Thoughts on Becoming a Theologian

I have the privilege of attending university at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion Indiana.  As this school has grown we made the decision to launch a seminary, something long overdue in my humble opinion.  One of the chief concerns of Christian higher education is that of Theology, and hiring a resident theologian is central to this.  The resident theologian steers the minds of every student that goes through the programs of the seminary.  Recently Dr. John Drury was hired to fulfill this crucial position at Wesley Seminary at IWU.  


He has given me a couple of recommendations in passing concerning training one's mind for theological pursuits.  


The first piece was in a reading group on Karl Barth, Drury said "you become a theologian by reading theologians."  He spoke to the idea that we have to spend time in the work of a particular author learning their views and the world surrounding them.  Theology is deeply embedded in history, and knowledge of one lends to the other.  Drury seems to have endeavored to extract the best morsels of every theologian and paste them together into an incredibly rich ecumenical understanding.


The second piece was just in a conversation on the way to lunch after having listened to Stanley Hauerwas speak at College Wesleyan Church.  Drury was explaining in his conversational pedagogy what makes a good theologian: "you have to learn what the most important questions are."  


If I might be so bold as to offer advice from what I see in Dr. J. Drury it is this: one becomes a theologian by structured and directed immersion.  


Thank you to Dr. John Drury for taking the time to meet with undergraduate students.  Professors that really take the time outside of class are a dying breed (completely so at many universities).  I've been so impressed by the passion he has for his subject.