The Demand and the Supply of Increased Efficiency in the Negro Ministry: The American Negro Academy. Occasional Papers No. 13Moorland, Jesse Edward
Religion
The Demand and the Supply of Increased Efficiency in the Negro Ministry: The American Negro Academy. Occasional Papers No. 13
Moorland, Jesse Edward
African American clergy -- Education; Religious education
Jesus Christ was a great teacher. Nicodemus said: "We know thou art a
teacher sent from God." Very seldom is it said that Jesus preached, but it
is commonly said that he taught the people. The minister who is to be His
true representative on earth must also be a teacher, and it is of the
greatest importance that his training be such as shall broaden his views
of life and shall enable him to understand the relations of human society
sufficiently well to warrant his instructing the people in the most
helpful way. Unfortunately a great deal of the training of the past has
been entirely too narrow. Usually the theological seminaries have been
very slow in utilizing the most improved educational methods and have been
very active in maintaining the old order of things. What we need to-day
for our ministers is a training which will put them in possession of the
knowledge of human society just as it is. It is of the greatest importance
that a minister should be given a correct training according to the
principles of Jesus Christ to treat these conditions. The people are
waiting and hungering for this type of leader. There was never a time when
the colored people were so willing to be taught from the pulpit as they
are to-day.
No ground will be gained by mere denunciation, but what is needed is a
splendid constructive method which will build the people up in every phase
of life and sweeten human relations. All the people demand of such a
teacher is that he should be as good as the doctrine he proclaims and
should fully comprehend what he is about. There certainly is no place
where larger opportunity is offered for service than in the high calling
of the ministry. The average course of study in seminaries provided for
both white and colored candidates for the ministry is not calculated to
bring them in touch with the problems which are to confront them as it
should. The following is a course of study covering three years, and a
fair sample of courses provided by seminaries established for colored
ministers:
First year: Biblical Introduction; Hebrew Language; Greek Interpretation;
Sacred Rhetoric and Elocution; Vocal Music.
Second year: Church History; Hebrew Interpretation; Greek Interpretation;
Sacred Rhetoric and Elocution; Vocal Music; Homiletics; Christian
Theology.
Third year: Pastoral Duties; Theology and Ethics; Biblical Introduction;
Homiletics and Church Polity; Christian Theology; Sacred Rhetoric and
Elocution; Electives.
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