Best Evangelical Seminary

Discussion in 'Education, Teaching and related degrees' started by xtrabusy, Aug 12, 2011.

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Which seminary would you attend?

  1. Gordon-Conwell

    37.5%
  2. Westminster Theological Seminary

    12.5%
  3. Trinity Evangelical

    25.0%
  4. Reformed Theological Seminary

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  5. Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  6. Covenant Seminary

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  7. Dallas Theological Seminary

    62.5%
Multiple votes are allowed.
  1. xtrabusy

    xtrabusy New Member

    I'm curious to know if any has a rough idea of the expected costs of a year (tuition and board) at any of the following seminaries? Also, which has the most rigorous scholarship?

    1. Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
    2. Reformed Theological Seminary
    3. Westminster Theological Seminary
    4. Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
    5. Covenant Seminary
    6. Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary

    I'm a TNARS Bachelor of Arts in Theological Studies student, considering further study options. Would appreciate any recommendations also...or personal feedback on any of the above, particularly Master's Level courses.
     
  2. StefanM

    StefanM New Member

    I'm not sure how to answer because there are so many factors in play.

    1) You will not have an accredited BA. This is going to make the admission process more difficult. Many schools will admit students on probation or conditionally, but it all depends on the individual institution.

    2) Denominational affiliation. Depending on which denomination you intend to work in, different seminaries might have different advantages.

    3) Theological orientation. Do you want a strictly reformed seminary or a more broadly evangelical one?

    ---------
    My thoughts:

    If you want a broadly evangelical seminary, it's a toss-up between TEDS and GCTS. TEDS is on the campus of a university, so this might change things for you. Both are respected institutions. GCTS has multiple locations, so you might want to check on the Charlotte vs. the Boston campuses.

    If you want a reformed seminary, I'd suggest Westminster (PA) from that list. Westminster California is also an option. RTS (again, multiple campuses, MS and FL) is also respected in reformed circles. Covenant Seminary is good if you want to work in PCA churches. PRTS is too new to really have much clout, but if your denomination likes it, it may be beneficial for you.
     
  3. emmzee

    emmzee New Member

  4. xtrabusy

    xtrabusy New Member

    Thanks StefanM for your thoughts. Your comments accord with what I was already thinking. I realize that TNARS isn't accredited, but I'd be hoping that inspection of my coursework would at least allow me a probationary period.

    I would be most inclined towards Gordon-Conwell for the rigorous scholarship reason, as well as its long-standing reputation. TEDS also interests, with the D.A. Carson and Grudem affiliations. I would be more inclined towards a broadly evangelical school than a strictly reformed one, although most of my convictions lie in the former camp. What do you mean about TEDS being on the campus of a university? What difference might this make?

    Thanks emmzee for the very helpful calculator tool; I wasn't aware of it. Costs are quite expensive for the MDiv program. Are scholarships easy to come by?
     
  5. xtrabusy

    xtrabusy New Member

    Also, is Gordon-Conwell slightly more liberal than TEDS...or are both solidly within the conservative evangelical camp for the most part? I understand Timothy J. Keller attended GC for his MDiv, while Carson/Grudem both lectured at TEDS. Are any of the seminaries ecumenical as regards their position on the Roman Catholic Church?

    Any thoughts welcomed.
     
  6. Anthony Pina

    Anthony Pina Active Member

    My choice would be Fuller Theological Seminary.
     
  7. graymatter

    graymatter Member

    I had a great experience at Asbury Theological Seminary, Kentucky campus.
     
  8. StefanM

    StefanM New Member

    TEDS is on the campus of Trinity International University. The difference between a divinity school in the context of a university and a free-standing seminary is that the divinity school will be in the context of the university community, including undergraduates and graduate students studying outside the field of religion. A free-standing seminary will focus exclusively on theological education, so you won't have as much demographic variety. IMO, both models work, but your personal preferences often play a role.
     
  9. StefanM

    StefanM New Member

    Based on the statements of faith, I would say that both schools are conservative. I don't have any information on ecumenism.
     
  10. major56

    major56 Active Member

    My personal selections and in this order would be:

    Duke Divinity School
    Princeton Seminary
    Notre Dame
    Westminster Theological Seminary
    Oxford
    Cambridge
    Toronto School of Theology
    Wycliffe College
    Boston College
    Fordham
    St. Louis U
    Marquette
    University of Chicago Divinity School
    Yale Divinity School
    Harvard Divinity School
    Vanderbilt Divinity School
    Catholic University
    Pepperdine (Seaver College)
    Perkins School of Theology (SMU)
    Truett Theological Seminary (Baylor)
    Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology (Berkley)
    Creighton University
    Abilene Christian Graduate School of Theology
    Hazelip School of Theology (David Lipscomb)
    Harding School of Theology
    Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
     
  11. emmzee

    emmzee New Member

    Re major56's list, it really depends where someone would like to teach. Duke is considered more liberal AFAIK, so if you want to teach at a conservative school (or become a pastor at an evangelical/conservative church) then as prestigious as the Duke name is, it won't help you in that regard. (Same with Yale & Harvard.) I have to ask why you listed TEDS last? I'm glad to see Toronto School of Theology near the top of your list though, I'm considering applying to them for January 2012.
     
  12. major56

    major56 Active Member

    Emmzee,

    Though listed lastly (Trinity Evangelical Divinity School), my generic listings were entirely personal. The order really had little to do with program recognition or quality. Even though I’m Church of Christ, I also listed the four CoC schools nearer the bottom (Pepperdine, ACU, Lipscomb, and Harding) in an attempt to be impartial in my personal rankings.
     
  13. xtrabusy

    xtrabusy New Member


    Thanks for your suggestions, although I am DEFINITELY attending an evangelical seminary because of my convictions. Why is Gordon Conwell not in the list?
     
  14. friendorfoe

    friendorfoe Active Member

    I'm not a seminary kind of guy but if I were looking I'd start with the much respected and well regarded Moody Bible Institute and also check out Liberty University and last but not least, Luther Rice University.
     
  15. xtrabusy

    xtrabusy New Member

    Friendorfoe, your theological persuasion is revealed in your choices. Moody and Liberty would be both Arminian-inclined seminaries, whereas I would be more inclined toward a Reformed or neutral seminary. Any suggestions in that line?
     
  16. StefanM

    StefanM New Member

    You might be interested in checking out the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. It is a conservative, Calvinistic seminary in the Baptist tradition.
     
  17. graymatter

    graymatter Member

    If Armenian is what one is looking for, I'd recommend Asbury Theological Seminary. Can't imagine anyone but a hyper-Calvinist referring (inaccurately) to Liberty as Armenian.
     
  18. StefanM

    StefanM New Member

    Liberty (generally) would be Arminian with the exception of the Arminian belief in the possibility of losing one's salvation. Liberty's seminary as a whole is staunchly non-Calvinist.

    However, it would not be in the Wesleyan-Arminian tradition as Asbury is.
     
  19. xtrabusy

    xtrabusy New Member

    I agree with StefanM in that regard, Liberty being anti-Calvinist rather than pro-Arminian. No worries, no hyper-Calvinst here. SBTS is a bit too baptist-oriented for me...have narrowed down to TEDS and Gordon-Conwell, I think.
     
  20. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    Strictly for my own education, would someone please help me understand the meaning of the term "evangelical" in this thread. What makes a school (or a religious sect, etc.) evangelical? How does this distinguish it from some other religion that is other than evangelical? What are the other (non-evangelical) categories? Most of these distinctions are lost on me and I would like to understand them better.
     

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