Andres
Puritan Board Doctor
According to the OPC BOC, CHAPTER XXI
LICENSING CANDIDATES TO PREACH THE GOSPEL
3. It is highly reproachful to religion and dangerous to the church to entrust the preaching of the gospel to weak and ignorant men. The presbytery shall therefore license a candidate only if he has received a bachelor of arts degree, or its academic equivalent, from a college or university of reputable academic standing, and has completed an adequate course of study lasting at least one year and a half in a theological seminary.
Based on our BOC, a man does not need to have an M.Div, but it is certainly desirable for him to have one.
I understand why they have this, because they don't want a "weak or ignorant man" but, respectfully, it is completely unbiblical to REQUIRE 1 year and a half of seminary much less a BA. Otherwise, every preacher in the Bible was unqualified. God has given us the requirements for a pastor. This also would be almost impossible for a man in a 3rd world country. I know that you did not make the rule, so I am not directing any of this toward you but the OPC is wrong.
Isn't that argument that nobody in the bible went to seminary kinda flawed? I mean, there were no seminaries, so it was impossible for anyone to go. On the other hand, I do find verses like this:
"And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions." Luke 2:43-46
Sounds like Jesus received a formal education to me.
And here is what Paul says about himself in Acts 22:3 "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers..."
If that ain't seminary brother, I don't know what is.