DL Doctor of Ministy

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by ingill, Jul 22, 2002.

Loading...
  1. ingill

    ingill New Member

    I am interested in studying Doctor of Ministry by distance learning. I have solid vocational and post graduate qualifications already I would not be depending on this qualifiaction alone for further vocational development. I have searched far and wide and am interested in three options:

    Golden State School of Theology
    http://www.goldenstate.org
    Logos School of Ministry Theological Seminary Division http://www.lsm.edu
    St Paul Theological Seminary http://www.saintpaultheo.org

    I would be interested to hear if anyone had any experience of these schools or would know of something similar that might fit the bill.

    I look forward to replies
    Ingill
     
  2. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    You probably are already aware that none of the three have recognized accreditation. A quick look at their websites didn't exactly impress me, either.

    One program you might want to look at is American Christian College & Seminary. They have recognized accreditation (TRACS) and at least two members here are ACCS students and speak highly of the program.

    Another option would be Southern Christian University. They are regionally accredited, but a bit pricey, and I believe the D.Min. programs require some short residency.


    Bruce
     
  3. Bill Grover

    Bill Grover New Member

     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 22, 2002
  4. Guest

    Guest Guest

    Re: Re: DL Doctor of Ministy

    Witty indeed, Bill. :D
     
  5. BLD

    BLD New Member

    ingill,
    Of the three mentioned I would go with Golden State. I completed a M.Div. there and was accepted into American Christian College and Seminary's D.Min. program(ACCS).

    While Golden State was fairly challenging, I think you would be better off pursuing your degree at ACCS or Luther Rice Seminary LRS if you're looking for the most inexpensive route.

    Barry
     
  6. Bill Grover

    Bill Grover New Member

    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Barry

    Had you not the accredited MA would American have accepted you?
     
  7. BLD

    BLD New Member

    Bill,
    With the M.A. I would have had to complete 30-45 hours with ACCS (can't remember which -- it's been awhile and I was talking to several schools). It was much cheaper to just finish the M.Div. at Golden State and enter the D.Min. program at ACCS.

    Barry
     
  8. Bill Grover

    Bill Grover New Member

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Barry

    Well, then, this is an anecdotal evidence for the utility of unaccredited schools. You saved $ and that's great. (I'd urge any planning to follow Barry's example to check the transferability of credit/degrees FIRST). Usually with unaccredited schools you lose $!

    Didn't we have some words about Trinity (Indiana) once wherein you expressed disdain for the quality of Trinity work? Yet I notice the faculty at Golden State includes a Dr Duerksen who has ThD , PhD from Trinity. A second anecdotal evidence, he is, for the utility of unaccredited degrees, isn't he? Was he a qualified prof did you think?

    Golden State has some interesting comments about accreditation. They say even Harvard does not possess accreditation!I didn't know that! They also say they avoided getting accredited so that they could maintain the integrity of the College. Perhaps that's why their faculty teach mostly with unaccredited doctorates...but none from Harvard! I didn't realize that accreditation imperils integrity. I'd better warn Dallas and Westminster!


    Still I'm glad Golden State worked for you, and you certainly ended right!

    God's Best to you
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 23, 2002
  9. Guest

    Guest Guest

    Ingill,

    First welcome (I grew up Anglican).

    Second, let me support what has been said here. The schools you mention have no recongized accreditation. My feeling is that as a Christian you want to give God your best and do nothing that could bring the cause of Christ into disrepute (not that I am saying the schools are disreputable as I know nothing about them). Again, my personal opinion is that if you are trying to earn a terminal degree which you will use professionally you should aim for an accredited degree. Imagine someone looking at your background and deciding to *out* where you earned your degree from and you had to defend that degree.

