While “going to seminary” isn’t a panacea for all the needs and desires of the aspiring Christian leader, there are benefits to be gained.
The depth of subject-matter knowledge that a seminary professor has within their area of focus will far exceed that of your average pastor or teacher. Even a pastor who is a diligent student of the Scriptures will likely be too busy with other church work to be able to keep up with all the latest research in a the field of Biblical Studies. There is much that can be learned from studied men who devote themselves to mastery of a subject.
Most seminaries also bring together students from diverse backgrounds and even various denominations. Learning with others who have different perspectives on things can be a very helpful element in the process.
Completing a prescribed program of study in a seminary also helps to eliminate potential “blind spots” in a leader’s personal theology. We naturally tend to gravitate towards learning more about those things that interest us, but there are some things that are just good to know, regardless of whether we find them particularly intriguing or not.
Lastly, there is the issue of credentialing. Some Christian organizations actually require advanced degrees of would-be pastors/leaders. In other contexts, while degrees may not be actually required by any governing body, they do lend additional credibility to those who have them. We still live in a society where people understand the work it takes to get advanced degrees and tend to give extra respect to those who have done the work to get them. Sure, you can learn a lot on your own, and yes the degree is “a piece of paper”, but it’s a piece of paper that can make a big difference in some situations.
As a part-time seminary student and full-time minister of the Gospel, I think seminary education can be helpful under some circumstances, but it’s simply not right for everyone, and it’s something that must be weighed against other priorities (dare I say more important priorities?) in life. Each person should evaluate exactly what they intend to get out of it, not just go in blindly with big expectations.
Even if you think it is the right thing at the right time for you to pursue a seminary education do so intentionally and with discernment. Be realistic about what you are going to learn at a seminary. You can pick up some tools there, but don’t expect to learn everything you ever needed to know about ministry through a seminary. If you do, you will surely be disappointed.