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Pastors with Doctor's Degrees

Discussion in '2003 Archive' started by DeafChristian, Jul 6, 2003.

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  1. DeafChristian

    DeafChristian Guest

    Dr. Bob, what kind of doctor's degree do you have?

    One of my favorite uncles has a Doctor of Divinity degree. He specializes in the New Testament, he preached in several churches, taught in Baptist seminaries, and he's also a good writer. He also visited the Holy Land with his students a couple of times (before this war broke out). He currently teaches at Gardner-Webb University in North Carolina and is a Dean there. [​IMG] One of his books is "Where Jesus Walked: A Spiritual Journey Through the Holy Land" (ISBN: 0817013903). He is also mentioned in the Biblical Recorder.
    Anyone ever heard of Dr. Robert Wayne Stacy, since this is a Baptist forum? [​IMG]

    Nancy
     
    #1 DeafChristian, Jul 6, 2003
  2. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    A "Doctor of Divinity" is one of a number of honorary degrees that college or universities may bestow on worthy (and sometimes not so worthy) recipients. It was designed to "reward" those who did not finish an academic course, but spent 20-30 years in ministry and "earned" it through contribution to the church in actual ministry.

    Sadly, today, many pastors are getting/giving these like candy, to cronies, pals, big contributors, etc. John Doe has a "college" in his church (20 people taking night classes in what we USED to say was a Bible Institute) and gives 5 of his buddies honorary doctorates. They in turn give him one back. Have you ever looked at the Sword of the Lord list of pastors and churches and seen so many "doctors"? Probably 95% are honorary or diploma mill.

    I taught at Pillsbury BBC and they made the decision NOT to grant any more "honorary" degrees because of the abuses in ifb circles.
     
    #2 Dr. Bob, Jul 6, 2003
  3. DeafChristian

    DeafChristian Guest

    That is interesting to know, Dr. Bob. [​IMG] My uncle was an alumni of Palm Beach Atlantic University (a Christian institution), and I think he also have a Master's Degree in Divinity. I do know he studied a lot about the Bible and went to classes to get his academic credits on English and New Testament courses. Mom told me once that he succeeds in everything he does. [​IMG] So, he never dropped out of classes or even not complete one course...so his is obviously not an honorary degree. He taught in Kentucky (and pastored there too), Missouri, Florida, and North Carolina in seminaries. [​IMG]
    I will ask him if they do that in his University or at the university where he graduated with a Doctor's degree. [​IMG] I like to know what he says about "honorary" Doctor's Degrees. [​IMG]

    Nancy
     
    #3 DeafChristian, Jul 6, 2003
  4. DeafChristian

    DeafChristian Guest

    That is interesting to know, Dr. Bob. [​IMG] My uncle was an alumni of Palm Beach Atlantic University (a Christian institution), and I think he also have a Master's Degree in Divinity. I do know he studied a lot about the Bible and went to classes to get his academic credits on English and New Testament courses. Mom told me once that he succeeds in everything he does. [​IMG] So, he never dropped out of classes or even not complete one course...so his is obviously not an honorary degree. He taught in Kentucky (and pastored there too), Missouri, Florida, and North Carolina in seminaries. [​IMG]
    I will ask him if they do that in his University or at the university where he graduated with a Doctor's degree. [​IMG] I like to know what he says about "honorary" Doctor's Degrees. [​IMG]

    Nancy
     
    #4 DeafChristian, Jul 6, 2003
  5. Tim

    Tim New Member

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    Dr. Bob,

    Way to go in foregoing those honorary doctorates!
    I've always considered them to have become a sort of "good-old-boys" network of mutual back patting. It diminishes the hard work of those who actually got the degrees.
     
