Computer Science and the Pastor

I may fumble this ball badly, so please bear with me as I present this issue for the sake of my son who is pursuing his MDiv at a small seminary in TN.

Here goes. What computer science related course work would you recommend that a pastor in training consider taking seeing that being conversant in these skills is apparently useful to both academics and non-academics? Are there any texts that one would find particularly useful along these lines? I encourage comments from those who are either presently in training or from those who have completed their studies. Thanks in advance.

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Comments

Robert Harner

I looked into getting a CS degree once but finally decided taking those classes would not help me in any conceivable way. I’ve had various IT related jobs over the years using various skills, all which were self taught. The only “formal” training I’ve had was MCSE Win NT certification, and later I taught some of the classes. I learned how to fix computers by spending years building, fixing and repairing computers. Experience is a good teacher. There is no class that could teach computers as well as doing it. You mentioned “skills,” if for instance, he wants skills in Word or Excel, buy a book, read through it and work any examples. I would suggest he decide what skills he wants to learn and just do it.

BillS

I have a B.S. Computer Science prior to my M. Div. work.

As a pastor & after working with many other pastors (especially mentors), I'd propose that some very useful comp. sci skills in ministry would include the following:

Advanced ability to navigate spreadsheets & word processor documents. Church budget processes & educational documents (officer training? Bible class workbooks? etc.) will benefit from those abilities.
Ability to design and/or modify web sites.
Ability to do database design & development. Your church can save hundreds of dollars yearly if you have the skill to design the church membership & financial database. And even if off-the-shelf systems are available, rarely will they fit YOUR church as well as your custom design would.

The smaller the church, the more likely & the more useful these skills are likely to be.

DMB

I'd think, as with most futures, one would need to approximate the requirement.

When we camp on east AZ, we like a small church there. But the pastor has to be a Houdini on the spot. Play guitar (when the music lady's aunt has a problem), update the small web site, prepare the small weekly bulletin, etc. Basically, do everyone else's job.

Conversely here in town, it's closer to Bill's description. Though in this case, there's more formal budgeting, again a web site, church financial software that is badly written but can't miss a beat (deductions, you know!). Plus a working knowledge of the worship system that constantly goes down (with the pastor running back to help out).

Maybe Robert's got it right.

mab

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/861299#Comment_861299

I think a class in programming is a good idea. I taught myself how to program while in a secular job and actually did professional programming as a result. It's kind of hard to explain, but it really sharpens one's ability to read and think through things logically.

I agree that doing it is the key. Just studying something is more like being a spectator: fun but not as useful in the long run.

Mark Barnes

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/861299#Comment_861299

I'd think, as with most futures, one would need to approximate the requirement.

When we camp on east AZ, we like a small church there. But the pastor has to be a Houdini on the spot. Play guitar (when the music lady's aunt has a problem), update the small web site, prepare the small weekly bulletin, etc. Basically, do everyone else's job.

Conversely here in town, it's closer to Bill's description. Though in this case, there's more formal budgeting, again a web site, church financial software that is badly written but can't miss a beat (deductions, you know!). Plus a working knowledge of the worship system that constantly goes down (with the pastor running back to help out).

Maybe Robert's got it right.

I agree 100% with this.

Every church needs someone who is able to fix PC issues, create and maintain a website, use Word/Excel to a reasonably good level, support various bits of hardware and software, and advise on purchases. It doesn't need to be the pastor (and in my ways it would be better if it wasn't). But in smaller churches, particularly those with older congregations, it may be helpful for the pastor to have those skills.

Nonetheless, I would have thought that the best place to learn them would be at lynda.com or udemy.com. CompSci electives would seem like overkill, and would probably teach too much theory at the expense of practice.

Joe Mayden

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/861357#Comment_861357

Denise's comments are what I have experienced as a pastor of a small church. I think it is important for a pastor to know what is needed to run a church electronically. I think I failed when I didn't pray and ask God to raise men and women up to fill those needs, to be the go to people. Eph 4:11-12 speaks about shepherds and teachers equipping the saints for the work of service. I wish I had done a better job in this area. God will provide the skill sets we need, we just might have to pray more and be patient. I came from a public accounting background and jumped into the budgeting process. Why didn't I pray and see if there was someone in the body who either could do that or had the potential to do that. I think I missed a chance to provide more folks in the body more opportunities for ownership. My thoughts.

Beloved Amodeo

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/861370#Comment_861370

Thank you,

Robert, BillS, Denise, mab, Mark, and Joe for your range of comments. May you all be blessed for sowing into the life of a fellow servant of the Lord. I glean from your comments that my son is getting the best preparation and that is practical experience.

He is working as the audio visual pastor in a growing church nearby while he attends seminary. His bachelors degree is in photography and he has learned some front end design as an undergrad.

He has organized a bible study for his small community of students close to the seminary. This is his first year in seminary and he has begun very well. He tells me he has "aced" all of his tests save one that he just took in Greek. He cites illness as a reason for his under performance. Prayer for the Father's provision is my focus for him and for his siblings.

Good information (knowledge) under girds prayer. So, thanks once again for your comments.

Kevin A. Purcell

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/861413#Comment_861413

Let me recommend that instead of taking a CS course in college, get a Lynda.com subscription. It is about the same cost as a class over a year's time or less, but you can get skill training at an in depth level on hundreds of skills from computer programming, to office apps, to photo/video editing etc.