thrown a Hail Mary you may drop to a lower round...
I'd always assumed that an aspiring pastor just graduating from divinity school had to send out resumes and do interviews like anybody else. Silly me.
The problem with so many denominations is that anyone can start one. I remember David Koresh (Branch Davidians) and his little family.
Here are a few cults from the Internet.
1. Church of Bible Understanding
2. Manson family
3. Aum Shinrikyo
4. Restoration of the 10 Commandments
5. Raëlism
6. Scientology
7. Order of the Solar Temple
8. Heaven’s Gate
9. Branch Davidians
10. Unification Church
Too many denominations turn into cults. That is the way people seem to be. Do you think that is the way Our Lord meant things to be?
The Hindus have "a million/zillion" different denominations. There are some 330 million different gods/goddesses, human, animal, mineral, whatever, in Hinduism. Is that a model that you would find acceptable?
Do you remember the Indiana Jones and their "Temple of Doom"? The Hindus worshiped a rock. It was stolen and Indiana and friends had to bring back the rock so the town that worshiped this particular rock would get its children back.
My point: the Hindus worship rocks they think are "blessed." I can't think of a faith MORE different than Christianity, in essence. A zillion denominations? I DON'T think that is what Our good Lord meant in His coming. Remember, I said "I THINK."
Cognito, ergo sum.
Always check for the humor tag at the end.
The "seclets" of Rome? You mean the "seclets" of Father Martin Luther.
I just saw the "Other Bolyn Girl" on the tube the other night. Henry VIII dumped the Catholic Church because it wouldn't let him marry his mistress. Do you remember the rhyme regarding Henry's wives?
Divorced
Beheaded
Died
Divorced
Beheaded
Survived.
Hard not to remember that little rhyme. It reminds me of WHY there are so many "seclets" of Rome: men like Henry.
It’s cleverer’n shit.
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