Top 10 South African Universities

Here's a link that might be of great interest to anyone either currently enrolled in South African degree programs or contemplating enrolling in a South African institution in the future. It is a "top ten" list of South African institutions. The rankings were determined by voluntary online votes. While this list does not reflect any "official" ratings of these institutions, it does provide those of us in other areas of the world a glimpse at the way various South African institutions are subjectively perceived by those within their own country.

Here's the link: http://www.top10sa.com/Top10List.asp?ListID=199

 

I find it interesting that most of these "leading" institutions have developed rather extensive provisions for distance learning students.

Of these top ten, numbers 1, 3, 5, 8, and 10 have expressed a willingness to allow me to do doctoral work in a theological discipline (number 3's theology department has since beeen dissolved).

 

...at a distance, I should add.

 

CL,

What can you tell me about Rand Afrikaans University? Is the theology faculty all or mostly Dutch Reformed? Do you think they'd offer a Master's DL?

 

Good to hear from you, Michael. Actually, in recent years, RAU has established a cooperative agreement with AFM Theological Seminary, whereby the AFMTS effectively serves as the theological faculty for RAU. All RAU theology degrees must be earned through AFMTS. Here's the catch: The Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM for short) is a staunchly pentecostal denomination. In fact, AFMTS has made a great deal of the fact that they are the first pentecostal theological faculty to be established at any of South Africa's universities.

I do believe that they might be willing to consider a distance-based MTh. They seemed quite willing to allow me to do a DLitt et Phil at a distance (with one month in residence). It's all a matter of what you think of enrolling in a pentecostal seminary.

By the way, tuition there would be quite cheap. I think that doctoral tuition amounts to somewhere in the neighborhood of 800 US Dollars per year. Master's tuition, it stands to reason, would be cheaper still.

It's my opinion that, while Rand Afrikaans University, as a whole, may be one of the better universities in South Africa, their theological faculty certainly does not rank among the finer that South Africa has to offer.

By the way, what's developed for you with the University of Pretoria?

 

By the way, since I first posted this, the rankings have changed a bit, Potchefstroom (formerly number 10), has moved up to number 8, causing UNISA to fall back to number 9. Otherwise, the rankings of the institutions to which I've referred above have not changed.

 

CL,

Good to hear from you again, too.

Well, it hasn't exactly worked out with the U. of Pretoria, at least with the idea of combining Anabaptist/Baptist studies with the arts; they wanted to design the program differently from what I had in mind. I suppose I could still just do a degree in Anabaptist studies alone, without the creative element, or concentrate on Practical Theology. Free State also said I could do a degree in Practical Theology.

However, in the last month or so, I have been seriously considering pursuing ministry in the United Methodist Church. The Southern Baptist Convention has gotten too far to the right for me--I'm moderate to moderately conservative. In the rural South, at least, the UMC is fairly conservative but not fundamentalist. Of course, I have some issues to work through before making such a move--infant baptism, polity, etc. I don't really know if I could do it, but, as I said, I am considering it. If I do, I would be going to Memphis Theological Seminary, about 90 miles from my home.

I'd appreciate your prayers as I try to discern God's will in this.

 

Of course, it might not have anything to do with superstition, an unseen deity, and belief in the supernatural. Perhaps it was some bad guys with a really serious agenda.

Rich Douglas

 

But if the latter is correct, all the more reason to consider the former. What made these hypothetical guys "bad?" The realities of a supernatural realm, or an unseen diety? Or perhaps some abnormal gene during the tadpole stage of evolution?

And if the abnormal gene theory is correct, maybe this is what motivates degree mill operators.

Russell

 

Have you looked into the American Baptist Churches U.S.A. or the Disciples of Christ?

If I went the ministry route (and I still haven't ruled it out--both of my grandfathers and three of my great-grandfathers were either licensed or ordained ministers), my major problem with the United Methodist Church would be its policy of shuffling pastors around every two years. That has its benefits (fewer scandals, for starters), but it would drive me up the wall.


Peace,

------------------
Tom Head
www.tomhead.net

 

Maybe another word of advice here. I'm not saying it's good advice, but it's advice just the same:

You might look into your friendly neighborhood congregational Baptist and Methodist churches. Many of the former actually split from the SBC for precisely the same reasons you have.


Peace,

------------------
Tom Head
www.tomhead.net

 

Michael,
Thanks for this update. It's interesting to learn of how things have developed for you with Pretoria. I am actually now giving serious consideration to applying for a PhD in Practical Theology through Pretoria. Yet I'm also still quite interested in Zululand, UNISA, and Potchefstroom. What general impressions have you gained through your interaction with the Pretoria folks? I would benefit from your insights.

I certainly will be supporting you in prayer as you sort through your denominational affiliation. As a former Southern Baptist myself (and ordained Southern Baptist pastor), I can understand where you are at. Yet, at the same time, the options within Baptist circles in your part of the country are awefully limitted. The American Baptist Church is virtually non-existent there, I imagine. Our denomination, the North American Baptist Conference, which is moderately conservative, doesn't really have any presence in that part of the US either. Most other Baptist churches near you, I assume, are even further to the right.

A switch to the UMC is a significant change in the respects you've mentioned. Many have done it. I, for one, could not. I wish you much wisdom and discernment as you journey through this process.

 

Tom,

Thanks for the advice, and it was good advice; there's only one problem: there are no American Baptist churches anywhere near me, and the nearest Disciples church is in Greenwood, about 50 miles away. Now, if I lived in Jackson, as you do, I'd have many more choices, but out here in the hinterland I'm limited to Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal, or some variety of Holiness or Pentecostal group. Since I'm not Holines or Pentecostal, that's out; since I'm extremely non-Calvinist, Presbyterian is out. Episcopalian is out because I'm not independently wealthy--that is, I couldn't pastor a church while getting my seminary degree, and since I have a family to support, I need the equivalent of a full-time income.

So, that leaves Baptist or Methodist. At least with the Methodists, you can't be fired by some disgruntled congregation for some petty reason. But, as you say, you'd better not unpack your suitcase, although time allowed at one location is getting longer.

Anyway, it's a tough decision, especially since I have considerable difficulty with infant baptism.