15 October 2014 A.D. General Seminary, NYC—Declension & Increasing Irrelevance

15 October 2014 A.D.  General Seminary, NYC—Declension & Increasing Irrelevance

Ehrich, Tom.  “From church triumphant to `least of these’ (COMMENTARY).”  Religion News Service. 14 Oct 2014. http://www.religionnews.com/2014/10/14/clergy-longer-part-noblesse-oblige-commentary/.  Accessed 15 Oct 2014.

From church triumphant to ‘least of these’ (COMMENTARY)

 (RNS) News articles about turmoil at General Theological Seminary had immediate impact on those of us who attended Episcopal seminaries.

But the news “went viral” far beyond that small coterie and for reasons beyond nostalgia.

For one thing, it’s a juicy soap opera. Faculty playing hardball, then finding themselves unemployed. A dean pushing back, then losing credibility as word about him spread. A board looking confused and high-handed. Students wondering if they, too, should go on strike.

But impact goes beyond the particular event itself. For something fundamental seems to be changing.

It’s hard to pinpoint. For one thing, as I wrote last week, the residential three-year seminary seems to be ending its run, a victim of costs and other ways of preparing for ordained ministry.

·                  READ: The rise and fall of the American seminary

That would be disconcerting to those clergy who prepared at seminaries like General, but probably not troubling to the majority who are preparing in other ways.

Seminaries’ woes are further sign that mainline Protestant religion is being forced to engage with a world that yearns for faith but cares little for mainline institutions and traditions.

When so much energy has gone into maintaining those institutions, what is left when people, especially young adults, turn away from “church” as we know it, that is, our church facilities, clergy, doctrines and church-centered worship?

The most far-reaching implication is this: We are discovering that the world can get along without us. Few are asking for our authoritative guidance. Our clergy aren’t seen as “thought leaders” or our institutions as worthy of emulation.

We are no longer “one-up” — a source of wisdom, a font of valuable knowledge, a teacher of necessary skills, an alms purse to ameliorate the world’s deprivation. It felt good to be in that position. “Noblesse oblige” satisfied our self-perception as the “noblesse” deigning to care.

Now we are the “least of these.” We are the ones who can’t manage our affairs without ugly conflict. We are the ones who get caught in unethical behavior, whose assemblies are marked by nostalgia, not urgency. We are the ones who don’t know the way forward. We are the ones with problems we can’t solve.

For the rest, see: http://www.religionnews.com/2014/10/14/clergy-longer-part-noblesse-oblige-commentary/