Northwestern Theological Seminary Less Than Faithful

Discussion in 'Accreditation Discussions (RA, DETC, state approva' started by RockyMountainStude, Jun 15, 2013.

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  1. RockyMountainStude

    RockyMountainStude New Member

    FACTS:
    • Northwestern Theological Seminary enrolled me and I completed my course work with the highest grades. I paid my tuition as prescribed and submitted my thesis in September of 2012, nearly a year ago.
    • NTS communicated with me until I paid my $2300 “love offering” in full, then they stopped communicating with me and have refused to respond to repeated email inquiries. I have been writing to them for nearly a year.
    • I have not received the Masters degree promised by NTS, and I am out over $2300. NTS has refused to even respond to my questions about my status. They boast that they are responsive to all email inquiries, blah, blah…

    **Enroll with Northwestern Theological Seminary at your own risk. They have not upheld their end of their agreement with me. NTS has been less than honest, unprofessional, and unwilling to communicate, yet they are very willing to take your money. In my experience Northwestern Theological Seminary has been less than faithful. Beware!
     
  2. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    And their "accreditation" is from an unrecognized "accreditor."
     
  3. LGFlood

    LGFlood New Member

    Ted,

    Yes, that is correct. And from their website, it's obvious they also choose to be deceitful on why there is no accreditation. They state:

    "Northwestern Theological Seminary is a member in good standing with the IACEA. The International Association for Christian Educational Accountability is a Christian alternative to secular accreditation and as such, is not controlled or dictated to by the U.S. Dept. of Education thus allowing Biblical positions to be supported in areas such as Abortion, Same Sex Marriage etc. Educational Accountability and Accreditation are interchangeable."

    Once again, it should be noted that regional accreditation does not control or dictate a school's curriculum. In addition to the aforementioned paragraph being a grammatical nightmare, it is also false. Furthermore, I would love to look at the credentials of their faculty, if there even exists one. Schools like NTS upset me because they contribute to the stereotype of inferior academics being predominant at Christian universities.
     
  4. RAM PhD

    RAM PhD Member

    RMS,

    Welcome to the forum, and many condolences for your loss of the tuition. Unfortunately, if you printed a Master's diploma on your home printer, it would have as much legitimate value/utility as the one from NTS.

    Seriously, cut your losses, learn from this well-intentioned mistake, and pursue a Master's degree from a school with legitimately recognized accreditation. The end result of the former path isn't worth it.
     
  5. graymatter

    graymatter Member

    Absolutely. This is what troubles me about situations like this as well.
     
  6. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    The head of this "Christian School" appears to be Dr. Howard M. Sarkela, Ph.D., Th.D., D.D., about whom 'tis written "... this man of God who has been recognized by Pat Robertson, Oral Roberts and numerous other respected servants of Christ."

    And he lets this happen? On his watch? :sad:

    From the web-pages, this Dr. Sarkela appears to be head of:

    Northwestern Christian University www.northwesternchristianuniversity.com
    Northwestern Theological Seminary www.northwesternseminary.com
    Worldwide Church of Jesus Christ www.christianallianceministries.com/
    Christian Alliance Ministries (as above)

    Perhaps a direct appeal to the top - or threat of legal action might bring results. You want your money back. The full shot!

    Let all our members beware of these organizations and those who run them!

    Johann
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 18, 2013
  7. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    What troubles me most is when a (supposedly) "Christian" (at least in name) school takes the money and runs!

    That (and also the "inferior academics") looks to be the case here! How Christ-centred is that? :sad:

    Johann

    PS - Seeing as the money was accepted as a "love offering" instead of tuition, good luck recovering it. What a contemptible process!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 19, 2013
  8. RAM PhD

    RAM PhD Member

    Faculty credentials are nowhere to be found. Then, on page 51 of the NTS catalog: We do not endorse, recommend or conduct any screenings as to the competency of any of our staff or any faculty or advisors associated with any of our ministries...It is the student's responsibility to assess the quality and competency of the seminary and staff, faculty and advisors.

    WOW, in other words, we don't know for sure that any of our faculty persons are competent to teach because we've never screened them.

