Which seminary is best if I want to stay in academia?

If you can afford the best, then go for the best, but I wished I had gone to SBTS.

 

Hi habeoChristum,

I know Rhetorician gets tired of me saying this, but listen to him. He knows what he is talking about. When I started looking around to do my second MA I was thinking about a Church History MA. It was Rhetorician who first told me that a secular MA in History may do more for me. I prayed about it, talked with others, and then went forward with a secular MA in History. I say "secular" because it is not a religious school. Anyway because of that degree, and a professor at that university, I am now an adjunct history instructor. Not only that, I will probably be fulltime at one of my schools soon. The LORD has blessed and He used the advice Rhetorician first gave me. Nobody is perfect and therefore no advice will be perfect. However I would say that you should prayerfully consider Rhetorician's advice. He knows what he is talking about.

==Going to a conservative seminary would not keep you out of a PhD program at Duke. However since you are looking at an academic career I would suggest that you look to conservative schools that are much more academic in nature. That is why I suggested Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. It has a very good reputation in the academic community. In the MA vs. MDiv department, it depends upon the requirements of your PhD program. If an MDiv is required then you need to go that route, if not go the academic MA route.

Either way, make your decision carefully and prayerfully.

 

Even though I feel like I got a great education from SWBTS with the professors who were there at the time. Almost everyone of them have left and the quality of education has severely decined. It is not at all the same anymore. The president is more interested in a political fight and lavish living than scholarship.

I would recommend Southern Seminary, Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, Regents College in Canada, and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

My personal preference would be TEDS.

I am told by friends of mine that there is an overabundance of professors waiting to teach in seminaries. Get a degree that would allow you teach at a university as an evangelical. There is incredible opportunity. I teach at a univerity in an area not related to theology but have students coming to my office quite often for personal advice.

 

Really? My formation group leaders Dr. Scharf (on sabbatical) and Dr. Crain (current) have D.Min's and are professors.

 

There are many professors across the U.S. in particular fields of study who have a M.A.

The Ph.D. is much better to have than a D.Min. in the academic world. It is highly recognized as a terminal research degree.

 

I know. I am just pointing out to Paul33 that people who took the MDiv/DMin route still have merit. Drs. Scharf and Crain being examples.

 

I really don't mean to hijack the thread, but...

I never really considered the secular realm of academia. Right now I am in the MDiv program at TEDS preparing myself for future ministry. After thinking about it, an evangelical professor has ample opportunities to minister. Let's say someone has an MA from TEDS and gets a PhD from Marquette in Systematic Theology. Who would potentially hire him? I don't know, maybe God's redirecting my path :saint:

 

A PhD in systematic theology might limit you. A secular institution will not offer that kind of curriculum. A PhD in religious studies might be a better option.

 

I believe you are mistaken on getting into DTS Ph.D. program.

http://www.dts.edu/admissions/degrees/doctoral/phd/

They do take M.Div. (or the equivalent, I assume) grads. They do however, add more requirements for this one, than for one who is a Th.M or S.T.M. arrival. But the "higher" level Master's degree is not required.

Ed

 

I am currently getting my credentials to teach English in public schools. I just taught a lesson at the local high school on Jonathan Swifts' "Gulliver's Travels." We discussed deism, evil, sovereignty, freedom, religion, politics, etc. all in one class.

I believe that getting a Ph.D. to teach in a secular university is the route we ought to be advising our best and brightest. The interaction with students is incredible!

 

No doubt. But I bet they got their positions because of who they know and long term service to their denomination and/or institution.

To get hired today with a D.Min and no connections to the school or denomination is virtually impossible. You have to know the right people in the right places.

 

Wow. That was real good e-counsel. Thanks for the well thought out response. I have a lot of praying and soul searching to do before the next semester.

 

Dallas Willard observed his times and redirected his efforts to teaching at the university instead of becoming a pastor. And look at his impact!

I agree that one must write, publish and present.

Also, one must often earn a degree to earn the right to teach even though he may already be qualified. And, as has been stated, one must be marketable. Therefore, the degree may not be the exact focus one wants, but if it gets him in the door, then so be it.

A top tier university degree will allow you to teach at the university and the seminary. Does anyone know, for the sake of arguement, if any one with a seminary Ph.D. is teaching at a secular university?

Blessings! BTW, I do teach as an adjunct at two Christian universities.

 

Yeah I guess youre right. Dr. Crain is heavily involved in the Free church and Dr. Scharf interned under John Stott.

 

First, I am not in academe, at least as of now, but am a farmer, and sometimes taxi driver.

Second, there is an additional 26 hrs, required at DTS, for one accepted with 'only' the M.Div., but no requirement, that I saw, for any "in-between" degree before one can receive the Ph.D..

But thanks for the compliments, anyway, and I am gald to know that you would consider me as a friend.

EdSutton, B.A.; N.D.