VOCATIONAL CALLING:

A CASE STUDY OF TEXAS BAPTIST PASTORS

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JETER BASDEN

PROFESSOR OF RELIGION<= o:p>

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF MINISTRY GUIDANCE

BAYLOR UNIVERSITY=

Introduction

A research project entitled Trends in Texas Baptist Ministry: A Case Study was undertaken in 2001 by a team of researchers = from Baylor University and the Baptist General Convention of Texas designed to research and report on:

&nbs= p; 1) How Baptists view the nature of a call to vocational ministry

&nbs= p; 2) What Baptists expect in the formal education of ministry candidates

&nbs= p; 3) How Baptists view the nature of credentials (ordination, license) for minis= try

&nbs= p; 4) The tenure of current Texas Baptist pastors and factors relating thereunto.=

The project directors were Jeter Basden and William H. Brackney, faculty members in the Department of Religion at Baylor University. Other Baylor participants were faculty members Winfred Moore, Tillman B. Rodabough, and David Slover. Participants fr= om the Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board staff were Jan Daehnert, Clay Price, Bob Ray, Royce Rose, and Sonny Spurger.

The project was divided into three steps:

STEP ONE gathered and studi= ed data with regard to the length of stay (tenure) of

Texas Baptist pastors.

STEP TWO surveyed and studi= ed data from Texas Baptists (pastors and deacon

chairs) with questions about:

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; 1) The nature of a call to vocational ministry

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; 2) Expectations about the formal education of ministry candidates

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; 3) The nature of credentials (ordination, license) for ministry

4) The tenure of current Texas Baptist pastors and factors relating

thereunto= .

STEP THREE consisted of two symposia on “Ordination in the Baptist

Tradition,= ” culminating in the presentation of eight papers with responses

to each on various phases of this t= opic.

Funding for the entire project was secured from multip= le sources:

&nbs= p; 1) Baylor University Horizons Faculty Grant program, years one and two (Baylor=

Horizons: The Exploration of Vocati= on for a Life of Service is a

comprehensive three-year project fu= nded by a $2 million grant from the

Lilly Endowment Inc. initiative “Theological Exploration of Vocation.”)

2) Baylor University Resear= ch Committee grant

3) Program in Baptist Studi= es, Department of Religion, Baylor University

4) Center for Ministry Effectiveness, Baylor University

5) Baptist General Conventi= on of Texas

This paper reports on a section of the STEP TWO resear= ch data collected from a survey of Texas Baptist pastors in April 2002 and foc= uses on these questions:

&nbs= p; 1) Was there a specific time in life when respondents first sensed God calling= or

leading in= to pastoral ministry?

&nbs= p; 2) If so, at what age?

&nbs= p; 3) Who was the single most influential person used by God in the “call”

experience= ?

&nbs= p; 4) What other factors were influential in God’s calling or leading into = pastoral

ministry?<= /p>

&nbs= p; 5) To whom did respondents turn to ask assistance, or who has been helpful to =

respondent= s, in clarifying or interpreting the “call” experience?

Research Methods

The research team identified above developed a survey = to be mailed to pastors and deacon chairpersons.= Under the leadership of Clay Price, Research and Information Services Manager, Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT), surveys were mailed in April 2002 to BGCT churches with pastors (3,845) and to deacon chairpersons= (3,040). Useable surveys were returned by 1= ,190 pastors (a 31 percent return rate) and by 720 deacons (a 24 percent return rate). Clay Price tabulated t= he survey responses and provided the tabulations to the research team members = for their individual use in analysis and in the preparation of papers/reports/presentations growing out of the study. This is one of those papers. It deals with the responses to var= ious questions concerning call to ministry (or vocational calling).

Findings

The first question regarding vocational calling to be addressed was to pastors:

- Was there a specific time in your life when you f= irst sensed God calling or leading you into pastoral ministry?

Almost all pastors (1158 of 1190, 97.3%) indicated tha= t they felt that there was a specific time when they first sensed such a call.

A related question was addressed to deacon chairs:

- Do you think there should have been a specific tim= e in every pastor’s life when there was a sense of God’s calling (or leading) into pastoral ministry?

Almost all deacon = chairs (698 of 720, 96.9%) indicated that they felt there should be such a time in every pastor’s life.

Pastors were asked= a follow-up question:

- At what age did you experience this call (or leadi= ng)?

917 of 1190 (77.1%) indicated that it was between the ages of 13-30, with almost equal response= to the 13-18 age range (461, 38.7%) as to the 19-30 age range (456, 38.3%). Only 70 (5.8%) indicated that they experienced this call under age 13, and 181 (15.2%) indicated that they exp= erienced this call over age 30.

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Of those who exper= ienced this call over age 30, 22% are in churches with less than 100 in worship attendance, 26% are bivocational (receive more than ½ of their perso= nal income from outside the church), and 67% have completed an Associate Degree= or less in formal education.

