NATCHEZ — In rural communities, it is not unusual for small churches to be led by pastors who have no theological training, said Dennis Flach, adjunct professor of the Baptist Theological Seminary of Jackson.

Flach, originally of Jackson, has been in Natchez since 1996 when he said he moved to the city at the invitation of a core group to start New Covenant Presbyterian Church where he remained until stepping down in 2015.

“For me, as a calling,” Flach said, “I believe my work was complete there. … it was a wonderful experience all along as I look back at it. It was unique, trying, but overall there was a sense of completion, ‘I’ve done my part. It’s time for someone else to step in. Bring fresh ideas.’”

Flach said his entry to the ministry came at midlife after he had been a teacher, with a 1972 master’s degree in special education from LSU.

Flach said after being a special education teacher for several years, he decided to go to the Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson where he eventually earned his master’s of divinity in 1993 and has been in the ministry ever since.

While at the Reformed Seminary, Flach said he first met the Rev. John Scott of Christian Hope Church in Natchez.

“John is my very closest pastoral friend in Natchez,” Flach said. “He had the vision of offering seminary and pastoral programs in Natchez.”

Because many rural church leaders lack theological training, Flach said, Scott developed a partnership with Baptist Theological Seminary of Jackson approximately 10 years ago to offer seminary classes at Christian Hope Church. Flach said he has been involved with the seminary for seven or eight years.

Baptist Theological Seminary, Flach said, is a predominantly black seminary but is open to all people of all denominations.

The Natchez Baptist Theological seminary location, Flach said, is primarily for people who are already in pastor positions but have no theological training. But the seminary also is open to any layperson or church leaders.

“We’ve found people right out of the pews participating,” Flach said.

Former students have included deacons, elders and board members of churches, he said.

Formal training is important for anyone who is teaching the Bible, Flach said.

“There is a sense in many Christian camps that to be called to the ministry presumes a preparation for the ministry that is usually borne out through more formal training,” Flach said, including original languages of Greek and Hebrew. “It is very beneficial to have those experiences and tools.”

He said studying biblical text in the original language could give deeper insight into the intent of the biblical writers, such as Paul or Peter.

Furthermore, formal theological training, Flach said, can help leaders manage the church and training of other people.

Fall classes, he said, include Old Testament Survey I, Church History, Church, Administration I, Pauline Letters, English Comp I, and will begin soon at the Baptist Theological Seminary of Natchez. Registration is Aug. 20 through Sept. 17.

More details are available by calling the Natchez campus at 601-445-5995, 601-446-7067 or 601-431-4386.