Baptist Life & Wake Divinity | Winston Salem, NC

A group of Wake Foresters gathered over lunch in Winston Salem, on March 22, 2018, to discuss Baptist Life & Wake Divinity.

Overview and highlights of our Call to Conversation:

• We discussed the ethos of the divinity school from its beginning—“risky,” “born in controversy,” “inclusivity,” to pragmatic responses in the school and in the churches for students and alums.
• Divinity school should continue to be a change agent in WFU and larger church/community.
• Aid students in responding to the prophetic nature of ministry and applying mission statement qualities in a post-Christian world.
• Discussed the way in which minister’s role reflects the three Divinity School qualities: Pastor (compassion); prophet (Justice); Priest (Reconciliation)
• One of the most engaging elements of the conversation came at the end when a colleague noted two frustrating elements he has experienced in ministry: 1) “Church structure/organization is not necessarily benign,” It can become a “rut” or an “obstacle” to ministry. 2) How do these divinity school goals relate to “burnout” due to unfulfilled expectations—this may occur early as well as later in ministry.