Need Help and Advice

Alright...

I am considering getting a Masters of Divinity. I am looking at the available options for online degrees and the 2 that are most popular on searches are Liberty and Canyon College, I am not crazy about either.

I do not really know what i am looking for. I know that accrediation standards are different for religious degrees, so that is not a huge deal for me, but I want the school to have some name recognition in religious circles.

I am fundamentally conservative from a religious perspective, currently involved with the Southern Baptist, but open to other conservative denominations or non-denominational churches. My choice of seminary or degree program would need to reflect these values.

Let me know what you guys think. Obviously, I need the program to be as cheap as possible because this degree will be totally out-of-pocket.

Thanks in advance...

Ben

 

One place to check out would be Bakers Guide. He is pretty much the standard for Christian Distance Education, and I believe is affiliated with Liberty University. I would recommend Global University. They are accredited, conservative (affilated with the Assemblies of God), and are very affordable (around $200 per credit hour). If that's not to your liking, Bakers Guide will give you many, many choices.

 

Canyon College? You're talking about the unaccredited school (or degree mill)? Well, Liberty is a good choice. There several more here... Regents University is another one. There is also Eastern University as well as Amridge University (was known Regions University, Christian Southern University).

 

I just realized that Canyon does appear to be millish...

 

I see you're in Charlotte. You can start your studies with Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC online, but they require that the last 30 hours be done on campus. Tuition is very reasonable for members of SBC-affiliated churches.

http://www.sebts.edu/DistanceLearning/OnlineClasses/

Gardner-Webb offers online classes, but their site is not clear on whether on not you can actually earn a full degree online.

http://www.gardner-webb.edu

If you're not sure what you want, but are feeling the "call", I would actually consider seminary instruction at the undergraduate level. It's not online, and it's not close enough for you to attend part-time, but Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute just outside of Hendersonville, NC has trained many a preacher in the tradition you're looking for. Some of the pastors of NC's largest churches came out of this tiny little school.

http://www.fruitland.edu/

Best of luck with your search!

 

Awesome info...thanks

After further investigation, I think one of the Master of Arts from Liberty might make more since than the MDiv. They are much shorter programs (most 36 hours) and at $250/credit hour, not too expensive. They have an MA in Theological studies and one in Christian Leadership that I am particularly interested in.

I did not realize that most MDiv programs wer 90 credit hours. You might as well get a doctorate if you are going to put in that much work...

 

Correct. Most people have no idea how much formal education is required for the MDiv and the MTh. Trained pastors and theologians that have earned their degrees legitimately are extremely educated individuals. As far as Liberty is concerned, they has a great reputation in conservative Christianity. Have you looked at Moody Bible College? Of the schools that offer online options, they probably have the very best reputation. Jones Bible College is also solid and affordable. All three are regionally accredited. Moody and Johnson are also accredited by the ABHE (Association for Biblical Higher Education), which is very respected in biblical/theological academics.



Pug

 

Years ago, up until the late 1960s and early 1970s, future pastors and future lawyers both studied for seven years full-time and ended up with two bachelor's degrees. The pastors earned the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Divinity while the lawyers earned the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Legal Letters. Then came the Vietnam War era and the graduate school draft deferment. The future lawyers, trained in the fine art of vigorously representing their case, had their second bachelor's upgraded to a professional doctorate, the Juris Doctorate while the future pastors, trained in the virtues of humility, settled for a three-year master's known as the Master of Divinity.

 

bmills072200: How did you make the decision to go from the MBA to the MDiv?

 

No - I will complete the MBA in early 2010. I may try to do both starting in the fall of 2009 depending on how things go in other areas of my life. If not, I will wait until the MBA is done to start in seminary.

I work in ministry right now on a part-time basis, but I am limited in the types of ministry opportunities that I can apply for because of a lack of religious education. I also feel that I need a more solid understanding of some of the principles of my faith.

Pugbelly - thanks for the info on Johnson and Moody...I will look into that option as well.

Reading more about Liberty and their theological stance on major tenets of Christianity, I find that I am very closely aligned with their views. I will let you guys know what I decide.

Thanks

 

Interesting information Ted - I hope the desire for an increased biblical education for future pastors was not based solely on grad school deferment...I don't think that I can say the same for the lawyers...

 

Liberty is a great school that is constantly rated at the top of the distance education pile. The only criticism I have ever heard are from those that have issue with the religous element of the school. If your views are similar to those of the school, like mne are, I think Liberty is a fantastic option.

Pug

 

If you are going online... who gives a crap?

 

>>

Because one's biblical interpretation or faith statement colors everything they write (or don't write) in class...in turn, a college with a faith statement or biblical interpretation certainly expects that student's would not CONFLICT with that position, while some may not require acceptance of it. (which I think is the case with Liberty)
With so much written work required in grad school, personally I think a person would be insane to try and earn a masters or doctorate from a college that requires you to hide or side step your own religious view in each and everything you write.

 

I agree to an extent, I think. If you are a conservative protestant, or if the presence of religios undertones in secular classes does not bother you, Liberty is awesome.

Pug

 

That's the truth. When I worked for a U.S. Army recruiting brigade headquarters, I sat near the chaplain recruiter’s office. He would make numerous phone calls everyday just to get a single qualified lead. That's when I learned the MDiv and MTh are not just another master’s degree: They are master's degrees on steroids.

 

As long as one believes in the Trinity and John 3:16, what problems would you have?

 

I agree with you completely. However, seminary goes into deeper areas of religion that everyone may not agree on. That is not to say that believing something should be one way is the CORRECT way or that those who believe differently are condemned to hell...

Knowing the theological standpoint that a seminary has on issues like homosexuality and other controversial religious issues is very important for those that are deciding what seminary to attend. It would be very challenging to go to a seminary that held significantly different views on these issues and try to mask your own opinions when it came time to write papers and take exams.

Again, I will reiterate that I do not believe that these views are salvation changing, but they are still important. Ultimately you are right though...simple belief in Christ as the only way is all that is required for salvation...IMHO...good discussion...

 

When I was in Iraq, I met up with an LDS (Mormon) Chaplain who had a divinity degree from Liberty. He told me that it was interesting from time to time, but he gained a great biblical education from LU.

Shawn

 

It sounds as if they are pretty open if they can accomodate a Mormon.