And, the bigpayoff is:? I had a visit with an assistant professor of Biblical Exposition at a RA school this week. He has a BA, MA in "horticulture" , then went on to Dallas TS after a hitch in the army, where he finished the ThM and PhD. The ThM requires a likely minimum of four years more to do after his 'secular' MA. So, at this point he would have had at least nine years of schooling. Then the DTS PhD requires an additional minimum of three years of further study including the ability to read: Hebrew, Greek, German, and French. It requires 32 semester units in class plus a dissertation of 200-250 pages. So now he has completed at least 12 years of schooling and has been a prof for nine years. I am not certain what this man earns a month , but my guess is, based on what I discovered my seminary profs earned, that his salary is less than a first grade teacher in public schools would make who became credentialed after five years of study. This doctor does not get rich by removing gallstones but eaks out a living by teaching elementary Greek and John's Gospel. Nor does he earn millions as does another of my acquaintances by the writing of Rapture novels which attempt to teach questionable eschatology by fanciful tales instead of exegetics. So, my new friend's big payoff for his 12+ year Theo doc is not $. A round of applause for that one who did not learn just to earn .
It's good to see someone who learned not for money but to teach. While money's good to have, it's not everything. That man sounds like a humble man with a burden to teach. That's the kind of Professor I'd rather have teaching me.
Amazing........and that's before he passes around the collection plate. I had always wondered what kind of salary a ThM/PhD person made. Thanks for the info Bill.
The real payoff will be when he reaches his final destination, and the One who he is working for thanks him for using his finite lifespan to teach others and change lives.
Surely, when he reaches his final reward, God will say to him, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." Or simply, "Putz." (What, you thought I could write a 100% serious response?)
In addition to the sacrifice of time, I hope he is not still paying off student loans or anything. The education you detailed is not cheap... but then, quality rarely is.
Your friend is to be commended for his discipline and love of the queen of sciences--theology. But I'm curious, Bill. How many people who earn doctorates in theology/ministry/religion really expect to receive monetary remuneration for their doctorates? So, while this gentleman is indeed to be commended for his achievement, there are myriad others who plug away month after month at their studies--many of whom are serving full-time in ministry. My hat is tipped to them all...........
Re: Re: $ and Theological Doctoral Degrees === Russell No, as my reference to my Western Seminary profs indicates, I am aware that it is typical, not unusual, that after 10-12 years or more of serious study the Theological Doc at a seminary or private college will earn but a modest sum . This guy could have made more raising flowers likely! Nor was I suggesting that my new acquaintance was any more devoted than the thousands of men and women who similarly rigorously prepare themselves to serve and do serve with humble recompense. And I agree that they don't finish their studies anticipating getting vast financial rewards as a consequence of those years of grueling preparation. But because there are truly many like him does not mean his story should not receive a paragraph of space on this site particularly since many who study in most other disciplines do so mainly to earn financial benefits. Further, the pages here are full of stories of a repetitious nature and the same questions asked and answered a hundred times and the same argumentation used again and again saying the same thing over and over. And this is OK as constant new folks come here. So while your qualification is true that many others also do as he does, I see that fact as no just reason to not tell his story . I assume you just wished to make it known to all that he is not unusual. But I think, compared to the majority , he is!.
Re: Re: Re: $ and Theological Doctoral Degrees Not unusual in terms of the myriad others who serve in a ministerial capacity, who have also disciplined themselves in academic studies, and who also could have made a much more lucrative living in another field. But I agree with you, when compared to the majority of humankind, he is unlike the majority. My post was in no way intended to demean this person or his story, only to say that many others have sacrificied equally.
Re: Re: Re: Re: $ and Theological Doctoral Degrees You are correct Russell. Ann Landers or Abby once called clergy the most under paid professionals in America. Seven years of college (sometimes 8 with internship)....... Four years of undergraduate study and then three - four years of graduate study (90 plus graduate hours & internship) to work far more than 40 hours a week and for not a lot of $$ even after years of work. Many congregations also expect a free co-worker in the pastors wife). Many of the larger congregations in mainline denominations seem to be expecting pastors to have a doctorate. North
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: $ and Theological Doctoral Degrees I agree with you here, Bill. My only point was that there are many who do fall within the parameters of your friend's level of achievement--and they all warrant respect. I personally know clergy who would love to pursue further studies, but a lack of financial resources prevents them from doing so. So for every one who "makes it" to the level of your friend, sadly, there are probably several who would love to do so but lack the financial ability to do so. So for everyone who reaches such pinnacles of academic achievement, I tip my hat in respect. They are indeed to be commended.
