Can anyone point me to web site faculty pages of professors either in the U.S. or Canada teaching at an ATS and regionally accredited seminary and/or university with a theology doctorate from Potchefstroom, Zululand, or UNISA--without an B.D./M.Div. based foundational degree or other ATS/RA doctoral credentials? Essentially, I would like to know if someone has attained a theology (in the broad sense of term to include all theological areas) professorship solely by their doctorate from those schools without any other ATS/RA graduate degree credentials from North America. EsqPhD
At present, I don't know of any North American professors with Zululand degrees, and the faculty members with Potchefstroom degrees I've encoutered have all been adjuncts (at reputable places like RTS and TEDS, though). I believe there are several examples of UNISA doctorate holders that, at least partly, meet the criteria you've established. Three immediately come to mind. These are all men who hold regionally or ATS accreditted MA's, but who did not undertake MDiv or ThM studies. First, Mark Wilson joined the faculty at Oral Roberts University in the fall of 1997 after completing his DLitt et Phil in NT at UNISA. Prior to that, he completed his MA in New Testament at Regent University, and had served as an adjunct there while undertaking his UNISA doctoral research. He is listed on the ORU faculty at www.oru.edu/university/departments/schools/arts/Faculty/index.html Upon completing his DTh at UNISA, John Sanders moved from a role as theology professor at Oak Hill Bible College, a small, AABC-accreditted institution in Bemiji, MN, to the regionally-accreditted Huntington College in Indiana. Prior to his DTh studies, Sanders had completed the MA from Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, IA. You can learn about him at www.huntington.edu/bible/faculty.htm Dr. Jim Lo is a member of the faculty at the large, rapidly-growing Indiana Wesleyan University. Prior to completing his DTh at UNISA, he earned two regionally-accreditted MA's--one from Wheaton College, and one from Indiana Wesleyan University. You can learn about him at www.indwes.edu/Academics/religion/Faculty/Lo.shtml Of course with each of these individuals there were unique circumstances that contributed to their hiring. However, they do meet the criteria you've established here--no RA or ATS accreditted MDiv or doctorate. Others do exist. I will make an effort to mention them here later.
I do not see Wilson listed at ORU's web site. The above link doesn't seem to work. The following link doesn't list anyone at ORU presently with UNISA degrees: http://www.oru.edu/university/departments/schools/theo/the_a001.html In any event, due to my biased (which I openly admit, may be overly done) against over zealous charismatic quacks like Oral Roberts and his son, I've written the school off long ago--just because of the name--however, the accreditation is fine. Sanders seem to be a good scholar. I'm glad to see a UNISA degree in good use here. For Lo, his U.S. graduate credentials are good. Being a former missionary in South Africa also helps to not really question why he would want to study at UNISA. When I mentioned foundational degree at an ATS/RA in the U.S., I do not mean to exclude applicable M.A.'s in a theological area (i.e., like NT, etc.). They are indeed foundational for those wanting to do doctorates in their respective theological areas. Whereas, an M.A. in psychology who goes and does a Ph.D. in New Testament studies without any religious/theological background would not be considered to have a foundational background for the Ph.D. in New Testament. I do think that there are different foundational training for scholarly pursuits in theology verses ministry. Fortunately for the B.D./M.Div.'s, their foundational degrees satisfies both ministerial and further academic studies in theology whereas most M.A.'s in an academic theological discipline (by most mainline denominational standards) may be foundational for further doctoral studies in their areas (assuming they are not terminal masters)--but not foundational for the ministry unless supplemented. The question I posed though, focussed more on the foundation for academic teaching in a theological discipline. EsqPhD
Sorry about the bad connection to ORU! I inadvertently left out part of the address. Here it is again: www.oru.edu/university/departments/schools/arts/theo/Faculty/index.html Hopefully it should work this time. Mark Wilson is actually a NT professor at the undergraduate leve; so, it is no surprise to me that his name is not listed among the graduate school of theology faculty. When you click on the link, you will notice that Mark Wilson is listed as possessing the DLitt et Phil. However, no reference is made to where he earned this degree (the page does not provide this information with reference to any of the faculty). Yet, I assure you he did earn his degree at UNISA. I met him in Va Beach shortly after he had returned from his graduation ceremony in Pretoria. Also, Sanders is not only a good scholar. He is considered to be one of the foremost proponents of the "open view" of God. The last two issues of Christianity Today have contained a lengthy dialogue between Sanders and another guy representing the more classical view. Sanders' dissertation from UNISA has been highly esteemed within the theological community (by both friend and foe) as the best articulation of the open view. In addition, his earlier book, "No Other Name," now out of print, was considered a very significant contribution to the discussion about the fate of the "unevangelized."
You seem to suggest that UNISA, Potchefstroom, and Zululand would allow students into their doctoral programs in theology without an adequate background in the appropriate discipline. I haven't really encountered any evidence that would suggest this to be true. What has compelled you to single out these particular institutions as likely candidates to welcome inadequately prepared students?