    #5 Tim, Jul 6, 2003
  6. DeafChristian

    DeafChristian Guest

    I asked my mother about Uncle Wayne's Doctor of Divinity...if his is an "honorary" degree. Mom said, "Oh no, Wayne earned his...he went to school for 7 years to get it." So Uncle Wayne's degree is real, NOT an honorary degree. I told her what you said about honorary degrees, and she said there are people out there who was just "given" an honorary degree, but Wayne EARNED his.
    I am very proud of Uncle Wayne for his earned Doctorate. [​IMG] He's obviously a very knowledgable guy on the Bible and has taught seminaries for a long time, and even valued his education. [​IMG]
    He's also my first choice to preach on my funeral, if I ever get a will made up in the future. [​IMG]

    Nancy
     
    #6 DeafChristian, Jul 6, 2003
  7. blackbird

    blackbird Active Member

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    I enrolled and was accepted into the Luther Rice Seminary's Doctoral School---took my first class and had to resign in order to better care for my ailing mother at the time. My heart just couldn't get into the work--maybe one day soon I will reenroll and get on through with it! Pray for me!

    Blackbird
     
    #7 blackbird, Jul 6, 2003
  8. TaterTot

    TaterTot Guest

    My husband is a pastor and about halfway finished with a PhD. (Doctor of Philosophy)in Greek and New Testament. I know schools with a Doctor of Ministry degree, but it isnt a research doctorate (meaning they do more hands-on, practical ministry type things as opposed to lots of research, study, and writing)
     
    #8 TaterTot, Jul 6, 2003
  9. Major B

    Major B <img src=/6069.jpg>

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    He might have an earned ThD, PhD or D.Min, but unless he is verrrrry old, he does not have an earned D.D. No non-catholic schools have granted earned DDs for a very long time--around 80-100 years, I think. Dr Bob, do you have a better date?

    [ July 06, 2003, 11:47 PM: Message edited by: Major B ]
     
    #9 Major B, Jul 6, 2003
  10. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    Have never heard of an "earned" D.D. Just isn't done. Number of other "honorary" doctorates such as Doctor of Humane Letters, Doctor of Sacred Theology.

    Earned doctorates - 100 credits ABOVE an earned Masters degree - could include</font>
    • D.Min. (Doctor of Ministries) which is a professional degree for pastors/counselors and NOT a teaching degree</font>
    • Ed.D. (Doctor of Education) which can have a major concentration in variety of studies</font>
    • Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) which can concentrate in NT, OT, languages, church history</font>
    • Th.D. (Doctor of Theology) the "premier" earned degree in the queen of philosophies</font>
    While I have been thrust into more teaching in recent years, my main degree is in pastoral ministries as I was a pastor for 25 of my 33 years in ministry.
     
    #10 Dr. Bob, Jul 7, 2003
  11. Haruo

    Haruo New Member

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    For what it's worth, my dad had a BD (essentially the same as what is now called an MDiv, i.e. about three years of seminary after a BA or BS from a 4-year college), and he also had an STM, which he earned at Andover Newton Theological School after getting his BD at Berkeley Baptist Divinity School (now American Baptist Seminary of the West).

    My mom had an MSW. Interestingly, I never knew my dad had a master's till after his death, whereas my mother's master's degree was common knowledge. Not sure if I wasn't told, or just couldn't handle the knowledge that my dad was as credentialed as my mom (in our family the women have tended to have more education; both of my grandmothers were college graduates, both of my grandfathers high-school dropouts).

    Haruo

    Glossary:
    </font>
    • BD = Bachelor of Divinity</font>
    • BA = Bachelor of Arts</font>
    • BS = Bachelor of Science</font>
    • MDiv = Master's in Divinity</font>
    • STM = Master of Sacred Theology [Sacrae Theologiae Magister in Latin]</font>
    • MSW = Master of Social Work</font>
     
    #11 Haruo, Jul 7, 2003
  12. DeafChristian

    DeafChristian Guest

    He might have an earned ThD, PhD or D.Min, but unless he is verrrrry old, he does not have an earned D.D. No non-catholic schools have granted earned DDs for a very long time--around 80-100 years, I think. Dr Bob, do you have a better date? [/QB][/QUOTE]

