For several years I have been stuck. I have been trapped by a dilemma 
that seemed to have no solution, but now one has appeared. The dilemma is this: how can I continue in pastoral ministry while at the same time pursuing an academic degree in systematic theology when there are no schools close by to me that offer such a degree?
The issue of a school being nearby is crucial to me since I do not wish to relocate near a school and leave my present ministry. You see, doctoral programs require a thing called residency; you must physically live near the school in order to participate in traditional classes, engage with a community in scholarly pursuits and, not of least importance, help the school maintain its accreditation. Accreditors, it seems, require residency in research-oriented doctoral programs. In practial doctorate programs, such as the D.Min., residency is usually limited to a few weeks a year, in contrast to several years for a Ph.D. or Th.D.
So one solution for folks like me is to seek out a solid, credible, but not accredited doctoral program that can be completed without residency. Now, there are few schools that provide a high-quality doctoral program in theology. One excellent unaccredited school is Columbia Evangelical Seminary. This school provides a quality Th.D. program that is truly respectable and fits the needs of many people, and does so at a great price. But if one needs a degree from an accredited school to qualify for teaching, etc. at an accredited school, a degree from an unaccredited school will not suffice.
So what to do? If you don't want to or cannot relocate to go to school, is there another option? Yes, there is. The answer is distance learning through one of the strong schools in South Africa. There are several strong, fully-accredited, academically sound universities and at least one private seminary that can help: The University of South Africa, University of Stellenbosch, University of the Free State, University of Pretoria, and others.
My choice is the South African Theological Seminary (SATS), a relatively
new and private school that is fully accredited and academically strong. SATS offers a Doctor of Theology degree (the theological equivalent of a Ph.D.) that requires no residency. All the work is done via a mentor, dissertation committe, etc. Thank God for the internet! And while the cost is more than doing a D.Th. through one of South Africa's state-supported schools, the difference is worth it because it is a firmly evangelical school. I have been "provisionally accepted" into their program. I can begin once I send them the first year's tuition.
Are doctorates from South Africa finding good acceptance here in the U.S.? Check out DegreeDiscussion.com for a thoughts on this. The acceptance appears to be growing based on the quality work of some who hold them. Sure, it can be argued that it is best for one's career to relocate and attend a school at home, but when the choice appears to be between a quality doctoral program via distance learning and no doctoral program at all, the choice is clear.
I'd love to hear from others who have experience with one of the South African schools in the fields of either biblical studies or theology. What has been your experience?
Recent Comments