Perhaps the next great challenge will be overcoming the institutional hurdles of local church ministry. The local church, in its present form, is rarely an incubator for birthing ecclesial theologians.

This is where I would put forth a presbyterian model of church governance and leadership as ideal. (I’m not saying that all churches should BE Presbyterians by denominational affiliation, but that the form of leadership offers much to be desired.)

In a well-functioning presbyterian government, the Ruling Elders and Deacons are a strong support to the Pastor in shepherding, visitation, and even teaching– allowing him more dedicated time to study, prayer, writing. I would imagine that most Sessions don’t have in mind that their Pastor will spend much of his time in serious writing, but that may be because their Pastor has never articulated a vision for how this is both a fulfillment of his calling and a ministry of benefit to the congregation and greater church.

In my situation (the Pastor of a smaller congregation) my Session is very supportive of my writing and broader-church ministry, because they understand how they are participants in something greater than merely the local gathering of the saints.