Luther Rice Seminary

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by mhl, May 16, 2004.

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  1. mhl

    mhl New Member

    I asked this on another thread concerning Liberty University, now I'm wondering about Luther Rice Seminary. Does anyone have any personal experience with LRS's M.A.M. or M.Div. DL programs? What are the positives and negatives from your perspective about either one or both of these degree programs?

    I appreciate your input! Thanks!

    mhl
     
  2. Guest

    Guest Guest

    I enrolled once and then dropped out so I cannot give any kind of real experience.

    Pros with LRS are that it is fairly well known among Southern Baptists. They have a Bricks & Mortar campus (in fact they require you to come to graduation). They are TRACS accredited (recognized by USDoE & CHEA). In addition they have some fairly well known alumni. These range from Charles Stanley, Stephen Olford, to Dorothy Patterson (wife of SBC former Prez Paige Patterson---she also holds a doctorate from the University of South Africa). LRS is also pretty affordable.

    Negatives. LRS is TRACS accredited. TRACS is a good solid conservative Christian accreditor. I would put them ahead of DETC in terms of National Accreditation. But as you are aware aware...RA is king and in the theological world ATS is king.

    Liberty has a good solid program and is RA, TRACS, and I believe an Associate for ATS.

    Good luck.

    North
     
  3. mhl

    mhl New Member

    North,

    Thanks for your perspective about LRS.

    If you don't mind my asking, why did you drop out of their program after you enrolled? Did it have to do with the TRACS accreditation factor?

    Thanks!

    mhl
     
  4. Guest

    Guest Guest

    No nothing like that. It was family issues. I was only in the first course. It was a required "How to Write at LRS" course (rather dull. Never got far in it. I like LRS for the reasons I mentioned above. I am also a fan of TRACS because it is a conservative Christian Accreditor. They are grwoing and improving all of the time and attracting good schools (including Mars Hill (Dr. Allender) and Norm Giesler's SES).

    North
     
  5. Bill Grover

    Bill Grover New Member

    I've never heard a bad thing about them. Three years ago a TTS prof told me that LR would NOT accept TTS credits.
     
  6. mhl

    mhl New Member

    Bill,

    Thanks for your perspective.

    Obviously, LRS MUST be a good school, since they won't accept Trinity credits! :)

    All kidding aside, I've never heard anything but positives about LRS. If anyone else knows of any negatives, I'd appreciate your sharing them.

    mhl
     
  7. boydston

    boydston New Member

    Luther Rice is one reason I'm not totally ready to write off Trinity. LRS was at one point considered to be a step away from a degree mill. They gave out PhDs and ThDs all too easily. But they have done a good job of cleaning up their act over the past 15 years.

    They are out of the academic doctorate business and are more focused. They are not up to ATS standards -- but I suspect could be, if they wanted to make the effort that direction. Their faculty is a bit light in terms of academic credentials (that doesn't mean they're not good teachers or good scholars -- only that they haven't pursued academic credentials).

    They have a good reputation in Baptist circles and if that's the extent of your sphere of influence it might be a good place for you.

    Personally I like them. They don't try to overstate who they are. They only have four degree programs (that is, they're focused). And they are accessible through distance education. Finances are reasonable (tuition is only $145/s.h.). They have TRACS accreditation so there is outside input.

    I don't think that anyone should be embarrassed about being associated with them.
     
  8. mhl

    mhl New Member

    boydston,

    You stated concerning LRS, "They have a good reputation in Baptist circles and if that's the extent of your sphere of influence it might be a good place for you."

    That's sort of what I'm in the process of trying to figure out -- I don't happen to be Baptist, so I'm not sure how a degree from LRS would fit. I do like their conservative approach to Scripture, so in most ways I would have no problem with them. And I really don't think most of the congregations where I would be preaching would have a problem with LRS either, despite the doctrinal differences.

    If anybody else wants to weigh in on their experiences with LRS, I'd appreciate it!

    mhl
     
  9. pugbelly

    pugbelly New Member

    My pastor attended Luther Rice a while ago...maybe 15 years back. He earned about 60 hours toward his MDiv before dropping out of the program. He said that he was thoroughly unimpressed by the quality of the program. That being said, that was quite a while ago and LRS has REALLY come a long way. In fact, I'm trying to convince my pastor to go back to LRS to finis the MDiv he started!

    Pug
     
  10. SBCMan

    SBCMan New Member

    Greetings,

    I am currently enrolled in the M.Div program at LRS, but I'm taking it slow, just a few courses a year. I have found the courses I have taken to be very beneficial to my ministry. Which, if you are gaining education for ministry will be great, if not, then another school might be better. I have an undergraduate degree from Boyce College and did some work with SBTS. In my opinion, LRS distance classes are about as rigorous as the entry level courses at Southern. The coursework is strictly graded and exams are credibly proctored. The reason I am not moving as fast with them is financial.
     
  11. uncle janko

    uncle janko member

    Hi MHL: What's your tradition?
     
  12. mhl

    mhl New Member

    SBCMan,

    Thanks for the input. I understand about taking it slow with the courses -- I would only be able to afford 3 courses a year myself.

    Hope everything goes well with your M.Div.!

    __________________

    uncle janko,

    I am a member of the Churches of Christ. Because of my background, I've looked into the distance learning programs at Southern Christian (way too expensive!) and Lubbock Christian (Honestly, I don't really want to travel to Lubbock -- way too far!). I may still go with LCU, but at this point I'm not sure. I don't like being away from my family any more than I have to.

    Most congregations of the Churches of Christ with which I'm familiar don't make a big deal about where their preacher attended school (especially on the graduate and post-graduate levels), so I don't necessarily have to go with any certain school.

    mhl
     
  13. Guest

    Guest Guest

    As was Union, UoP, Touro and myriad others. Two primary issues were used to make such a consideration: lack of USDoE recognized accreditation and a DL format. LRS, despite its opponents, continued to offer legitimate programs of study until TRACS accreditation was obtained. Several doc grads come to mind, e.g., Charles Stanley, Stephen Olford and Spiros Zodhiates, each earning the Th.D.'s, and each of whom have excelled in their ministry. Except for a few comments on DegreeInfo I have never heard one negative comment regarding their LRS doc's, all of which were earned long before LRS had any type of recognized accreditation.

    LRS is a solid example of a small percentage of ministry-oriented schools, which presently do not hold USDoE recognized accreditation, but are continually enhancing their programs of study.
     
  14. mhl

    mhl New Member

    Russell,

    I agree with you and boydston -- LRS gives me hope for several unaccredited schools (such as Trinity). If Luther Rice can make it, then perhaps they can as well. Only time will tell.

    Thanks for your input!

    mhl
     

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