Overview

Clergy have historically been represented as figures of authority, wielding great influence over our society. During certain periods of American history, members of the clergy were nearly ever-present in public life. But men and women of the clergy are not born that way, they are made. And therefore, the matter of their education is a question of fundamental public importance. In Clergy Education in America, Larry Golemon shows not only how our conception of professionalism in religious life has changed over time, but also how the education of religious leaders have influenced American culture. Tracing the history of clergy education in America from the Early Republic through the first decades of the twentieth century, Golemon tracks how the clergy has become increasingly diversified in terms of race, gender, and class in part because of this engagement with public life. At the same time, he demonstrates that as theological education became increasingly intertwined with academia the clergy's sphere of influence shrank significantly, marking a turn away from public life and a decline in their cultural influence. Clergy Education in America offers a sweeping look at an oft-overlooked but critically important aspect of American public life.

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9780195314670

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This is a remarkable accomplishment. Golemon traces the history of educating the clergy in Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish traditions over the course of three centuries. He covers not only Euro-American institutions but also the educating of African Americans, women, and working-class white leaders. His vision of ministers, priests, and rabbis as participants in the civic culture of the nation recovers and refurbishes a long tradition. This is a learned reflection on the meaning of religious leadership, and throughout he has a provocative argument that will stir discussion and debate for at least the next decade. Golemon's book is a wide-ranging yet focused, learned yet eminently accessible reflection on the meaning of religious leadership. * E. Brooks Holifield, Charles Candler Professor Emeritus, Emory University * Theological educators will want to heed Golemon's superb history going back to the early days of the country. Clergy Education in America is a far different history of theological education and far superior to those focused on a school or a denomination. Golemon deftly portrays how Protestant pastors, Catholic priests, and Jewish rabbis shared a common aim for educating public leaders of religion and culture from the early days of the republic. What history lesson could more important for us today? * Kathleen A. Cahalan, Professor of Practical Theology, Saint John's University School of Theology and Seminary *

Theological educators will want to heed Golemon's superb history going back to the early days of the country. Clergy Education in America is a far different history of theological education and far superior to those focused on a school or a denomination. Golemon deftly portrays how Protestant pastors, Catholic priests, and Jewish rabbis shared a common aim for educating public leaders of religion and culture from the early days of the republic. What history lesson could more important for us today? * Kathleen A. Cahalan, Professor of Practical Theology, Saint John's University School of Theology and Seminary * This is a remarkable accomplishment. Golemon traces the history of educating the clergy in Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish traditions over the course of three centuries. He covers not only Euro-American institutions but also the educating of African Americans, women, and working-class white leaders. His vision of ministers, priests, and rabbis as participants in the civic culture of the nation recovers and refurbishes a long tradition. This is a learned reflection on the meaning of religious leadership, and throughout he has a provocative argument that will stir discussion and debate for at least the next decade. Golemon's book is a wide-ranging yet focused, learned yet eminently accessible reflection on the meaning of religious leadership. * E. Brooks Holifield, Charles Candler Professor Emeritus, Emory University *

""This is a remarkable accomplishment. Golemon traces the history of educating the clergy in Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish traditions over the course of three centuries. He covers not only Euro-American institutions but also the educating of African Americans, women, and working-class white leaders. His vision of ministers, priests, and rabbis as participants in the civic culture of the nation recovers and refurbishes a long tradition. This is a learned reflection on the meaning of religious leadership, and throughout he has a provocative argument that will stir discussion and debate for at least the next decade. Golemon's book is a wide-ranging yet focused, learned yet eminently accessible reflection on the meaning of religious leadership."" -- E. Brooks Holifield, Charles Candler Professor Emeritus, Emory University ""Theological educators will want to heed Golemon's superb history going back to the early days of the country. Clergy Education in America is a far different history of theological education and far superior to those focused on a school or a denomination. Golemon deftly portrays how Protestant pastors, Catholic priests, and Jewish rabbis shared a common aim for educating public leaders of religion and culture from the early days of the republic. What history lesson could more important for us today?"" -- Kathleen A. Cahalan, Professor of Practical Theology, Saint John's University School of Theology and Seminary

Author Information

Larry Abbott Golemon is the Executive Director of the Washington Theological Consortium, which brings Byzantine and Roman Catholic, mainline Protestant, Evangelical, and Historic Black theological schools into partnership with institutes in Islamic, Jewish, Biblical, and Spirituality studies. He has contributed articles for Teaching Theology and Religion, Reflective Practice, and the Mercer Law Review.

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