Teaching: Vocation or Profession?

Vocation is a theological word. It has been defined as a career with a spiritual calling from deep within. It is important that other people recognise and confirm your vocation but ultimately it is something very personal concerned with your core values. It is the sense that God has made you to be a teacher. For more on vocation see the After Sunday, ALove and Christian Vocations websites.

A profession is characterised by public standards to which all members are accountable. There are values and ways of behaving which are expected of everyone. To be accused of 'unprofessional behaviour' is the ultimate insult. In teaching sometimes a small minority will argue that it is unprofessional to want your Christian commitment to shape your work as a teacher. The truth is that the professional teacher is someone who handles their commitment in a responsible and open manner with colleagues and pupils.

The Relationship between a Vocation and a Profession: Three Possible Responses

1. Opposing Professionalism: Some Christians see the professional world as anti-Christian. They regard themselves as subversives who are seeking to undermine the 'secular and godless' education system by being 'insurgents' within the system. They regard being professional as a 'sell out' to the world.
   
   This approach fails to recognise all the really good things that go on in schools and it makes you think of your fellow teachers as the enemy. Schools are some of the most moral and spiritual places children experience. Many Christian teachers hugely admire their colleagues and feel very much at home with them.
   
   
2. Embracing Professionalism as the Norm: Other Christians go to the opposite extreme and treat professional standards as entirely neutral; something that you have to conform to when at work.
   
   This approach fails to recognise the need to change some of the values that professional approaches promote. For example, many Christians feel that, at present, too much value is given to testing and measuring pupils' performance. This response does not allow for appropriate critical assessment of current professional orthodoxy.
   
   
3. Transforming Professionalism: The third approach is to adopt the model of incarnational ministry, to be 'in the world but not of the world'. In this, the Christian celebrates what is good about the current professional standards, whilst challenging that which is thought to be incompatible with Christian standards. The prophet Daniel is a biblical role model of this approach. The aim is to transform professional values through persuading everyone of the value of a Christian approach. This will require great wisdom and sensitivity, particularly when it comes to controversial issues.

It is this third, incarnational approach that is commended by Transforming Lives.

The evidence is that most Christian teachers have to work at the relationship between their vocation and their profession for their entire working life. It is like a good marriage, there is always more to learn which will enhance the relationship. This is to be welcomed because it is an aspect of our being called to be disciples. It is not a burden, but an exciting opportunity to grow as a disciple of Christ.