One Man's Journey

By Daryl Busby, Ph.D. Dean, Canadian Baptist Seminary

I am a Seminary Dean and also an Interim pastor. In order to drive between the seminary and the church, I regularly cross over a bridge that spans a major highway between the two. This travel time allows me to “flip the switches” permitting me to adapt to each setting. It also allows me to reflect upon the relationship between seminary and church.

The seminary side of the bridge requires me to think about students, lectures, course schedules, papers and grades. I think about adult learners who have well developed critical thinking skills (usually!) and clear ministry goals. I celebrate the day when they graduate and leave to return to ministry.

On the other hand, the church side of the bridge requires me to think about different age groups, program planning, worship services, evangelism, sermons and baptisms. People in the church possess a wide range of critical thinking skills. The church side is urgent, practical, now. I grieve the day when people leave the church.

Having frequently travelled this route I am constantly reminded that we need a strong bridge between those two worlds. We need the church to declare the Gospel and nurture all age groups. However, we also need the seminary to defend the Gospel and nurture emerging ministry leaders. We need both the urgent, practical, “here and now” of the church; but we also need the reflective, future orientation of the seminary. Without a bridge, the church risks losing its theological mind and the seminary risks losing its soul and very purpose. This bridge brings many challenges but much reward to both seminary and church.

While I admitedly fill a unique role, I want others to join me in this journey. The bridge is built upon mutual trust and respect and affirms that each side has a unique role to play in the kingdom. However, ultimately the seminary serves the church because everyone eventually returns to the church.