I sent this message out a few days ago under a different title that didn't really offer much insight. So I'm posting it again, this time with a little more specificity. I'm very interested in a PhD in Christian Spirituality. I've contacted several schools in the UK: Trinity, St. John's, Wales, the Greenwich programme, and a few others there, as well as the Unisa programme and a couple in Australia. When I contacted Oxford earlier about a program, this is what I received: Dear Paul, Thank you for your message. I am afraid I do not know of any graduate degree by Distance Learning in Britain on Christian Spirituality. But I think exactly what you want would be provided by the US Graduate Theological Foundation. Get onto their website, and contact John Morgan, who is a friend and colleague of mine. I am sure this wold be helpful. Yours sincerely, Henry Wansbrough [email protected] Someone kindly directed me to a previous discussion on the subject, and I do appreciate it. But I could not find anything about their accreditation on their site. So, what do you think? Which is the better way to go? It's great to get some imput. Thanks so much. ___________ D.Min. (Erskine Theological Seminary)
I first called GTF a degree mill when I found it some 10 years ago. They have a tight act, couched in academic regalia and ceremonial hoopla, as well as alleged tie-ins with Oxford, so it is harder to spot them as a degree mill than most other programs. Moreover, as far as theological degree mills go, GTF is unusual insofar as it is focused toward so-called main line denominations as opposed to evangelicalism. A few years ago, however, they vindicated my original judgment by seeking and accepting credit from everyone's favorite accreditation mill, the Accrediting Commission International. (There have been may threads on this forum detailing the history and hoopla surrounding ACI.) So what do I think of GTF today? As with most of them, once a mill, always a mill.
Here is the most recent response I received from Oxford this morning: Dear Paul, Thanks for your message. There is no official affiliation between the GTF and Oxford University, but a number of the staff of GTF are also members of the faculty of Oxford. Yours, Henry [email protected]
I think it's important to remember that this does not mean much. Many schools (both legitimate and not legitimate) hold functions at one of the Oxford Colles (like St. Benet's Hall). Even the St. Benet's prospectus says, "It is also possible to arrange to hold other Conferences, Dinners and Receptions (such as Wedding Receptions) at St Benet's (see Conferences)." (A classic example of this is the annual summer workshop in theology and law held at the University of Strasbourg by John Warwick Montgomery. Monty held them through the Simon Greenleaf School of Law, then through Faith Evangelical Lutheran Seminary in Washignton, then through Trinity in Newburgh, Indiana. The latter two, of course, are degree mills.) The statemet that there are shared faculty between Oxford and GTF is also meaningless, since Morgan & Co. can engage any Oxford faculty member who is willing to lead a GTF seminar or workshop.
PFL-- I'd definitely be interested in any helpful guidance you have had on this. I am also interested in a PhD in spirituality, primarily through DL, and with a UK school. What did you find out through St. John's? Wales? If you wouldn't mind, please email me at [email protected] I'd love to hear from you, Chris
Apparently the individuals that responded negatively about The Graduate Theological Foundation don't know much about the program. I is an excellent program. I am a United Methodist Pastor and the church has given scholarships to ministers who do academic programs cooperatively with GTS. Not to mention the faculty of several colleges who have credentials from GTS. A few of those links are: www.malloy.edu www.nwc.edua. www.notredamecollege.edu www.austinseminary.edu www.riceschool.org www.heeston.edu also, Oblate School of Theology, and a host of fully accredited seminaries. True enough, GTS examined ACI Accrediting Commission Int., but broke all conversations with them. The school came to the conclusion that ACI would be a waste of time. Grace and Peace, Louis J.
OK, Louis, now that we've established that you type like I does, here are some legitimate questions which will help everybody assess the school you represent. 1) You have listed GTF grads teaching at several reputable schools. Were they hired on the strength of their GTF degrees? Did they obtain their GTF degrees after being hired? Are the hiring schools aware that GTF is not accredited? 2) Are students, not to mention the hiring institutions you listed, aware that GTF is at but not of Oxford? 3) It is not at all unusual--or wrong, IMHO--for faculty at "brick and mortar" institutions to moonlight as adjuncts for DL schools, whether those schools are good, bad, or indifferent. Do you believe that these adjuncts carry with them into GTF the quality of their "day job" institutions? Can this be verified? 4) How does GTF, in the absence of accreditation, maintain quality control? 5) You mentioned that your denomination "has given scholarships to ministers who do academic programs cooperatively with GTS". That sounds different from just plain giving scholarships to attend GTS. Can you explain? Is GTS officially endorsed by your denomination? (IIRC, it has an Academic Senate which handles school endorsements; please correct me if that recollection is mistaken). Let me assure you that these questions are asked sine ira et studio. I do have the highest regard for Dr Levicoff. My own denomination's seminary is also unaccredited. My initial reaction to the many ads I have seen for GTF is that it serves as a way for mainline clergy to claim the spiffiness of an "Oxford" degree without exactly getting an Oxford degree. Whether GTF itself, reflected and unauthorized glory aside, is any good, I don't know. I look forward to any information you can share.
I appreciate your comments and questions. I should make it clear that I don't represent GTF, I am doing core courses at the University Of Dayton that will go towards my GTS degree. To answer a few of your questions... Of course the schools that hired GTF graduates know that the school is not Reg. A. Most people involved in academics have access to the list of schools that are accredited. But if you view a GTF trascript it has the school where the core courses were completed. These schools have to hold Reg. A. One good example is United Methodist Position that was recently filled on the national church level (racial concerns dept.) They did take into consideration that he held a doctoral degree from GTF. It is not endorsed by the UMC Senate. There are only about 17 seminaries that are endorsed. The petition for endorsement is initiated by the school. They have to have a certain percentage of women and minorities on the staff and enrolled as students. They must also have Wesleyan courses, and they are generally not close to UM seminaries. It is a fact that a reputable faculty brrings credibility to the institution. Just for information, you don't always have to attend a seminary endorsed by the UMC Senate to be ordained. If the school is not endorsed, your conference board of ordination would have to get permission to accept the person. It is done very often.
