The Pastor-Theologian: A lecture by Sinclair Ferguson
The Pastor-Theologian: A lecture by Sinclair Ferguson
By Jonny Dodds
On Wednesday 12th November, Sinclair Ferguson came along to the Irish Baptist College to deliver a lecture entitled ‘The Pastor-Theologian.’ Ferguson began with a brief exhortation for pastors to endeavour to be better theologians should they want to be better pastors. Then he opened up three areas in which pastors have historically functioned as theologians: the administration of the sacraments (drip-feeding rich theology at the Lord’s Table and baptisms), conference (gatherings to teach on a pertinent topic not easily addressed in sermons), catechising (teaching questions and answers relating to basic theology).
Focussing on catechising, Ferguson then gave an historical survey, making the point that while lectio continua (teaching through a book of the Bible from start to finish) is the best way in which to teach the Bible, it should never be lectio continua alone. Rather, argued Ferguson, regular teaching of systematic theology should supplement the use of lectio continua as it provides a basic framework in which individual sermons can be understood. Drawing from church history and his own pastoral experience, Ferguson compellingly argued that catechising is the most effective way in which systematic theology can be taught clearly and memorably.
However, Ferguson admitted that this practice seems to be disappearing, which is leading to subtle but lamentable consequences, using examples that he has witnessed in his own ministry to prove this. Ferguson concluded his lecture by encouraging the pastors in the room to keep teaching lectio continua, but to seek to implement the use of catechising within broader church life to help the congregation gain more from the preaching of God’s word, although Ferguson admitted that he can provide no practical strategies on how to implement this framework in a church which has no previous practice of catechising.
Overall, Ferguson gave a compelling and encouraging reminder that to understand and teach the Bible passage by passage, we must understand and teach the ‘bigger picture’ elements which are found in systematic theology and taught most succinctly through catechisms.
