Synod Approves Director of Vocational Formation for Seminary

In his self description, Dr. Geoffrey Vandermolen described himself as “a child of Abba, a husband, and a father.”

The latter was emphasized by a cheering team of family members who shouted their encouragement upon his being introduced to synod, where he was interviewed on Monday evening and approved as director of vocational formation at Calvin Theological Seminary.

Vandermolen said that major changes are taking place in theological education and his office would not be limited to providing services such as summer assignments or preaching engagements, as had been the focus during his seminary tenure.

Defining successful vocational formation now includes giving students a better understanding of what their role in the church will be, he said, and he hopes to help shape changes in the educating of pastors.

While he underscored the need to retain Calvin Seminary’s tradition of having high academic standards, he said that complexities in churches in North America, including Christian Reformed churches, requires more than academic learning.

“It’s a process that requires guidance as well as an awareness of a priority on loving people.”

He said he believes that seminary students are called to use the tools and personality they’ve been given. He’ll help students see and appreciate their gifts, but would place an emphasis on having them listen closely to the prodding of the Holy Spirit in the context of a community of faculty and students.

Vandermolen said there are times when it’s hard to listen, be attentive, and be obedient, He emphasized the need to listen to what Jesus says and then simply be obedient as a follower of Jesus Christ.

Asked what he’d say to a student who said, “My prayer life is dry,” Vandermolen responded, “Welcome to the club,” but added, “We all feel that way. It’s part of following Jesus. I’d encourage him to carry on anyway.”

Vandermolen said he is aware that many seminary students do not receive calls right away upon graduation. There are times that God’s answer is, “No, it’s not for you or not yet,” he said. Or students may not be called to full-time ministry.

Distance learning students will require drastically different ways of learning the meaning of their vocational engagement, he added. “It will require counting on churches and mentors to give us wisdom, and listening to more voices from the students’ lives.”

Vandermolen said he realizes that churches have different expectations, and mismatching does happen. He said the church must learn to let leaders lead and intercessors pray.

He concluded that whatever is done, it must be done in the context of the body of Christ listening to the Holy Spirit.

For continuous coverage of Synod 2016 including the live webcast, news, video recordings, photos, liveblog, social media links, and more visit www.crcna.org/synod.