Practical Theologian: Where Do I Go from Here?

Hey, everyone!

I've been a bit low-key around here in recent months. I'm pleased to report that I'm within a couple of weeks of completing my Spurgeon's College MTh. This has been a very difficult and arduous process. For the most part, it has not been fun. Yet, it has been profoundly rewarding. I know that I have been sharpened and refined by this process considerably.

Many of you know that I have been accepted into the Stellenbosch DTh in Practical Theology. I also have received overtures from a prominent scholar at another major South African university. Both of these opportunities are quite exceptional.

However, as I continue my future education, something new has come into play. First, I have been invited to take up a position of responsibility within my denomination that essentially represents my moving into the "inner circle" of our system of theological education. This new role, which will be knit together with my present role in the local church, will involve me providing oversight of a 9-month-long, church-based, pre-seminary leadership training program. In addition, I will be serving as a trainer of local church instructors.

A new line of thinking has arisen out of this: I'm contemplating the possibility of enrolling in a PhD or EdD in Teaching and Learning at the University of North Dakota. A few factors have contributed to this. As I've completed my MTh dissertation, the demands I face in ministry have made it very difficult for me to give the quality time to my research I'd prefer. My vocational demands and educational aims are incessantly vying with one another for my time. I've striven as best I can to maintain balance, but it simply hasn't been easy. Of course, any doctoral program will be demanding. However, I see some benefit to being involved in a program that will enable me to go to class at a defined time within the parameters of defined semester periods. Furthermore, I can see some advantages to being involved in a program that is more naturally knit into the overall framework of my community life here in Grand Forks. I've often felt as though my Spurgeon's "life" is so far removed from my life here. I'm always surrounded by UND professors and students. My affiliation with that institution would certainly provide me much more of a sense of community integration.

In addition, I've grown increasingly interested in exploring some of the things a program in education would enable me to study: e.g., organizational behavior, adult learners, qualitative research methods, program assessment, staff supervision. Of course, these things would not be presented within a theological framework, but as one who is just completing a program in theological reflection, I'm confident that I could surmount this limitation.

As I've surveyed the landscape of individuals teaching practical ministry courses at seminaries and Christian colleges around the US, it seems as though a significant portion of them hold doctorates from secular institutions. So, there exists a solid precedent to suggest that a secular doctorate is by no means the "kiss of death" for one desiring to teach practical ministry courses. This is the ultimate aim toward which I am striving professionally.

I'd like to receive your thoughts about these two avenues: would I be better off to complete a rather well respected PhD in practical theology at a distance, entirely by research, under the supervision of a world-class scholar? Would enrolling in an EdD/PhD program locally be a legitimate or wise course of action for one seeking to spend his life teaching in the Christian College/Seminary setting? I'd appreciate any feedback I could from those of you who are familiar with, and sensitive to, such matters.

 

Hi Cory: FWIW, my gut reaction is stick with Stellenbosch. To me--and I am hardly Reformed--Stellenbosch has a real international cachet as a superb theological school. Do the UND thing later if you want. Budget your time and make sure that your academic supervisors are aware of your time constraints. I am glad that Spurgeon's is nearing completion. Best of luck to you. Janko

 

If I were in your shoes, given the relative low cost of Stellenbosch, I'd consider enrolling in both programs concurrently. South African research programs tend to involve an awful lot of administrative delays, so it's not likely that the research process (top-notch though I'm certain it will be) will be fast enough for you. The UND program will give you something to do while you wait.

Congratulations on your success at Spurgeon's! I've heard that it's a pretty rigorous program.


Cheers,

 

Greetings Cory (fellow prairie dweller),

My 2 cents (which is about what it is worth). Either could be a way to go. Certainly Stellenbosch is world class and my guess is that a ThD/PhD from there would stand you well for academic positions. It would also follow well on the heels of a Mth. My guess is that your UND PhD/Ed would also facilitate academic entrance and has more local name recognition although not theologically oriented and possibly not as well known internationally. You would also be getting a degree somewhat disconnected from the Mth but in the sense of Practical Theology, this may work well. There is so much to weigh: personal interest, cost, cost vs outcome, etc. You also seem to be indicating that you do not have the time to put into the Research aspect as you would wish and that you feel that a taught PhD might be a little easier from that point of view.

Academic postions are not all that easy to come by so no matter the degree this may or may not be easy other than as adjunct faculty (which you can achieve by walking down to your local U of P).