I would not expect to see a M.A. in Psychology doing a Ph.D. in New Testament either. However, within the broad theological category in your initial post, I can see an M.A. in Psych doing a Ph.D in pastoral counseling. They would probably be in better shape to do that from a theological angle (with the Psych base) rather than the other way around (doing it from merely an M.Div) based on the fact that the foundation in Psych probably gives them the requirements for licensure as an LPC. The Ph.D. builds on the Masters, in this case in terms of a theological model. I believe that the University of Sarasota offered a doctorate in Pastoral Counseling (Ed.D.). It was somewhat broader in terms of being not limited to a Christian understanding of pastoral counseling. North
I wasn't sure if they allowed people with no disciplinary foundations to enter such program--but I would hope they would require such. I singled out UNISA because there is a professor at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary (where my wife has an M.Div.) with a Th.D. from UNISA--but he also has an M.Div. and D.Miss. (from Fuller). I just wanted to see if the Th.D. standing alone could attain a professorship. I singled out the other two schools because they are mentioned quite often on this forum and wanted to see if ATS/RA theological institutions in North America view them to the standard of allowing them professorships like other accredited North American/German, etc. degrees. I guess one of the ways to tell how they are viewed is to see the professorships they hold in North America within their degree areas. EsqPhD
I can vouch for North's comments. As I have noted in another thread I am one of those people that is looking at a theological doctorate after three non-theological degrees. So far the responses from schools have fallen into three camps •"Welcome Mr. Logan - what did you say your Mastercard number was?" •"Come and see us after you do an MDiv, MTS or MTh." •"Based on your background and the focus of your proposed study, let us shop it around the department and see what others think - this is not a yes and but its not a no either." Obviously the first one is out. The third camp will want some filling in of the gaps (I would become suspicous if they didn't) - and so may really fall in with the second camp. All in all it seems it can be done - if the school is flexible and the project is specifically designed/focussed - as North has noted. Jeff (still waffling on the traditional MDiv or DL PhD) PS as for faculty with such a background I don't know of any but am interested. I think it would be good to see more people with truly interdisciplinary backgrounds teaching in seminaries and colleges. With the obvious fiat being that the doctorate-granting school and student can show a doctoral level of theological output.
It seems that UNISA has distinguished itself in the US & Canada as a quality insitution through which to do doctoral study. Their graduates hold positions all over the place (I could name a half a dozen others in addition to those I mentioned above). As I stated in another thread, I'm not quite sure what to make of the level of respect afforded Zululand within South Africa. However, Potchefstroom's faculty of theology definately would be viewed by its peer institutions as one of the top few theological schools in South Africa. Thus, while there might not be much of a precedent established to suggest how Potchefstroom degrees are viewed in the US, it is fair to say that it should be afforded a level of respect similar to that given Stellenbosch, University of the Orange Free State, and Natal. These schools are well respected within North America, and their graduates are widely employed.
I can only speak for Potchefstroom, but admission into the PU/GST Ph.D. is based on a residential/module master's degree. The Ph.D. research, writing and thesis must follow the same subject matter in which one completed one's masters. For example, if one had a MA in Business Administration, this would not qualify one for admission into the Ph.D. in theology. So, at least PU, requires a background in the appropriate discipline before one is admitted into their Ph.D. program. In terms of acceptance/recognition of SA degrees in the US, by having SA Ministry of Education recognition, this places them in a category equivalent to US RA credentials. Julia Funaki, Office of International Education Services Manager at AACRAO (202-296-3359), stated that a Ph.D. from Potchefstroom would be "from a recognized institution which is comparable to a regionally accredited institution in the US." Robert Watkins, Registrar at the Univ. of Texas-Austin, and member of AACRAO, stated that a Ph.D. from PU would be recognized by UT-A as equal to a RA Ph.D. Patrick Jacobs (PU Ph.D.) serves on the faculty at Lakeland College in Wisconsin. Lee Roy Martin serves on the faculty at Church of God Theological Seminary, he is competing his Th.D. at Unisa, but also has the BA and M.Div. from US RA schools. Once you move beyond the discipline of theology, there are many Potch Ph.D.'s who serve on faculty at US schools in, e.g., pharmaceuticals, business, etc. Russell
I happened to come across UNIZUL Faculty member Bobby Loubser's CV on line and thought I would post it here as it looked rather interesting. I realize it is only semi related to this discussion. http://www.uzulu.ac.za/the/loubser/cv1.htm North
Yes! From everything I've seen, he is a first rate guy. The same can be said for Dr. Song, Head of the faculty at Zululand. Have you seen his publication list?! It is longer than my small intestine!
Jeff, How is your decision making process going. I was thinking that you may be able to steer your doctorate program in an area of theology that deals with linguistic issues (following on your M.A.) Could be quite interesting but I also imagine less on practical lines and more academic in nature. Although if somehow tied to missiology it could be practical. North
