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In episode 6 of New Geneva Academy's Good Shepherding podcast, Andrew Dionne addresses suffering and the pastoral ministry. Calvin, Spurgeon, and Lloyd-Jones serve as examples of faithful suffering.
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In episode 5 of New Geneva Academy's Good Shepherding podcast, Andrew Dionne addresses effeminacy and pastoral candidacy. A quick look at the practice of Geneva's Company of Pastors rounds out this short episode.
In episode 4 of New Geneva Academy's Good Shepherding podcast, President Andrew Dionne reflects on NGA's logo and the Apostle Paul's exhortation not to be arrogant.
In episode 3 of New Geneva Academy's Good Shepherding podcast, President Andrew Dionne reviews John Chrysostom's life and zooms in on his "Letters to a Fallen Theodore."
In episode 2 of New Geneva Academy's Good Shepherding podcast, President Andrew Dionne interviews Pastors Jody Killingsworth and Phil Moyer on worship music and leading worship effectively in the church.
In our inaugural episode of the Good Shepherding Podcast, President Andrew Dionne sits down with Dean Stephen Baker for a conversation about preparation for the pastoral ministry and the work of ministry.
Dear Friends,
Athletes spend countless hours training to compete. Underwater welders persevere through a rigorous apprenticeship before making the big bucks. Judges spend years clerking before their first gig. For every hour of performance, musicians spend a hundred hours woodshedding in the practice room. It's no different for pastors. Training men to be shepherds of Christ's flock requires difficult intellectual and moral development. Seminaries today think pastors only need their brains filled with knowledge, so they leave off shepherding their students' character and godliness. Other groups lay hands upon a gifted man too quickly and leave off any requirement for serious study. New Geneva Academy has determined to hit the sweet spot of giving full attention to each student's mind and character. Our three-year curriculum develops the student's mind. Here's the view of that curriculum from 40,000 feet in the air. As to the discipleship of our students for their growth in Christian maturity, we work closely with their pastor/mentors. The practica allow our students the kind of apprenticeship that will get their hands dirty in the work of ministry. Exposing them to a variety of work will reveal their strengths and weaknesses. It is precisely at that point that their local mentor can challenge them with hard questions and steady encouragement. The Apostle Paul made sure that Timothy was able to preach the word in season and out of season; he also made sure that Timothy showed godliness. The Apostle, concerned about more than Timothy's facility with the Biblical text, exhorts him to take a little wine for his stomach and frequent ailments (1 Tim. 5:23). Many today would accuse the Apostle Paul of meddling; we call it good discipleship. Nothing about a man's character is off the table when it comes to preparing a man for ministry. The Apostle knew that a man who was good with words but precious when it came to his physical ailments would be a terrible pastor. Thanks for supporting the work of New Geneva Academy. Continue to pray for the success of our grant proposal mentioned in last month's newsletter. Also, pray for God's strength to complete our preparations for the fall semester. Love in Christ, Andrew Dionne, President  Dear Friends, Over the past year, Clearnote Pastors College has been going through a major overhaul. More than just a new coat of paint, we’ve gotten under the hood and swapped out the engine. Let me introduce you to our pastors college 2.0: New Geneva Academy. New Geneva Academy will continue to labor for the reformation of the church by training pastors and elders for ministry. We have long believed that the training of pastors needs to come under the authority and leadership of pastors and elders in local churches and this commitment hasn’t changed. Other things have. Along with a more robust curriculum, the major change we are implementing is making the program available to men via online distance education. The residency requirement has been an important part of our training up to this point, but reformation often requires difficult changes. Much higher education is moving toward distance education and we are convinced it is essential we do the same. It helps that, as we implement this change, all of us have been taken through a crash course on Facebook Live and Zoom due to Coronavirus quarantines. We are committed to implementing this change without losing the most important part of our program which has always been the development of godly character in our students. The mentoring and apprenticeship aspects of our program will be located in the local church. Rather than leaving their congregations and moving to the seminary or pastors college, students will now be able to remain in their congregation, continuing their service there. For our part, we will work to assist pastors and elders in their mentorship of these men. Other details of our new program are on our website (www.newgevenaacademy.com). For example, reformation of church worship is needed more than ever just now, and to that end we will be offering a residential program for men aspiring to be worship pastors. We will also begin to offer officer training for the elders of churches who partner with us. Our leadership has also changed. I have begun to serve as President. Tim Bayly will serve as Vice-President, helping with teaching and our officer training program. Stephen Baker will continue his work as the Dean, developing courses and teaching our three-year curriculum. Ben and Megan Sulser are providing administrative support. Ben is a graduate of our program and a recent licentiate in Evangel Presbytery, and his wife, Megan, has experience in the sort of administrative leadership we need. John Calvin’s work in Geneva is our model for godly shepherding. His sermons and the records of the Company of Pastors in Geneva demonstrate an intense concern for the foundation of all ministry which is pastoral care. With his fellow pastors, Calvin trained many men at the Geneva Academy. These men went on to suffer and die for the reformation of the church in Europe and we ask you to pray that God will bless New Geneva Academy with the same spirit of faith and zeal for the Bride of Christ. Calvin’s work in Geneva has also been the inspiration for our new logo which is inspired by the printer’s mark of Genevan printer Robert Estienne. Among other things, Estienne published the first critical edition of the Greek New Testament and the 1559 edition of Calvin’s Institutes. His mark was an olive tree with new branches grafted into the tree and other older branches lopped off. The Apostle Paul stands under the tree, pointing to the Latin phrase “noli altum sapere” (do not be conceited). This mark, featured prominently on the opening page of the Institutes, is a reference to Romans 11:20: But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off (Rom. 11:17-22). But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off (Rom. 11:17-22).
In our day, higher education, tall-steeple congregations, and urbane pulpiteers have taken over denominational seminaries, suppressing any leadership of a continuing reformation of the church. We desire God to humble us and our students so we may be useful to His Church. By the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit, we ask God to give New Geneva Academy the fruit of humility and fear of the Lord. It is our prayer her graduates will tenderly shepherd the flock, “in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, [showing themselves] an example of those who believe” (1 Tim. 4:12). Would you please join us in this work? We need students. If you are aware of men considering seminary training, please point them in our direction. We are eager to communicate our vision of pastoral training. We also need money. Our total operating budget this year is only $90,000. That includes everything, from web-hosting fees to insurance to salaries. Please consider contributing to NGA either online or by sending your donations to: New Geneva Academy 2401 S. Endwright Rd. Bloomington, IN 47403 We also need prayer. Would you please pray for us? The work of reformation is so needed today. We are asking God to make New Geneva Academy useful to this end. Warmly in Christ, Rev. Dr. Andrew Dionne, President |
AuthorNGA Staff, Administration, & Faculty Archives
May 2021
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