World Class Evangelical Seminaries

Do you mean that Southern is not that rigorous or that other SBC schools are not rigorous.

I agree that the other SBC schools are not rigorous...Southern definitely is.

 

JC,

Right. Other SBC seminaries cast doubt on SBTS because of guilt by association. SBTS would be my first choice if I were seeking to serve in SBC circles.

Otherwise, TEDS is my first choice. Gordon-Conwell for serving in the NE. Talbot Theological Seminary out west.

 

By your definition, how can you place Central, Detroit, Faith, Calvary on any list?

Narrow, sectarian, legalistic, separatistic, etc. They serve only their slice of the kingdom and are mostly inbred.

I went to school with Dave Doran at BJU.

 

#1) Gordon-Conwell: Reccommended as the number one choice by the professer who has most influeced my theology and overall trust in Jesus, Scott Hafemann, with the new bonus that now Hafemann teaches there himself!

#2) Southern Baptist Theological Seminary: Solidly baptist and reformed (little r), and include Ware, Nettles, and my second favorite teacher, Schreiner.

#3) Trinity: Great School, but I used to live near Chicago and it is too cold!

#4) Dallas: Good school. Would make my father-in-law very happy since he is a stuanch tradional dispensationalist (probably would be very unhappy with the move towards progressive dispensationalism).

#5) Westminister: Very rigerous, especially in the language requirements and emphesis which I am a big fan. But the education is pretty uniform around the W-Confession; and I think you even need to sign off on it to graduate (not sure about that last part), and lets face it, I'M A BAPTIST.

 

Although I am admittedly biased (as a current student), I think in future years we'll have Southern Evangelical Seminary on the list. It has only been around about 15 years, and has not yet graduated many people, so I don't expect it to be on anyone's list yet. But as far as I know, there are no seminaries dealing heavily with the topics of apologetics and philosophy, which is why the modern church is in most of the messes that we're in. I think you'll see it grow tremendously, and the graduates will show themselves approved.

I've known several people who were graduates of Dallas, and it's a first-class, very good school.

 

Just curious. How many Gordon-Conwell pastors have you actually met? I've met dozens and have been thoroughly impressed with them.

 

I appreciate the rigorous bible and sys theo sequence that I rec'd at TEDS. I'm now really committed to expository preaching which I learned there.

 

as a very biased voter DTS would be on the top of the list (this is coming from a current student who is not a dispensationalist - but is leaning that way). i also find it interesting that no one on this thread has completly bashed DTS - which i hear a lot of from some "good ol' baptists." although i did see a few jabs at my school...

There are a few baptist seminaries that i like and would not be opposed to going to. as i am currently considering phd work, i am looking into seminaries again...and i'm having trouble finding many baptist seminaries who offer the degree i want and who are more concerned about teaching and preparing the students than about baptist politics.

 

I think everyone (or at least almost everyone) posting to this forum appreciates the rigor and emphasis upon exegesis for which DTS is noted, regardless of our views of dispensationalism.

Concerning Baptist seminaries and Baptist politics, your statement strikes me more a caricature than fact. I can speak experientially concerning SBTS. Students are, to some extent, aware of SBC politics, but it hardly ever came up in classes while I was there (1996-2002). Back in the 1980s and early- to mid-90s, I suspect it was more of an issue because the direction of SBC politics impacted the direction of SBC seminaries. If you are really serious about PhD work, I would encourage you to check into SBTS.

Blessings,
Bill

 

if you will notice my statement about baptist seminaries, my first requirement is for them to offer the type of degree i want. that requirement knocks some semiaries (such as golden gate) off my list, even though i happen to like that particular seminary.

my comment about politics comes after talking to many people from several baptist seminaries that are very political. many of them told me that they were just "hanging in there" in spite of the politics because they were so close to graduation.

also i have been working in the "baptist world" for over 5 years (and i don't mean the local church level) and through that i have learned a lot about what seminaries are political. i have not heard anything about sbts either good or bad and as such it is still on my list.

 

When I was in seminary the best professors told su to read books we would nto agree with. Graduate work is not about reinforcing what you think you already know but about being challenged by those who do not agree with you. If you are not challenged, then you will not be very prepared for ministry and those who may oppose you. I know many who went to DTS, Talbot and MacArthur's seminary who walk away feeling like they know their stuff until someone gives them a good challenge. Most of the time I just hear them repeat what they were told in seminary. That does not require much study or thinking.

 

Agreed. I agree with you....it is important for the student to learn the views of others so that one can defend his own view, and come to a better knowlege of the truth. But there is a difference between learning why the false views are false, and learning the false views. If a professor merely challenges a student to read those with which we disagree, but never teaches us why the false views are false, then I think there can be a problem. In our postmodern culture, there is a danger of people thinking that everyone's view is equally correct just because they're sincere.

 

If I were doing it again, I would do Dallas Theological Seminary.

 

To be a "world class" seminary would seem to require a broader scope of evangelical viewpoints than DTS encompasses.

TEDS has to win hands down!

 

One thing that I don't get about DTS is that they require a psychological test of all Ph.D. applicants and their spouses. What is up with that?

BJ