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Pastors who experi= enced the call between the ages of 13-18 were found to more likely be serving the larger churches. Over half of= those serving churches with 200-499 in attendance were individuals from this 13-18 age group.

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The next question = asked of pastors was:

- Who was the single most influential person = used by God in the “call” experience?

The responses were= :

Pastor &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 39.8%

Personal devotional &nb= sp; = 18.7%

Family Member &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; 15.2%

Friends &= nbsp; &n= bsp; 5.2%

Other church staff member = &n= bsp; 5.2%

Youth leader in your church &nbs= p; &n= bsp; 4.2%

College or Baptist Student Minister &nbs= p; 2.6%

Sunday School teacher = ; 2.5%

Missionary &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; 2.2%

Teacher or professor &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 1.0%

Camp staff/counselor &nbs= p; &= nbsp; 0.9%

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Family members ran= ked slightly above one’s personal devotional for pastors in churches with= 200 or more in attendance.

A related statemen= t asked pastors to:

- Plea= se mark any of the following that were influential in God’s calling or leading you into pastoral ministry (all that apply).

The responses were= :

Private Bible study and prayer 5= 4.5%

Minister as a role model &nbs= p; &= nbsp; 48.2%

Christian home/parents &= nbsp; 42.5%

Influence of a specific person = ; = 37.8%

Counsel of a minister = &nb= sp; 36.5= %

Christian camp/retreat &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 22.9%<= /span>

Youth ministry of church &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 22.9%

Volunteer lay ministry experience &n= bsp; 19.0%

Other church staff as a role model &nb= sp; 12.0%

Mission/choir trip &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; 10.2%

Ministry internship experience 7.1%

Discipleship conference &nb= sp; 4.4%

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The final question= to pastors in the section on Call to Ministry was:

- To whom has God led you to ask assistance, or who = has been helpful to you, in clarifying or interpreting this “call” experience (all that apply)?

The responses were= :

Pastor &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 77.7%

Personal devotional &nb= sp; = 46.3%

Family Member &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; 36.5%

Friends &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; 34.2%

Teacher or professor &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 19.3%<= /o:p>

Other church staff member = &nb= sp; 16.0%

Sunday School teacher = ; 10.3%<= /p>

College or Baptist Student Minister &nbs= p; 10.2%

Youth leader in your church &nbs= p; &= nbsp; 9.7%

Missionary &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; 6.0%

Camp staff/counselor &nbs= p; &= nbsp; 2.1%

In clarifying the = “call” experience, the younger the pastor, the more likely the pastor received assistance from personal devotion, family member, friends, youth leader, ot= her church staff, or a teacher or professor.&n= bsp; The older the pastor, the more likely the pastor received assistance from a missionary.

Comparison to e= arlier study

My 1999 study (Factors That Influence a Call to Ministry, as rep= orted in The Year 2000 Proceedings of ASSR-SW Region) of university students who sensed a call to ministry resulted in a compilation of a list of factors ci= ted by the students as having been influential to the students in their understanding of their personal call to vocational Christian ministry. It is interesting to note the comparisons between the factors cited by the students in the 1999 study and= the factors identified as being influential in God’s calling or leading i= nto pastoral ministry by pastors in the 2002 survey.

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= &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = Pastors - Rank &nb= sp; Students - Rank

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Private Bible study and prayer 5= 4.5% - 1 = 43.3% - 1

Minister as a role model &nbs= p; &= nbsp; 48.2% - 2 &nbs= p; = 11.5% - 10 (tie)

Christian home/parents &= nbsp; 42.5% - 3 &nbs= p; = 33.2% - 3

Influence of a specific person = ; = 37.8% - 4 &nbs= p; = 23.5% - 6 &nbs= p;

Counsel of a minister = &nb= sp; 36.5% - 5 &nbs= p; = 22.1% - 7

Christian camp/retreat &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 22.9% - 6 (tie) &nbs= p; 27.2% - 4

Youth ministry of church &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 22.9% - 6 (tie) &nbs= p; 20.7% - 8

Volunteer lay ministry experience &n= bsp; 19.0% - 8 &nbs= p; = 38.2% - 2

Other church staff as a role model &nb= sp; 12.0% - 9 &nbs= p; = 11.5% - 10 (tie)

Mission/choir trip &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; 10.2% - 10 &nb= sp; 16.1% - 9

Ministry internship experience 7.1% - 11 = 24.9% - 5

Discipleship conference &nb= sp; 4.4% - 12 = 9.7% - 12

For the students, opportunities for volunteer lay ministry experience, Christian camps and retreats, ministry internship experience, mission/choir trips, and disciple= ship conferences are more influential than these factors are for the pastor respondents.

