My experience has been that skill development among pastors is typically presented as leadership theory, budget management and organizational development. Kathleen A. Cahalan’s article Integrative Knowing and Practical Wisdom (2017) presents instead the reminder that pastors are practitioners who must grow toward practical wisdom.
Cahalan’s central question is presented at the end of her introduction after giving sketches of funerals led by two different pastors, one fumbling and rigid and one compassionate and merciful. “How did this priest learn to be this kind of minister?” (Cahalan, 2017, p. 116)
Broken down by headings within the article, I found five main ideas presented:
The Intelligence of Practice
Skills can be learned in different ways which, over time, have the potential to be acted on together becoming practical wisdom.
In the Beginning
The beginning of practice acknowledges that a novice practitioner requires education, mentors, peers and opportunity to help them grow in skill and understanding.
Advancing in Practice
As practitioners advance they grow in their ability and also by internalizing the ethos of their area of skill.
Competence in Practice
As practitioners, and pastors specifically, grow in competence they develop additional skills such as foresight, empathy and seeing the bigger picture which help move them closer to practical wisdom.
Another Kind of Competence: Expertise or Unknowing?
Practitioners in many skill areas are focused on expertise while the focus for pastors is the truth that the knowledge and understanding of God will never be fully known.
Cahalan’s article (2017) is a strong reminder of the importance of “eight ways of knowing that are essential to wise practice” (p. 117). Yet the summary remains that for ministers the expression of practical wisdom is different from skill areas where “the virtues of practice are related to speed, efficiency, accuracy, and often individual effort” (p. 121). For priests and pastors to truly minister to the families they are serving, practical wisdom goes beyond skill development or increased knowledge. “Ministers who are expert practitioners require something very different: the ability to slow down and contemplate what God is doing” (p. 121).
Reference
Cahalan, K. A., Foley, E., & Mikoski, G. S. (2017). Integrating Work in Theological Education. Eugene, Oregon: Pickwick Publications. Retrieved from https://ezproxy.student.twu.ca/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=1500058&site=eds-live
Hi Chris,
I loved your blog post. I particularly found it interesting how your post about practical wisdom as a pastor is also relevant in my world of sales. The comparison of the two pastors can also be seen in the comparison between two sales associates. Like you mentioned, in the beginning any new team member requires education, training and mentoring. In sales, new hires are often taken under the wings of a senior, high performing co-worker and taught about the business. The new hire is given scripts and is told to “learn it and burn”. This meaning you read the script, extract the key messages, and find your own natural way of relaying the information. If someone tried to simply memorize the given script, the sales associate will often fumble because they are too focused on what the next sentence is and gets flustered when they forget or make mistakes. This is because you are trying to memorize and use a script that was written for someone else. But when you learn to summarize and personalize it (develop your own practical wisdom), the conversation becomes natural and warm. The focus is taken off the words, and the sales associate (or pastor) can actively listen, empathize and engage with the other person. Have you seen or worked with other pastors who seem to get too focused on saying the right thing and perhaps lose focus on actually listening and supporting the other person?
Hey Chris. I enjoyed the writing more so because of the Pastor angle from which you are coming from. Having been in ministry myself for many years, I recall my first funeral service. Somehow during my intern years, no one died (lol) and so no training was provided. I had been to enough funerals during my time in church and so I saw what was being demonstrated by the elders/snr pastors. It was not until my first funeral that realized that due to lack of preparation I wasn’t ready. I seek help from my colleagues who provided guidance which was then deployed. The service was exceptional. It wasn’t until I had a high profile funeral that an Administrative Bishop was present. during a part of the session, he stopped me and gave me some instructions Instructions I still use today. It is why I agree with the process outlined.
my reflection questions, therefore, is how does Cahalan ties the practical wisdom that we are required to grow in, into the five areas that are mentioned?
Is it being suggested that the pastor, will not need the skill as his process is more towards hearing from God and not working on his craft?