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them for the pastorate, 81 which lasted for more than two hours and had a calm and
reflective atmosphere. A third source of data was the TUK-website, 82 including a prospectus
with course descriptions and two documents that contained a profile of pastors in
the Reformed Churches (liberated). 83
10.3.2 Presentation of Findings
The framework of questions
In response to the framework of questions, one interviewee spontaneously said: “These
are the questions that should be asked and on which we should have reflected much
more. We have focused too little on cultural analyses. From the 1980’s on we should
have chosen leadership as a focus of theological education and research.” Another respondent
thought the questions implied that the interviewer was someone who knew
what he wanted to talk about. Still, he felt he needed to know the precise meanings of
some of the terms used before he was able to answer the questions. The students also
noticed that some concepts could be interpreted in more than one way, in particular
that of ‘spiritual formation’ (see question 4, below).
1a. What is the purpose of theological education at this particular institute (and
in particular, the predikantenopleiding [=MA-route for pastors])?
The purpose of the TUK is the scholarly, spiritual, personal and practical formation
[vorming] of future theologians and leaders of the Gereformeerde Kerken (vrijgemaakt). 84
Students added that, in their experience, being a ‘theological expert’ is considered the
end goal of their MA trajectory.
1b. What are visions on leadership and church office?
* The pastor is a leader
According to one interviewee, “you are a leader from the moment you climb the pulpit
or defend a policy proposal in a meeting of the consistory.” In effect, then, a pastor is a
leader, “someone who walks in front, someone who shows the way.” This should be, or
become, the self-perception of future pastors. Furthermore, he was of the opinion that
“all education that helps future clergy in their functioning stands in a framework of ‘leadership
development’.”
81
Two students – one female and one male – who planned to attend, called off shortly before the session.
82
www.tukampen.nl.
83
The most important document is called Beroepsprofiel Gereformeerd Predikant [Profile of the profession of a
Reformed pastor] of March 2002. The second document is “Naar een herzien predikantsprofiel” [Toward a
renewed profile of the pastor], of April/May, 2006. This paper was written by several practical theologians
within the TUK. It contains a plea for specialization in tasks for pastors, because of the increased complexity
of congregational life and of differentiation of talents.
84
In official documents the expression used is gereformeerd dienaar van het Woord [Reformed servant of the
Word]. Such a person has specific characteristics on the ‘dimensions’ of (1) spirituality; (2) convictions; (3)
person; (4) competence [deskundigheid]. Source: Beroepsprofiel Gereformeerd Predikant.