    If this isn't ludicrous enough, the catalog further states that when one signs the enrollment application: You are giving up your rights to sue NTS.
     
  9. LGFlood

    LGFlood New Member

    Disgusting.
     
  10. RAM PhD

    RAM PhD Member

    There are many things that purport to be Christian, but under scrutiny the resemblance quickly fades. Rest assured that those of us within the Christian community who place a high premium on integrity, ethical standards and substantive academics, have no affinity for such entities.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 19, 2013
  11. RAM PhD

    RAM PhD Member

    NTS PhD in as little as 12 Weeks

    The NTS Accelerated Academic Degree Program is a degree by research program. Based on student qualifications, the AADP is designed to be accomplished in as little as (12) twelve weeks to (1) one year from enrollment.
    Accelerated Degrees

    It gets deeper and deeper. :(((
     
  12. RAM PhD

    RAM PhD Member

    United States Federal Agent Miguel A. Contreras's NTS Report

    Federal Agent's Report

    Federal agents endorsing schools? :))
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 19, 2013
  13. graymatter

    graymatter Member

  14. RAM PhD

    RAM PhD Member

  15. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    I note "Agent Dr. Dr. Dr. Contreras" retired from the Feds in 2006. So, I guess he can shill as much as he wants and collect his pension besides.

    I speed-read some of his blurb for NTS head, Dr. Dr. Dr. Sarkela. Like syrup. Diabetics shouldn't read a word of it! :sad:

    Johann
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 19, 2013
  16. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Well-said, Ram. I believe it. The genuine have nothing to worry about. But these folks.... :sad:
    They sometimes get me mad and I wonder WWTSD - "what would Tony Soprano do?" :jester:

    Johann

    PS - He'd send in Furio! :smile: Here endeth the first lesson!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 19, 2013
  17. LGFlood

    LGFlood New Member

    Be careful, RockyMountain. (Tongue-in-cheek) A former student named Joshua Lubbers went online to complain about NTS and received the following reply from "Doctor" Sarkela:

    "I DEMAND AN APOLOGY..

    WE WILL FORGIVE YOU, BUT YOU NEED TO REALIZE THAT WE HAVE FULFILLED OUR OBLIGATION TO YOU AS A STUDENT.

    POSTING ON THE INTERNET WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE ACTION ON OUR PART. WE WILL EITHER CANCEL YOUR DEGREE, OR NOTE APPROPRIATELY IN YOUR TRANSCRIPTS AS TO YOUR POOR SELF CONTROL, LACK OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY, INABILITY TO RELATE RESPECTFULLY TO AUTHORITY ETC, ETC..

    NTS HAS FULLY COMPLIED AND FULFILLED ALL OBLIGATIONS TO YOU AS A FORMER STUDENT OF NTS AND NOW AN NTS ALUMNI."

    "Doctor" Sarkela, is in my opinion, insane. The dialogue can be viewed here: Northwester Theological Seminary: is it real? - Distance Learning Forum | GetEducated.com

    Also, this section comes from the NTS website:

    CONCERNING OUR FOUNDER:

    Bishop. Dr. Howard M. Sarkela, Ph.D., Th.D., D.D.

    Colleges and Universities Attended: Highland Park Junior College, Detroit Bible College, William Tyndale College, World Bible Institute, University of Alabama, Northwestern Theological Seminary, Northwestern Christian University, Eckerd College, and The American International University

    Please note that it does not specify where he received each degree. As far as the D.D. is concerned, it is moot as the U.S. does not award a D.D. on the basis of academic achievement. As far as the other doctorates are concerned, they are probably issued by NTS, or from himself. This is a common practice with religious mills. If he did any coursework at any of the accredited institutions listed above, it was more than likely undergraduate. I would venture to guess that Sarkela didn't even receive a legitimate Bachelor's.
     
  18. LGFlood

    LGFlood New Member

  19. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Oh, my! And here's the Succession of Howie's Church! Starts (of course) with St. Peter and continues in an uninterrupted line to... Howard Sarkela & Co.!

    Historic Succession
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 19, 2013
  20. LGFlood

    LGFlood New Member

    Wow, Johann. I thought you were kidding. SMH.
     
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