Graduate Theological Foundation: Accreditation Statement

The 2001-2002 catalog from GTF ( www.gtfeducation.com ), states:

"A decision by the Executive Council in a meeting held in Canterbury Hall...at the University of Oxford initiated pursuit of full academic accreditation which, late in 1999, was awarded without restriction by the Accrediting Commission International for a period seven years without further review...Since it does not confine its work or membership to the United States, the Foundation has chosen to become a member with full credentials in good standing with an academic judicatory agency, the Accrediting Commission International."

 

I graduated from Oxford in 1968. I have never heard of "Canterbury Hall". I have not been able to locate it. Can anyone help?

Malcolm S Jenner

 

I simply don't like this school, Russell. Can't help it. I just don't.

**I don't like them claiming "accreditation" from the unrecognized and academically doubtful ACI.

**I don't like them trying to associate themselves with Oxford University. Why in the hell did their "executive committee" make the decision to seek worthless "accreditation" in Oxford? What did the location contribute to the proceedings except confusion? Does the executive committee frequently take "working" vacations to England at their students' expense? (And won't that Oxford Graduate School in TN be hurt to learn that Oxford is two-timing them?)

**I don't like the photograph on their webpage of that large and impressive building in Indiana, implying that it is GTF's campus, when it is actually a nearby convent where the nuns rent out facilities for business meetings and retreats.

**And I don't even like their name, which seems intentionally chosen to cause confusion with the big-name and prestigious Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley.

Does anyone know if the state of Indiana has a religious exemption to state higher education licensing requirements? Their state approval may even be worthless.

All in all, if I just had to enroll in a weird, non-accredited, academically doubtful Indiana theological school that is grasping pathetically for some British connection, I'd probably opt for Trinity C&S and get a cool Liverpool sticker on my diploma.

 

Indiana has a religious exemption.

jmbp
----
back home again . . .

 

Malcolm,

The catalog states: "Canterbury Hall of Christ Church College at the University of Oxford."

Russell

 

Something I wondered as well, Bill. Why would a school which has any connection with Oxford, opt for ACI accreditation?

Russell

 

Gentlemen, as best I can understand it, what we have here is a case of the GTF folks endeavouring to dupe, or at least to appease, their Oxford affiliates. As I'm sure you're aware, GTF has established some formal ties to some impressive individuals in the Oxford theological community. I'm not sure I understand the extent, if any, of the formal agreement between Oxford University and GTF. However, GTF students are permitted to enroll in Oxford summer school courses (not a special or exclusive privilege, necessarily); in addition, students registering for GTF PhD's through their Oxford study centre are able to have some highly distinguished Oxford faculty members serve as their supervisors.

What I've been told from someone within the GTF administration is that, at the Oxford meeting in question, GTF's Oxford cohorts indicated that, in order for them to continue cooperating with GTF, GTF would need to achieve accreditted status. Yet, because they have no full-time faculty, or campus, or library, etc., GTF basically had no chance of making any progress with any of the regional accreditors or ATS (or even Liverpool, probably, for that matter!). So, GTF went out and acquired ACI accreditation. Apparently, they seem to consider this as having satisfied the wishes of the folks in Oxford, which leads me to wonder if this cast of highly decorated Oxford theologians truly understand the status of ACI.

So, that is the history. In my opinion, there are a number of things about GTF that are highly suspect. At the same time, however, there are a number of things that are rather impressive, including some of the individuals associated with this outfit, and the success of some of its alumni. Yet, in my opinion, this choice to affiliate with ACI is downright tragic and rather despicable.

 

I agree, CL. There are indeed a few items in GTF's program which are impressive, yet when I came across the ACI connection, it seemed to cast a shadow over the rest.

Ironically, GTF offers a D.Min. which can be earned via the local hospital in my county of residence. Alamance Regional Medical Center offers ACPE accredited CPE units, but they also offer the D.Min. in conjunction with GTF--of course, the degree is awarded by GTF. I wrote the hospital administration concerning this association (basically to see what the hospital policy was), and its lack of regional accreditation, however, I did not receive a response.

Russell

 

Precisely!