    I know I said Doctor of Divinity but I wasn't sure....so you may be right, Major B. [​IMG] I'll find out what my uncle's doctorate degree he earned after 7 years in school....a ThD, PhD, or D.Min. No, he is NOT verrrrrry old. [​IMG] He's in his 50s but he looks very good for his age! [​IMG]
    Thanks for clarifying that, Major B. [​IMG]

    Nancy
     
    #12 DeafChristian, Jul 7, 2003
  13. Maverick

    Maverick Member

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    Of all the Bible/Theology Docs in my very accredited first bible college only two had other than honorary degrees, if I remember correctly. At the most 4. The non-bible folks had "traditional" degrees.

    I am a firm believer that you will always learn more from experience and self-motivated study than you ever will in a college. Shucks, most of the things I have experienced and learned in the school of hard knocks were never taught or even mentioned in college.

    I'll take one experienced man, whether he has a DD or nothing over ten book learned men any day especially in this day and time.
     
    #13 Maverick, Jul 7, 2003
  14. Tim

    Tim New Member

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    Practical schooling by hard knocks is surely the most valuable kind of learning--but there's no need to add an unearned honorary degree onto it, just so folks will call you "Dr.". It reminds me of the Pharisees who loved to be called "Rabbi".
     
    #14 Tim, Jul 7, 2003
  15. Hardsheller

    Hardsheller Active Member
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    Doctors in the pulpit are like Doctors in the clinic. There are a few good ones, a lot of average ones, and a few you wouldn't take your dog to.

    But in the real world they get first choice at the biggest churches! :rolleyes:
     
    #15 Hardsheller, Jul 7, 2003
  16. rhoneycutt

    rhoneycutt New Member

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    Hi Nancy,

    I have met your Uncle on a couple of occasions, and have heard him preach many times. He was pastor at FBC Raleigh I believe.

    I am fairly certain he has an MDIV & Ph.D from Southern Seminary. He was also on faculty at Midwestern Seminary for a while I think.

    Russell
     
    #16 rhoneycutt, Jul 15, 2003
  17. John Wells

    John Wells New Member

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    rhoneycutt,

    Sorry to crash this discussion, but I thought the BB community should know what kind of a person you really are. Found this on the "Thinking Baptists" website by you! [​IMG] :
    You know gossip and name calling of a vile nature like this by a confessed "Christian" is disturbing. Posting of PMs (though I have nothing to hide or be ashamed of) is unethical, but I doubt that will stop you! [​IMG] You are in my prayers Russell!
     
    #17 John Wells, Jul 15, 2003
  18. DeafChristian

    DeafChristian Guest

    Hi Russell!!
    So you met my Uncle Wayne! [​IMG] Yes, he is the one who was on faculty at Midwestern Seminary for a while in Kansas City, MO. [​IMG] I visited him in MO. once during a vacation and saw the seminary he taught in. [​IMG] I also saw the Truman Library there too. [​IMG]
    Yes, he was a pastor at FBC Raleigh. [​IMG] He also preached in Stuart, Florida at a Baptist church for a couple of years. [​IMG] He's now a Dean at Gardner-Webb University. [​IMG]
    I am glad to see that someone knows him in this forum! [​IMG]

    Nancy
     
    #18 DeafChristian, Jul 15, 2003
  19. Speedpass

    Speedpass Active Member
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    Isn't he the dean of Gardner-Webb's divinity school? I believe that I met him last May when visiting there.
     
    #19 Speedpass, Jul 15, 2003
  20. Clint Kritzer

    Clint Kritzer Active Member
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    If a member wishes to not receive PM's from another specific member, they can simply go to the offender's profile and click the "Add to Your Ignore List" link at the bottom right of the main table.

    Good to see you back around on a more consistent basis, Brother John. It's been a while.
     
    #20 Clint Kritzer, Jul 16, 2003
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