Techniques or Disciplines? Mervyn Himbury and the Purpose of Ministerial Education

Abstract

ABSTRACT The question of how Baptist ministers are best prepared for service in the Church has been part of Baptist life from the beginning. Mervyn Himbury (1922-2008), historian and educational leader in Wales and in Australia, wrestled with these issues continually. He challenged the focus on techniques and skills, arguing for ministerial education based upon the disciplines of biblical and theological reflection, continuous learning and love for God and the world. This paper draws upon Himbury's published works, which set these issues in an historical and theological perspective, while engaging with the immediate challenges in Melbourne, where he was the founding Principal of Whitley College. The paper draws upon curriculum inquiry and ideological perspectives which may shape educational practice, then considers whether these approaches may apply to ministerial education. This discussion serves to further clarify the nature and purpose of ministerial education in general and Himbury's contribution in particular.