 

GTF IS A SERIOUS ENIGMA TO ME.I KNOW A NUMBER OF HIGHLY RESPECTED AND WELL EDUCATED CLERICS WHO SWEAR BY THE QUALITY OF THE PROFS AND THE OVERALL PROGRAM I ONCE SERVED AS A DISSERTATION REVIEWER OF A BISHOPS DOC PROJECT AND IT WAS RA QUALITY.I HAVE SPOKEN TO AND RESEARCHED THE ACADEMIC STAFF. ONCE AGAIN IMMPECABLE. MY DISCUSSIONS WITH ADMIN STAFF WERE FRANK HOWEVER THEY SUGGEST THEIR ACCREDITOR IS BEING TARRED WITH AN OLD QUILT BY ASSOCIATION OR PAST ASSOCIATION BRUSH. UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS WHERE THE PROBLEMS REALLY START. WALSTONS GUIDE USED TO RECOMMEND THIS SCHOOL BUT NO LONGER. THE ONLY THING THAT SEEMS TO HAVE CHANGED IS THE ACCREDITOR. OR GOOD FOLKS IS THERE MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE.IS GTF A GOOD DMIN PROGRAM ALBEIT UNACCREDITED AND UNWISELY ASSOCIATED OR A DEVIOUS MILL.

 

Only the ignorant refer to "Christ Church College". It is usually referred to just as "Christ Church". Formally it is "The House of Christ Church". Colloquially it is referred to as "The House".

Malcolm S Jenner

 

Malcolm,

Are you suggesting the the administration of GTF do not know their way around the campus of Oxford?

Seriously, thanks for the information.

Russell

 

What campus? The colleges at Oxford are scattered around the city. There are also university buildings in various parts. There is a clear demarcation between college and university as separate institutions.

Malcolm S Jenner

 

Personally, along with Magdalen, Merton, and Balliol, I find Christ Church one of the most appealing colleges in Oxford.

 

If I remember correctly they are not that inexpensive. Certainly I would choose a TRACS D.Min before theirs. However, they do not seem to attract the conservative crowd which TRACS is aimed at. If Faith Lutheran begins offering a D.Min again there will be a liturgically oriented & conservative TRACS D.Min program. I think Steve Levicoff mentioned GTF is more of a Matthew Fox liberal/new-agish mixture.

At any rate, the ACI accreditation floored me when I first saw it in their newletter some time back. For me it did not add credibility. They sounded better unaccredited. I agree they do seem to have some intersting connections but the ACI thing is.....well....er...

North

 

AS I HAVE EARLIER POSTED IN THIS THREAD, I AM IMPRESSED WITH GTF PROFS AND GRADUATES WHO ALL ATTEST TO THE HIGH QUALITY OF THE PROGRAM BUT ACI ???. I RECENTLY SPOKE TO THE REGISTRAR RE THIS ISSUE. SHE FULLY ACKOWLEDGED ACIS NOTORIUS PAST BUT STATED THAT THE ACI HAD RADICALLY CHANGED. SHE SEEMED VERY SINCERE. IS THIS POSSIBLE, OR ARE THEY DREAMING IN TECHNICOLOUR.

 

Actually a psychedelic nightmare as far as recognized accreditation!

 

That is funny!

North

 

The claim is made by an accreditee that ACI has "radically changed." Perhaps. (And perhaps Beelzebub is strapping on his Koho 3380s with titanium blades.)

ACI is still run by its founder, John Scheel, from his church in Beebe, Arkansas. They still (alone among all the world's accreditors, as far as I know) refuse to make public a list of the schools they accredit.

ACI arose right after the accreditor known as IAC was closed by Missouri authorities after IAC fell for a sting operation set up by the Attorney General and accredited a non-existent school in exchange for money.

Scheel has written emphatically (I have copies) that there is no connection whatsoever between IAC and ACI.

Scheel has also written (I have copies) to the IAC accreditees, after IAC's closure, offering them immediate and automatic accreditation by ACI on payment of fees.

The last two sentences seem to reflect a contradiction.

Among others, ACI accredits Century University, Wisconsin International University (run from the founder's home in Milwaukee), and Western States University (whose founder has three totally fake degrees bought from British degree mills).

 

GTF

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.
The list could go on and on.
I also wish to note that the ACI relationship has been terminated.
It was a major mistake...

Grace and Peace,
Louis J.