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Dr. Mensah, is seminary still worth it in 2025?

For some pastors, absolutely. For others, it may not be the most strategic use of time and resources. The question is not whether seminary is valuable in theory — it is whether it is the right fit for your context, calling, and stage of ministry.

What does seminary do well?

At its best, seminary provides two things nothing else can fully replicate: time to think deeply, and a community of serious thinkers to think with. The friendships formed in seminary sustain pastors for decades.

What does it do poorly?

It often trains pastors for churches that don't exist anymore. The curriculum can lag behind the realities of ministry by a generation. And the debt burden can be crippling for pastors in smaller congregations.

What would you recommend to a 25-year-old sensing a call to ministry?

Find a healthy church with a strong senior pastor and ask to apprentice there. Do formal study alongside it if you can. But do not wait for a degree to start doing ministry. Get your hands dirty first. The classroom will make more sense when you have context for the questions.