Such factors may be the family's role in the congregation or status in the community, the minister's hobbies and use of time, or theological differences. At the beginning of this article I noted what seminaries and governing bodies are doing to help seminary graduates make a smooth transition to the pastoral vocation. Our seminaries are unable to do much more in their three-year M.Div. degree programs. Most seminary students are in their mid-30s, have come from vocations which did not prepare them for theological studies, have families, and want to complete ordination requirements as soon as possible. Given the rapid expansion of knowledge in every field related to ministry and the complexity of the pastor's work, seminaries find it increasingly difficult to do all they would like to do to educate pastors.
Presbyteries also have limitations.
One limitation is money, for even a simple mentoring program requires some time and money. Perhaps the lack of time is the greater limitation. Leadership for a presbytery program must come from interested lay persons and experienced pastors who are already over-committed to good and necessary projects. Effective programs require considerable time for planning and for location of resources to meet the needs the young ministers bring to the surface. No entirely satisfactory answer to this question has emerged.