by Carol Pinkham Oak

The Rev. Dr. Carol Pinkham Oak serves as the rector of St. John's Church in Ellicott City, Maryland. She previously served as associate rector of Christ Church in Alexandria, Virginia, where she oversaw new clergy mentoring as director of the church's Foundations for Spiritual Leadership Program. Dr. Pinkham Oak earned a master of divinity degree from Berkeley Divinity School at Yale University in 1985 and a doctor of ministry degree in leadership development from Seabury Western Seminary in 2003.

This article originally appeared in the Fall, 2006 issue of Congregations Magazine. Reproduced by permission from the Alban Institute.

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Introduction

Two classmates graduate from seminary. Each has done well academically, and received glowing recommendations. Each was affirmed by a field placement parish during the seminary experience. And each performed well amid the challenges of clinical pastoral education. Two classmates, both filled with promise and the potential to be highly effective pastors, transition into their first full-time positions in parish ministry.

Fast-forward 35 years. One of these individuals is retiring after a rich and rewarding career in parish ministry. The other is retiring from a secular career, having left parish ministry within a few years following negative experiences in two parishes.

What happened? Why do some seminary graduates committed to the pastoral life successfully navigate the transition into full-time ministry and others don’t? Why do some pastors flourish while others do not? Why do some parishes seem to have a knack for producing great, young pastors?

It is my conviction that the first two years of full-time parish ministry are the most critical. And my seven years of experience leading the Foundations for Spiritual Leadership program at Christ Church in Alexandria, Virginia—a pilot program funded by Lilly Endowment Inc.—has taught me many lessons about how we can create the conditions for success for new pastors during these formative years.