by ed.dodds

The Christian Chronicle Editorial Council on “Addressing a crisis of empty pulpits”

In some parts of the world, a preacher shortage is something to celebrate. Across Africa and Latin America, for example, people are being baptized at a rate that makes it difficult for preacher training schools to keep up with demand.

But here in the U.S., our assessment of the pulpit deficit tends to be grim. Across the nation, churches seek to fill empty pulpits. Many small congregations struggle to find enough money in their budgets to attract and retain a talented minister. – The Christian Chronicle Editorial Council

<ed.note>Flavil Yeakley was commissioned to study one school from which he found approximately 25% of Bible students could not begin preaching due to the debt burden they carried graduating from that Christian institute of higher education. I'd really encourage the Chronicle to work with the Christian Higher Education Foundation to do an online survey to determine how pervasive this is and their suggested remedies, if necessary.

Regardless, the Bible students need to be told of the possibility before entering the programs (counting the cost, I believe, is a Biblical admonition) — Is there a Churches of Christ Virtual Student Union which advocates on behalf of the economic best interests of the students — Facebook App, maybe?

Also see some of the earlier Letters to the Editor on similar themes (especially Ben Wiles and Darren Ray Reynolds). </ed.note>