I would also be honest with yourself about personal interest and use that as a guide. I was accepted into a couple of different RA PhD programs and never really got off the ground for one reason or another. Then I followed my heart into the ACCS DMin in Counseling program and have been quite happy and this in part due to my motivation because it is a subject that I am interested in. If you would like to approach your doctoral learning from a secular point of view and blend that with your MTh, I see nothing wrong. As you point out their are people teaching who have a Christian point of view and a secular education. Dr. James Dobson comes to mind. He is a Christian Psychologist who is so identified with his 'Christianity' that he mistakenly gets called "Reverend". He in fact has a PhD in Psychology and is a former Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Southern California School of Medicince and was on the attending staff of Children's Hospital of LA in the Division of Medical Genetics. Of course now he has an international ministry and God has used him powerfully to bless many families.

To finish any doctoral program you must be motivated and enter it with your whole heart. To do otherwise is to end up ABD. As you are aware there are tough points in an academic program where you wonder what the heck you are doing as you sit inside banging away on a research paper while the family is out enjoying the beautiful day. When you are not doing research, you are feeling a little guilty that you should be. I have felt his and just kept focussed on the semester at hand. So, weigh the considerations and give considerable weight to where your heart is.

Best of luck!

North

 

Cory

I don't know what advice to give. Tom's observation on the delays of SA programs has been my experience. And that's one reason I considered doing two docs at once. But Cory I only work part time. Were I working full time, I wouldn't do it . Two at once is a bunch. If you've lots of time , maybe OK.

Best of "luck" and blessings too!

 

Guys,

Thanks for your input. I appreciate the perspectives you have shared.

I will continue to grapple with this issue. Unfortunately, the realities of my life will make it challenging to complete one program, much less two; so, a decision will have to be made. The UND application deadline is June 15th, so I'd like to come to a conclusion in advance of that date. If I choose to proceed with applying to UND, I'll end up taking the GRE in Fargo within the next several weeks.

I'm not terribly concerned with the time involved in the administrative processes at Stellenbosch. Because I've already been accepted and my proposal has already received final approval, all I have to do is register. My promoter, who is chair of his department, has offered to take responsibility for getting me registered. So, I have every confidence that, if I were to proceed with Stellenbosch, any delays would be minimal. Really, I've been given the green light to go ahead and commence my research as soon as registration is secured.

Again, thanks for your input. Blessings!

 

Cory,

I understand the research-only nature of Stellenbosch's doctoral program. But from the perspective of time management, how many visits are required to the campus in South Africa?

Dave

 

Oh, yeah. I knew there was something. I had forgotten how nasty the UND contact was when I inquired about the DA program. Somebody named Weaselfresser or Scheissenflinger or something like that. I hope he's not typical. Go with Maties, given the level of approval you've already got and the international prestige of the school. Then, suitably ornamented, go to UND and wow the locals.

 

Dr. Iseminger was probably the guy. He's been at the UND history department for something like 41 years. So long, in fact, that his office looks like it could benefit from a thorough archeological dig. He's been around so long, he has a philodenron plant on his top shelf that has literally grown its way around all four walls of his office. He's well meaning, but perhaps a bit lacking in the people skills department.

 

Dave,

My professor and I have actually exchanged some emails on this subject over the course of the last couple of days, and have come to some definition on this matter. My reservations about the residency requirements were actually part of what was causing me to second guess my future with Stellenbosch. However, now that we have this resolved, I think that I can put alternatives out of mind and proceed with confidence and eagerness. At the end of the day, this opportunity being offered by a theological faculty of international significance is too great to trade in for an American program that, if I didn't live in GF, ND, I would never even take notice of, much less enroll in.

The faculty rules dictate that international students must spend 6 months in residence. However, in my case, they are willing to make an exception. Prof. Hendriks says that he would like to see us aim at approximately 1 month of contact per year. Some years, we might make do with less. I'm hoping that we can survive with closer to 3 weeks per year. I certainly will be expected to appear in South Africa, and desire very much to do so. However, Prof. Hendriks also makes frequent appearances in the US because of his strong ties in the academic community here. This being so, he says that we can also spend some time together on American soil. He will be spending part of a sabbatical in the US next year, and has expressed a desire to come and see me in ND.

I really hope to spend some quality time in Stellenbosch. It is a community of significant historic character set in an absolutely scenic region of South Africa. I don't just want the education and the degree; I hope to gain experience and memories that I can carry with me for the rest of my life.

Blessings!

 

Cory,

I think you've made a wise decision. I think this is an opportunity just too good to pass up.

I believe this will be an experience you will treasure for the rest of your life.

God bless.

Michael

 

I agree wholeheartedly. You have made a good decision in terms of content as well as prestige. Since you have the ability to travel, I'm sure you will find your trips to Stellenbosch fascinating. Again, best of luck to you.

 

Cory: "I don't just want the education and the degree; I hope to gain experience and memories that I can carry with me for the rest of my life."

While the education you equip yourself with is primary, I think your attitude in this is wise. I hope you enjoy both the education and the experience.

Dave

 

Thanks again, guys!

Blessings!