A Song At Sats

A Newsletter I received today from the South African Theological Seminary announces the now availability of doing doctoral research at SATS and further that Prof Arthur Song of Unizul will head that SATS department.

It is my understanding that Song is truly qualified and that SATS is truly accredited and that the SATS doctoral degrees will be truly inexpensive (by Western standards).

Hence yet another genuine program is offered and yet another opportunity is available for Evangelical Christians to chose to earn advanced degrees in a responsible manner instead of choosing to add to the shame of the Church by doing easy docs at academically slimy schools.


Let Christian higher Education be as a Song, not as a death rattle.

 

I just heard via email from SATS that they were applying for their DTh accrediation later this year (before June) and expected to have it within a few months.

So I don't know that it is "totally" available, but in the works.

clint

 

In fact, here is the direct quote from the aforementioned email from SATS

clint

 

Newsletter I got (bu email) said:

"We are proud to announce the establishment of our post graduate school which will focus on research at master's and doc level."

Course I don't know just how the SA mind works but "in the works" does not sound to me to be the equivalent of "establishment of." The latter seems far past the planning stages.

But, anyway... whatever.

 

makes no difference to me. I am still trying to get situated for my Masters, much less a doctorate. It just came up in our email conversation this past week.

I figure the quicker they get it up the quicker folks can get in the program.

clint

 

From the SATS site

 

Prof. Song

Just received an e-mail from Dr. Song this AM, saying:

"Yes, I have signed on with SATS as the "part time" Head of their graduate school and will therefore still have time to help my previously registered senior students at Unizul."

This suggests he is transitioning from Uzulu to SATS, but that's only my trying to read between the lines.

Song is a a good man and will be a great new asset to SATS.

 

I like just about everything that I have heard and read about SATS. I am seriously considering doing an MTh through them. However, I wish that they would list more than just the names and degrees of their faculty members. I would like to see some brief biographies of the professors. Other schools have been criticized on this forum for not giving more details about their faculty members. Yet in all the post about SATS I've read on this forum, I've never seen anyone mention this point about SATS. Does anyone have any information about the faculty?

Robert Thurman

 

I am also considering their MTh. I am pretty much waiting to see if the University of Tartu will admit me first. If so, I will probably go with them. If not, then I am leaning toward SATS. (The conditions of my admittance to Tartu is over me using English rather than Estonian for my studies).

clint

 

Clint dollink:

If you get in, go with Tartu! You have a rare and remarkable opportunity. Mind, I have the highest opinion of SATS--and of Dr Arthur Song--and can recommend SATS without reservation to our non-Baltic posters.

Varmest regarts,
Janko

 

Hi Robert,

You have a very nice church web site. I think you will really like SATS. If they offered coursework I certainly would have enrolled there instead of Universidad FLET. I just don't like writing papers, ha!

I have never heard anything negative about SATS. You will enjoy the excellent communications and rapid responses with the staff, especially Dr. Reuben van Rensburg. He is simply wonderful to work with and a very pleasant man.

If you decide to enroll, good luck and Godspeed!

 

No doubt, this is my intention. It works out to about 18000 kroons per year, which is currently $1500. I think we can handle that (since it is right on my education budget from my sponsoring church...).

I have had some really good email conversations with Dr Altnurme, the dean of the Theology Dept there. We have even agreed upon a topic for my research, as long as they accept my undergrad and prior grad work as acceptable to enter their Masters program. I think it will, but we will see. There is a little concern about English usage, but that is also manageable, I believe. I am optimistically confident that we can come to an agreement.

I will let you know.

clint

 

Thank you Jimmy! I appreciate the compliment on our church web site.

I have been impressed with the quick responses that I get when communicating with SATS.

I was just wondering if anyone knew anything about the members of the SATS faculty.

Robert Thurman

 

Bill Grover and Uncle Janko might be of some help with this one.

 

I have done google searches on some of the SATS faculty members, but those searches haven't yielded much information.

Mostly I am curious as to where these men are coming from theologically. I have been told that all the members of the SATS faculty have an evangelical perspective, but the term evangelical is very broad.

 

SATS faculty

Hey RobT,

I've had e-conversations with Dr.'s Peppler and Rensburg, both of whom seem truly "conservative" theologically.

My experience(s) with Unisa has taught me that SAf (wouldn't you agree Uncle Janko??) tends to be a lot like UK schools, where conservative views are not always appreciated.

It is my understanding that SATS was specifically started to counter the Humanistic bent present in most SAf university departments of theology / religion.

My two cents....

 

Thanks Haggai12!

I appreciate your 2 cents. I might have paid more.

 

SATS further...

Just received this from SATS...



From the school registrar, Ms Leschenne Honiball:

"SATS is planning to apply for accreditation of our DTH programme in June this year. We would be able to begin enrolling students early next year once we receive confirmation that our accreditation for the programme is successful and have the registration certificate from the Department of Education. We will certainly keep you, and the public, posted on the situation."

 

Thanks for the clear update.

 

on SATS professor

Hi, everyone...
my Supervisor for my MTh at SATS was Dr. Bill Domeris. He used to teach full time before at University of Witwatesrand (Johannesberg). Now I believe besides writing, he's gone full time for ministry. Seems to have written a lot especially on Johanine literature.