Comments on: Spanish Inquisition…Presbyterian Style

By: Mr. Locke’s Classroom » PresbyMEME 5

Mr. Locke’s Classroom » PresbyMEME 5 — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 23:17:34 +0000

[...] my finances, my eating habits, my sex life, my parents, my bowel movements, all so I can pass a psychological evaluation that qualifies me to INQUIRE about going into ordained ministry???? WTFWJD??? Probably not pursue [...]

By: Mr. Locke’s Classroom » Naked Brutal Honesty

Mr. Locke’s Classroom » Naked Brutal Honesty — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 02:19:11 +0000

[...] Brutal Honesty January 9th, 2008 by Neal Locke You may remember me ranting about a psychological evaluation I had to undergo a few weeks ago, as part of my journey to become an ordained Presbyterian [...]

By: Adam

Adam — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 13:23:24 +0000

Oh yes. How fun my experience was as well. Mine lasted 2 days at the Northeast Career and Counseling Center. Granted, you may think yours is bad – but I am glad that you are being spared the NECC version of the pscyh-eval. Every guy (including myself) who I know who has gone through there has ended up getting the same “analysis” – we all needed two years of intensive psychodynamic psychotherapy in a group with a male counselor, and then another year of intensive individual psychotherapy with a male counselor.

It was almost humorous how many people ended up with that.

The questions are ridiculous, but the nice thing is that you can re-use it for CPE or other times where you have to answer similar questions throughout seminary. Not the “interest in sex” part, per se, but other parts probably, family of origin stuff, etc.

It sucks dude – I wrote a TON, way over 20 pgs of material for my psych eval. And my CPM has never mentioned one thing about it – like it never even happened. Makes me really wonder about the point of it.

By: Paul Dubuc

Paul Dubuc — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 05:29:02 +0000

I’ve been an active member of a PCUSA church for over 20 years. I’m a part time seminary student (not at a Presby seminary). It’s stuff like this that turned me off to seeking ordained ministry in the PCUSA a long time ago. I’m convinced that the PCUSA doesn’t really want people like me. What kind of people are they selecting for here? I wonder, why does anyone put up with it? Could this be a sign that we don’t belong in this denomination?

By: Neal Locke

Neal Locke — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 23:12:17 +0000

Ha! Neither did I!

[sound of whip cracking in the background...]

By: Sparky

Sparky — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 20:10:23 +0000

I’d love a chance to meet up with you in Dallas! I’ll email you later with the particulars of when I’ll be there.

For now, I have to get back to my Autobiographical Questionnaire, which I did not complete last Friday.

By: Neal Locke

Neal Locke — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 06:11:57 +0000

@ Sparky — you rock! And yes, solidarity. In fact, if you’re up in Dallas for your shrink visit, let’s have lunch!

Also, I find it ironic that a lot of burnt-out pastors who leave the ministry behind seem to go into what field??? Yep, psychological counseling. Either that or they move up the ranks into presbytery/denominational leadership. Grrrrr….