A follow-up study of Central Philippine University seminary graduates from 1950 to 1970 with emphasis on their length of service in church and church-related institutions in relation to recruitment patterns and other factors

Abstract

In the book of the prophet Isaiah is inscribed the passage, "How beautiful upon the Mountains are the feet of him who brings good tidings, who publishes peace, who brings good tidings of good, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, ’Your God reigns.’"

These lines inspired the researcher to beat his way into the world of pastors and workers, especially those who have graduated from the College of Theology, Central Philippine University. These words have instilled in the researcher a deeper appreciation of church workers and a desire to study their responses to work opportunities following their graduation.

As far as the researcher has ascertained, there has not been any formal follow-up study conducted on the seminary graduates of Central Philippine University. There was an article written about the graduates published in the "Shalom," entitled: "Where They Are Now." However, such an article does not provide adequate or substantial information about the graduates. At any rate, should there be any study conducted along this line which the researcher has no knowledge of, it is probable that other studies involve other factors and different combinations of such factors.

Statement of the problem

The purpose of this study was to find out some patterns of recruiting students for the College of Theology, and to analyze the relationship between such recruitment patterns and the length of service the seminary graduates render in church or church-related institutions.

This study also aimed to discover the relationships between length of service and age; length of service and sex; length of service and attitude toward preaching.

The following subproblems were stated:

1. What are the patterns of recruiting students for the College of Theology from 1950-1970 and what is the relationship between these patterns of recruitment and the length of service the seminary graduates render in church or church-related institutions?

2. Does the age of a seminary student when he first enters the College of Theology have any relation to the length of service he renders in church or church-related institutions?

3. Is there any relationship between sex and the length of service a seminary student renders in church or church-related institutions?