Summer Schools for Pastors of the Methodist Episcopal Church, SouthAuthor(s): A. C. ZumbrunnenSource: Journal of Social Forces, Vol. 1, No. 2 (Jan., 1923), pp. 142-144Published by: Oxford University PressStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3004918 .

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142 The Journal of Social Forces

partment has assisted in achieving during the

past six years may be mentioned the following:

1. 4,000 rural pastors given three weeks train?

ing in summer schools. Same plan being fol- lowed by the Southern Methodist Episcopal Church.

2. Surveys going on by the rural departments of the two churches working cooperatively which will show the location of all churches of all de-

nominations, pastoral residences, circuit systems, whether churches are in villages or in open coun?

try. Much of the country has already been

completed.

3. The vision of an all-round church program is not popular and all over the country are spring- ing up church buildings planned for worship, re?

ligious education and community service.

4. The post-centenary survey of missionary

and church extension needs is showing in a most remarkable way the effects of the past few years special attention to the rural work. District super- cial attention to the rural work. District super? intendents and others are now able to present in?

telligent and fair programs to missionary service for rural work.

5. Thirty-four Methodist Episcopal educa? tional institutions now have special departments for rural service. The number of trained men devoted to rural work has been greatly increased.

6. Movements have been started in a number of conferences looking toward equity in minis- terial reward.

7. Districts all over the country are being organized into parishes so that the Methodist

Episcopal Church can reach the last family in the country and know definitely when all families have pastoral oversight.

SUMMER SCHOOLS FOR PASTORS OF THE METHODIST

EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH1

A. C. ZUMBRUNNEN

THE

holding of summer schools for pastors is a comparatively new activity in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

They were first introduced in 1921. Only two were held that year, one at Hendrix College, Con-

way, Arkansas, and the other at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina. These were under the direction of the General Board of Missions. During the summer of 1922, five were held under the direct

management of this board and it cooperated in another which had its own board of managers. The Home Department of the Board of Missions

proposes to hold and cooperate in fifteen such schools during the summer of 1923. It is the

plan of this department to provide such a number of schools that one shall be easily accessible for

every minister in the home field by 1925.

Why this new departure on the part of this church? What courses are offered in them? What is the character of the work done by them? A brief answer to each of these questions follows.

This new departure on the part of this denomi- nation was largely due to its centenary movement.

1 A short report of the schools for rural pastors was given in the November number of the Journal. Reports from other denominations are being presented as rapidly as material can be obtained.

Extensive surveys were made while it was being put on which revealed the largeness of the task before this church both at home and abroad. It revealed the work to be done and also the re? sources in hand both as to men and money for

doing it. The responsibilities and largeness of the unfinished task was surprisingly great. These

surveys showed that in the home field we had an

evangelistic responsibility of five million or twice the present membership; that there were large unoccupied areas in rural communities; that eleven per cent of the churches in rural com? munities were dead, i.e., without any services; that it hardly touched the large field of immi-

grants within its bounds; that there were many wide open communities in our cities unoccupied by any churches; that many of the churches in the cities were not at all measuring up to their

responsibilities and opportunities in the com? munities in which they were located; that it had a large social service mission in both rural and urban communities which it had scarcely realized existed and had not begun to perform.

Furthermore, it discovered the largeness of its

foreign mission task with an evangelistic respon? sibility of fifty millions of people in Mexico, South America, Africa, Asia, and Europe. In

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The Journal of Social Forces 143

addition to the task of evangelism in the foreign field, is its responsibilities in respect to education and social service, an unfinished task equal to that of evangelism.

A highly trained leadership is necessary to measure up to such opportunities and responsi? bilities. Without it, the task is impossible. It

requires not only here and there an outstanding leader, but a great number of them. In the

main, the pastors are the leaders upon whom the

accomplishment of this great task of the church

depends. They must be men of vision, having seen the work that is to be done. They must also be men trained in the best methods. To be the kind of leaders the task of today requires they must have the most thorough-going training.

A survey of the pastors of the town and coun?

try churches of this denomination revealed that such training was largely lacking. This is very evident from the following table which was com-

piled from the replies received to a questionnaire sent out to such pastors:

Educational Qualifications of Town and Country Pastors Methodist Episcopal Church, South,

According to Survey, 1921.

School Attainment Number Per Cent Grammar School. 349 13.0 per cent High School .808 31. per cent Attended College .831 31.9 per cent Finished College .450 17.3 per cent Attended Seminary . 94 3.6 per cent Finished Seminary . 69 2.7 per cent

Total .2601

This table presents the astounding fact that

only six per cent of the preachers attended, and less than three per cent of them finished a

theological seminary, the place where special training is given for church leadership. In ad? dition to this fact, it should be borne in mind that the training given in many seminaries is largely lacking in methodology and the technic of leader?

ship and church efficiency. While the training of the pastor of city churches is somewhat better than that of the town and country group, it is far from adequate for the leadership required today.

This new departure, then, on the part of the above mentioned denomination was to provide an

adequately trained ministry to lead this church Jto the accomplishment of the task before it.

The purpose of the summer schools was to

give opportunity for the pastors to supplement their training for leadership. It was to provide an opportunity for training in efficiency. It is

expected that the whole level of efficiency of the

pastors will be raised through these summer schools.

The courses offered for the two years that the schools have been in operation have been those considered most urgent and vital for the rural

pastor. Among them were: "Rural Evangelism," "Biblical Background for our Rural Message," "Organization and Administration of the Sunday School," "Woman's Work in the Rural Church," "Rural Church Methods and Programs," "The Church and Development of Community Wel? fare," "The Church and Economic Welfare." For city pastors, courses were offered in "Evan-

gelism," "The Religious Education Program for

City Churches," "The Problems of the Modern

City," "The City Survey," "The Social Service

Program for City Churches," "The Organization and Direction of the Staff of the City Church."

In addition to these courses forums were con- ducted in which vital problems of the church were discussed. Each night an inspirational ad- dress was delivered before a joint meeting of both groups.

The character of the work done in these schools has been of a very high order. The best peda- gogical methods were employed. The teachers were the best qualified in their respective fields that could be secured. The students were al- lowed to take only two courses for credit. They were allowed to take two others as visitors.

They were earnest and their work was highly satisfactory.

Plans are now under way to thoroughly stand- ardize these schools. They have been of ten days duration. It is quite probable that they will be extended to a fifteen day session instead. A four

years course of study will be provided with courses specifically adapted for pastors of town and country churches, and for those in city churches. Special provision will be made where-

by the undergraduate pastors?those who have not finished the studies required for full admission into the conference?may take their courses of

study under competent instructors. It is quite probable that the scope of the schools will be ex? tended to include courses for various groups of

layworkers, such as Sunday School and Epworth

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144 The Journal of Social Forces

League officers, lay leaders, etc. A school which will be held at Central College, Fayette, Missouri, in 1923, has made such provision. The General Board of Missions is cooperating with the Con? ference Boards of Missions and the other general and conference boards of the church in these schools. Such adaptations as seem desirable will be made from time to time.

To summarize, it may be said that the summer

schools for pastors as conducted by the Methodist

Episcopal Church, South, have been provided in order to supplement the training of its ministers in such cases as is needed; to thereby lift the whole level of their efficiency; and to provide a trained leadership such as will be required if the church is to measure up to its titanic opportunities and responsibilities in evangelism, religious edu?

cation, and social service.

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