    Someone mentioned TRACS accredited schools. TRACS is an accreditation agency recognized by the US Dept. of Ed & CHEA (solid recognition). TRACS schools are listed at:
    http://www.tracs.org

    Two TRACS accredited schools to look at are:
    American Christian College and Seminary - http://www.accs.edu
    ACCS has 3 different D.Min programs (33 credit hour for those with an MDiv; 66 credit hour for those without MDiv; and a 60 credit hour DMin in Christian counseling). 180 dollars per credit hour. Available 100% through distance learning (independent study, on-line) or residency.

    Luther Rice Seminary - http://www.lrs.edu
    LRS has a couple of DMin programs (one for those with MDiv and an extended DMin for those with the equivalent of a 60 credit hour MRE). Also very affordable. You will need to check on whether you can waive residency requirements. Has well knwon alumni such as Charles Stanley, John Ankerberg, Spiro Zodhiates, Jerry Vines, and a whose who of Southern Baptists).

    If you want 100% non residential then ACCS is probably the way to go.

    Yes, the unaccredited schools you mention are cheaper but look at it as a little more investment for a degree that is accredited. Think about how you want to use it and all the possible consequences of pursuing an unaccredited degree and weigh these factors.

    Good luck.

    North
     
  10. Bill Grover

    Bill Grover New Member

     
  11. Guest

    Guest Guest

     
  12. BLD

    BLD New Member

    As far as I know ACCS will still accept GSST degrees to move to the next highest level, as well as transfer credit up to the maximum.

    I still think Trinity is a joke. I never had any courses with Dr. Duerksen so I can't speak to his personal qualifications, but I would not accept his degrees as legit. That is my take on it, but of course, I'm not the final word on these things. I was uncomfortable with the source of a number of the faculty's degrees from GSST, but I will say that their coursework was above and beyond what was required at Trinity and the professors I did work seemed to be very knowledgable in their fields. In addition, unlike Trinity, GSST does not claim fake accreditation.

    Are you sure about that? I've never read any statements concerning accreditation in any of the GSST literature. I went directly to their website after reading your post and didn't find anything. Would you post the link if that's where you saw it.

    I would do it again and would also recommend GSST for the few out there that don't have to have an accredited degree.

    Barry
     
  13. BLD

    BLD New Member

    Bill,
    I looked over their website again and they do make the statement about accredition you mentioned above. I think that is a big mistake on their part. Plus, Harvard is accredited.

    Barry
     
  14. Bill Grover

    Bill Grover New Member

     
  15. Bill Grover

    Bill Grover New Member

    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

    I also am just too large for one denomination.

    :rolleyes:
     
  16. Howard

    Howard New Member

    North,

    I don't believe the D.Min is considered a terminal degree....usually a terminal degree is either a PhD or an EdD.
     
  17. telefax

    telefax Member

    D.Min.

    Ingill,

    I recommend also looking at Temple Baptist Seminary. They only require one on-campus modular, and have a very good reputation among the seriously conservative schools.
     
  18. telefax

    telefax Member

    Oops, there's more!

    Forgot to mention...

    Temple is TRACS accredited, as is Tennessee Temple University, which they are part of. They have been around since (I believe) 1947.

    Dave
     
  19. Bill Grover

    Bill Grover New Member

    Re: D.Min.

    |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

    This is a good suggestion if Ingill (still reading?) would like to fly over for that module.

    As asides:

    1) Howard, as the DMin is considered a "professional" degree, as, eg, the EdD can be, would it in that sense be a "terminal degree" as the highest ministerial professional degree?

    2) Actually the Southern Evangelical Seminary has a very academic looking, TRACS accredited, DMin in Apologetics. I think this to be unique. But it is not DL.

    3) I"ve given serious thought , myself, to attempting a DMin. But the three year ministry experience prerequisite excluded me.
     
  20. CLSeibel

    CLSeibel Member

    If you're at all open to taking a DMin from a school there in Australia, you might be interested in the program offered by the Adelaide campus of Tabor College:

    http://www.adelaide.tabor.edu.au/coursedesc.php?cdid=28

    The program would require a few short residencies over the course of your enrollment.

    Cory Seibel
     

Share This Page