What bout Columbia Evangelical Seminary???

Sorry, Bill.

The hypothetical guy/gal chose CCU because of CCU's newly redesigned website. It does look nice.

 

Legitimate reasons for pursuing an "unaccredited" degree

I have read all the back and forth on here regarding the downfalls of getting an unaccredited degree, but I have yet to hear anyone speak to the positives.

I did some looking at a number of seminaries and found that all those conferring accredited degrees are extremely expensive and will inevitably pile a HUGE amount of post-graduation debt on the degree recipient. I fail to see how that could be at all honoring to God. One main reason a number of legitimate unaccredited schools remain unaccredited is because to seek accreditation with the U.S. government means being forced to comply with various government policies and standards in order to receive and maintain that accreditation. Sometimes these governmental requirements are not at odds with the Christian philosophy of the particular institution and sometimes they are. Also, the government requires compliance with a whole host of rules about property ownership, library size, and many other non-essential things in order to get and maintain said accreditation.

Finally, I am going to be very blunt on this point. While there is nothing at all wrong with getting a ministerial degree from an accredited school, if you are depending on that degree to offer you security and comfort in your career in the ministry, then you have no business going into the ministry in the first place. If God wants you ministering/teaching/preaching/working in a particular place, do you not believe He is big enough and powerful enough to open the necessary doors for you to be accepted and flourish there? These posts lead me to believe many of the individuals here look at a theological or ministerial degree the same way they would look at a degree in accounting or social work. The quality of the degree you get is not dependent on the size nor the accreditation status of the school you attend. It is dependent on you and what you put into your education.

Study to show yourself approved and leave the opening of the proper doors to God.

Blessings,
storypeddler (Robert)

 

Columbia Seminary is a good choice if you are looking to do a research degree. It has a good reputation, accepted by some in the Evangelical community, and from what I have seen and because of the format will never be accredited by anyone.

 

I have read all the back and forth on here regarding the downfalls of getting an unaccredited degree, but I have yet to hear anyone speak to the positives. It could be because there aren't that many positives to speak about.

I did some looking at a number of seminaries and found that all those conferring accredited degrees are extremely expensive and will inevitably pile a HUGE amount of post-graduation debt on the degree recipient. I fail to see how that could be at all honoring to God. Indeed, no argument here on the amassing of extreme student debt. This is one reason degree programs such as those in South Africa are so attractive. One earns a fully accredited degree at a fraction of the cost. One main reason a number of legitimate unaccredited schools remain unaccredited is because to seek accreditation with the U.S. government means being forced to comply with various government policies and standards in order to receive and maintain that accreditation. This argument has been used numerous times by numerous persons; however, regional accreditation requires no school to change/alter/amend its doctrinal position(s). Sometimes these governmental requirements are not at odds with the Christian philosophy of the particular institution and sometimes they are. Also, the government requires compliance with a whole host of rules about property ownership, library size, and many other non-essential things in order to get and maintain said accreditation.

Finally, I am going to be very blunt on this point. While there is nothing at all wrong with getting a ministerial degree from an accredited school, if you are depending on that degree to offer you security and comfort in your career in the ministry, then you have no business going into the ministry in the first place. If God wants you ministering/teaching/preaching/working in a particular place, do you not believe He is big enough and powerful enough to open the necessary doors for you to be accepted and flourish there? These posts lead me to believe many of the individuals here look at a theological or ministerial degree the same way they would look at a degree in accounting or social work. The quality of the degree you get is not dependent on the size nor the accreditation status of the school you attend. It is dependent on you and what you put into your education. It is true that a legitimately accredited degree in no way guarantees success in ministry. That said, an unaccredited or illegitimately accredited degree presents many potential hazards. And why should a ministerial degree not be held to the same level of integrity/rigor/substance/etc than a degree in accounting or social work? Ministry, theology, religion, etc., are fields of study just as accounting and social work. Why should the religious degree be exempt from integrity?

Study to show yourself approved and leave the opening of the proper doors to God.

Blessings,
storypeddler (Robert)

 

A good reputation among whom?