Last night, we went to watch Educating Rita and
it was a terrific performance. I'm very familiar with the film, but had never
seen it performed, as it was originally, on stage.
It's simply set with the two main characters of
Frank & Rita on stage for the whole time; always a challenge for a
playwright, but Willy Russell hasn't gained his reputation for nothing and
anyone experiencing this production would see why: fan of the theatre, or
not.
What I found myself doing was reflecting on our
approach to theological education and 'ministry formation' through the lens of
Educating Rita.
Education, as opposed to learning, is a real
tension throughout ER. Frank cites the world of exams, literary criticism and
the educational world he inhabits as a University Professor, as 'a game'. I
have used the same word, applied to higher degrees, having a distinct
uneasiness about the nature of some academic development within the spheres of
learning we engage within the Church. I know, for example, whenever we need a
new Principal for one of our theological Colleges, the starting place of
essentials is a Phd, proven practitioner (Baptist Minister) and competent to
fulfil the JD. When you trawl through the BUGB handbook, you realise what how
few possible candidates that leaves us with! Unfortunately, the Phd is
frequently cited as the primary requirement, but whether this is the most
useful tool in the kit is debatable.
I’m all for academic excellence, this is neither
sour grapes, nor defensiveness, as from the perspective of my second higher
research degree I still see it as 'a game'.
When we look at our more general approach to
ministerial formation through the ER lens, however, it raises even more
questions.
I'm frequently surprised, when speaking to
candidates, no one seems to alert them to the actual requirements, which are
somewhat different to the presumed and assumed requirements. To be an ordained
and accredited Baptist Minister, for example, you need to demonstrate the
ability to engage in theological reflection at the depth of ‘level two’,
which is diploma level and no one says you need to pass. I’m usually accused of
wanting to dumb down the depth of theological study we appropriately ask of our
Ministers at this point, but that is not my intention. I don't want to make
Ministerial formation easier, but harder! Simply ratcheting up the academic
requirements, however, is not the way ahead. The trend is towards more
flexibility, in terms of accommodating different learning styles and diverse
cultural approaches to learning. The trend, that is, most places apart from
Christian Ministerial theological development. Intertwining theological
reflection, academic study with practical expression more rigorously will be
more demanding, not less, but we may not have the degree certificates to prove
it.
Once upon a time, we used to ask every candidate
to our MR about the last person they’d led anyone to Jesus. I think we’ve given
up, because we didn't get many positive answers. We have since been living with
the assumption they’ll learn this at College. Do they?
We are living in exciting times, in my opinion.
However, the general growing recognition we need to balance our pastors and
teachers out with equipping more apostles, prophets and evangelists, typically
under the ‘pioneer’ banner is struggling to find expression when it comes to ‘real’
Ministerial formation.
Can I say Matthew Kelly and Claire Sweeney were
excellent in Educating Rita, in Bath, last night. I’ve no idea where they’re
off to next, but if you fancy catching Willy Russell’s updated script, you’ll
be booking yourself in for a treat.
