When You Work for the Church

A few months ago, someone I didn’t know sent me a message through the contact form on my website. She said she had heard me speak at the AMBS pastors and leaders conference, was currently serving as a conference minister, and had recently begun the seminary’s Doctor of Ministry in Leadership program. “Would there be a way we might connect?” she asked.

I knew the seminary had introduced the Doctor of Ministry program last year, and one of my friends had enrolled, but I wasn’t familiar with the details. And I had no idea why one of the students might want to talk with me. But her question made me curious, so we agreed to meet over Zoom.

I enjoyed our conversation, hearing about her call to ministry that led her to seminary, to pastoring a small church, to serving as a conference minister, and to the Doctor of Ministry program. Like the seminary’s other offerings, the Doctor of Ministry program is grounded in knowing, doing, and being. For this advanced degree, these three foundational qualities are fleshed out in five competencies:

• Anabaptist Leadership
• Intercultural Leadership
• Teaching Leadership
• Change Leadership
• Resilient Leadership.

One of the student’s first responsibilities is to discern a group of mentors who will walk alongside for the three years of the program: a faculty mentor from the seminary (knowing), a professional mentor with experience in the same field as the student (doing), and a spiritual formation mentor to attend to the spiritual aspects of the student’s development (being). The different mentors roughly correspond to the three emphases of knowing, doing, and being, although, of course, there is significant overlap between the three.

And the reason for her reaching out to me? She wanted to ask if I might be willing to serve as her spiritual formation mentor!

Wow! The program sounded so well-rounded to me, and what a privilege to be involved! But, I said, if you need someone with an advanced degree with all the academic qualifications in spiritual formation, that’s not me. No, she said, she had already submitted my name as a possible spiritual formation mentor, and the seminary had already approved if I would say yes.

So now it’s official—I’m a spiritual formation mentor and learning what that means. I’ve already completed the orientation and the necessary paperwork. I’m already on the seminary website, and have had our first mentor group meeting with our student. I wasn’t sure how—or even if—I could contribute, but I’m gradually feeling my way and growing into this new role.

For more information on this program for strengthening Anabaptist leadership, please see AMBS Doctor of Ministry in Leadership.