Clergy Clarity

I attended an excellent non-denominational seminary in Dallas.  Though it took me half a decade with three kids at home and an hour commute each way, I would not have had it any other way.  My seminary gave me a great gift; I was trained to think critically about my theology, rather than simply repeat what someone I respected had taught me.  This gave me many answers but it also presented far more questions than I could have imagined.  I left with my Masters in 2012 and many more questions than I had than when I began seminary.

In seminary, it is good to have a lot of questions.  It may be even better to understand that answers to those questions may be awfully hard to come by.  However, as an ordained clergyman, I have a responsibility to give my people certainty.  That does not mean that it is my job to appear confident about things I am secretly unclear about.  It does mean that understanding what is rock solid and repeatedly offering that to your people is a wonderful way to do the job. 

I am certain that the God of the Bible is real, that He loves us and that He is One in Three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  I am certain that God’s Word is inspired and written both for the edification of the original audience but for those of us who follow Christ today.  I am certain that nature testifies to the love and power of the God of the Bible.  I am certain that no one is beyond God’s mercy and love.  I am certain that The Holy Spirit is good and not scary.  I am certain that God loves to be worshipped and is not fussy about some of the things we are fussy about.  I am certain that a costless, crossless Christianity is not classic Christianity.  I am certain that the church on earth is beautiful to God despite our deep flaws and resistance to Him. 

I am certain that the people under my care need a solid place to live, not a temporary soapbox upon which to be sanctimonious about their doubts.

Questions have their place and it is one of the reasons I love the Alpha Course.  However, as a clergyman, my job is not to be the chief doubter.  My job is to testify to the beautiful truth about Our God and to invite others to believe along with me.

Fr. Gavin Pate

Photo by Jonathan Simcoe on Unsplash