Law school. Right as I was making the decision, two events affected me. One was the Masachusetts Supreme Court decision, which cemented in my mind how much we need Christian lawyers. The other was how I found myself defending my interest in seminary to people from my denomination. I knew there wouldnt be support for a pastoral ministry for me there, and I wasn't yet fully involved in another denomination. (I've since gotten involved in a Baptist church.)
Or are they just against formal training/education?
They distrust it.
According to their model, I should be establishing myself in a career, and studying the Bible on my own and being mentored by older men in the church. That should be sufficient to prepare me for the ministry, because God didn't establish seminaries in the New Testament church, he established the local church.
Needless to say, I did not and do not agree.
Sounds like you are heading the right direction.
Needless to say, I did not and do not agree.
Well, the lack of a seminary degree seemed to work quite well for the disciples on their way to turning the world upside down.
I have no problem with seeking and/or receiving more education but, from what I've seen and heard, seminaries put out more disciples of the denominations that created them than genuine, Christ-like diciples.
In addition, don't be deceived in thinking that a "formal education" is of more benefit than a "normal education" (i.e., as in life) because it's interesting that the Jewish council took note of the lack of formal education that Peter, et al, had and were stumped as to the impact they were making. However, the same council also realized that the disciples had "been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13), that is "normal education."
Mentoring worked for the disciples then and it works even today.