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For the youngest g= roup of pastor respondents (ages 25-34), the results, compared to the students, wer= e:

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= &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = Pastors - Rank &nb= sp; Students - Rank

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Private Bible study and prayer 6= 4.6% - 1 = 43.3% - 1

Minister as a role model &nbs= p; &= nbsp; 52.4% - 2 (tie) &nbs= p; 11.5% - 10 (tie)

Christian home/parents &= nbsp; 52.4% - 2 (tie) &nbs= p; 33.2% - 3

Counsel of a minister = &nb= sp; 51.2% - 4 &nbs= p; = 22.1% - 7

Youth ministry of church &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 50.0% - 5 &nbs= p; = 20.7% - 8

Influence of a specific person = ; = 47.6% - 6 &nbs= p; = 23.5% - 6 &nbs= p;

Christian camp/retreat &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 45.1% - 7 &nbs= p; = 27.2% - 4

Other church staff as a role model &nb= sp; 26.8% - 8 &nbs= p; = 11.5% - 10(tie)

Volunteer lay ministry experience &n= bsp; 22.0% - 9 &nbs= p; = 38.2% - 2

Mission/choir trip &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; 18.3% - 10 (tie) &nb= sp; 16.1% - 9

Ministry internship experience 18= .3% - 10 (tie) = ; 24.9% - 5

Discipleship conference &nb= sp; 8.5% - 12 = 9.7% - 12

Volunteer lay mini= stry experience, ministry internship experience, and discipleship conference are= the factors that are more often cited by students in this comparison, but it is important to note that all three factors have a larger percentage response = with the pastors in the 25-34 age group than with the total group of pastors. In fact, ministry internship exper= ience was cited by more than double the percentage (7.1% of the total group compa= red to 18.3% of the younger group)

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Implications

Baptist ministers = and church leaders (deacon chairs) do expect pastors to have sensed God’s calling or God’s leading into pastoral ministry. Based then on this finding, enteri= ng pastoral ministry is not to be undertaken based on a personal choice of vocation but rather only as one senses God’s call or leading into pastoral ministry as a vocation. Pastoral candidates must be reminded that the call begins with God.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> One does not call himself or herse= lf into ministry as a personal preference or choice.

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Calling most often= comes during the adolescent and early adult years (13-30). It is important for churches to gi= ve serious attention to this fact – designing programs and opportunities especially for these age groups that will assist persons in sensing and understanding the call to vocational ministry.

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It appears that ed= ucation and career advancement opportunities (as defined by service in larger churc= hes) are lessened for those who experienced a call over age 30. Certainly then it is important for churches, denominations, and educational institutions to pay particular attention to making opportunities for theological education and ministry preparation available on at least a continuing education basis for these persons. Non-traditional ministry-training programs (distance learning programs, as an example) may = very well be needed for this segment of the population of ministers.<= /span>

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Persons who experi= enced the call early in life (13-18) seem to have more opportunity to serve in th= e larger churches. This may be the case because of increased opportunity and time for formal education in preparati= on for seminary, a commitment to vocational ministry maintained over a signifi= cant amount of time, and perhaps a desire on the part of churches to have pastors who have more education and an established tenure in ministry.

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Pastors are in a p= osition of influence for those who are considering a call to vocational ministry. More attention should be given by pastors to those who are considering a call to vocational ministry, particularly with regard to helping such persons clarify and affirm their understanding and their response to such a calling.

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Personal devotions= are also quite influential as one seeks to understand calling or leading into p= astoral ministry. Churches and church leaders need to give careful attention to helping persons develop the spiri= tual disciplines of Bible reading, prayer, and meditation.

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Family members are= also influential in the understanding of a calling. Surely family members tend to know= each other’s strengths, passions, weaknesses, and habits, and they use this knowledge to influence one another as decisions are reached about life̵= 7;s direction and the accompanying vocational choices. Healthy families, then, are essent= ial, and churches need to do all they can to strengthen and encourage families.<= o:p>

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For the younger generations of pastors, it is clear that experience in ministry – thr= ough volunteer lay ministry experiences, ministry internship experiences, and missions opportunities – contribute significantly to clarification and affirmation about the “call” experience.

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Conclusion=

It is important to= the life and health of congregations that persons continue to sense and underst= and God’s calling or leading into pastoral ministry. It is important to note from this = study that God calls persons most often between the ages of 13-30, though individ= uals of almost any age may experience this call.

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Significant other = persons – pastors, other church staff members, and family members – influence individuals who are being called to ministry especially. They are also influenced by opportunities to do ministry – volunteer lay ministry experiences, ministry internship experiences, and missions experiences.

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As persons can be = given ministry opportunities under the guidance of experienced ministers who serv= e as mentors, then surely call clarification and affirmation will be the result.=

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Experiential educa= tion is fast becoming an important learning tool in many academic disciplines ̵= 1; teacher education, health and medical fields, accounting, social work, and ministry – to name a few. From the results of this study, it appears that experiential educati= on in ministry is essential in developing ministers for the work of the church= es in the days to come. Giving p= ersons opportunity to observe and do ministry under the mentorship of an experienc= ed minister will provide important influencing factors for persons to understa= nd a calling into ministry vocations.