Erskine Catalog Lists Trinity Theological Seminary

Erskine Theological Seminary was founded in 1836. The seminary of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, Erskine has long enjoyed both regional and ATS accreditation.

In the 2002-2004 catalog, which I just received, several interesting statements are printed. Under the bio (Education/Experience section) of two of the faculty, Trinity Theological Seminary (Newburgh) is listed:

R. J. Gore, Jr., Ph.D. (Westminster): Dean of the Erskine Seminary
Adjunct Professor of Theology,
Trinity Theological Seminary, 1994-Present.

Stephen Lowe, Ph.D. (Michigan State University): Professor of Christian Education at Erskine
Trinity Theological Seminary, 1993-1997.

The credentials of these men are impeccable, their representative articles are found in solid journals and they serve as adjunct faculty at other RA schools (e.g., U or North Texas, US Army Chaplain School, U of Arkansas, John Brown University).

Since Erskine is my alma mater (D.Min.), I am acquainted firsthand with the academic quality of the seminary. So the references to Trinity are interesting.

 

I believe that if you do a google search on the "faculty" of TTS and--lest we forget, lest we forget---MDS Evansville, you will find a couple others with ties to Erskine. I did such a search several months ago but no longer have the results. Perhaps moonlight becomes them, perhaps not.
I cannot conceive of anybody questioning the integrity of Erskine. When I looked at their website IIRC there were some vague statements about doing more DL at Erskine. This might be worth somebody taking another look at the material.
If Erskine were to offer an entirely DL program, it would probably blow their ATS accreditation out of the water. It would also blow TTS out of the water, too.

 

Nor can I, as Erskine is an exemplary institution.

ETS has begun to offer some courses via DL, even more than were offered when I completed their D.Min. in '96. While completing the D.Min. I was allowed to take two courses (6 hours) via DL, but even these were not 100% DL courses. Face to face interaction with the prof's was required on several occasions.

There have been NO STATEMENTS made (vague or overt) suggesting degrees 100% via DL. Erskine's DL program is called EDEN, Erskine Distance Education Network. And per ATS requirements, only a percentage of one's degree may be completed via this method.

 

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There you go Russell, dangling bait again. Instead of me hanging on to that hook Russell, let me ask you the BIG question: SO WHAT? Will DTS allow an MDiv from Trinity with its global accreditation and world wide acceptance into the PhD program BECAUSE Erskine uses the word Trinity in its catalogue? Unizul, if my email with Song is correct , would not. Even Luther Rice which was founded by a Trinity prof rejects Trinity applicants. So....so what? Erskine makes mistakes. That they failed to convince your of your Arminian heresy is evidence of that( hee, hee),

 

Re: Re: Erskine Catalog Lists Trinity Theological Seminary

1. Bill, you are the only reason I started this thread. I knew when the bait was dangled, my old calvinist comrade would rally to the cause. I LOVE YOU, MAN!!!!!!!!!!

2. TTS is listed in Erskine's catalog, but I doubt this will facilitate TTS in jumping any major accreditation hurdles. But if I had a TTS MDiv and was seeking admission into DTS's Ph.D. program--hey, I could always say "Well, you know sir, TTS is listed in Erskine's catalog." <grin>

3. Now, you are correct on the last statement. Three years at Erskine and my Wesleyan-Arminian position was unaltered. My D.Min. director was Merwyn Johnson (PCUSA), who is strongly calvinistic (you would really like him, Bill). Dr. Johnson was a great guy, and I still have fond memories of my interaction with him.

Every time I passed that 3' X 4' portrait of Calvin I would think, "you really tried in Geneva ole fellow, and you had some good thoughts, but Augustine really fouled you up." <hee hee>

 

No one said Erskine was going to offer 100% DL. No one said that there were vague statements by Erskine to that effect.

 

Your post stated that you had seen vague statements about Erskine doing more DL (which is true, Erskine has begun to offer more DL courses) . Two sentences later it was stated that "if" Erskine began offering 100% DL degrees it would affect their ATS accreditation.

My post was simply in response to the latter, stating that Erskine has no plans to offer degrees 100% via DL.

 

Jawellnofine.
"Ons waag dit natuurlik nie om ons op een lyn te stel of te vergelyk met sekere mense wat so 'n danige dunk van hulle self het nie. Hulle is dom: hulle meet hulleself aan hulle eie maatstaf en vergelyk hulleself met hulleself." --Paulus.

 

Re: Re: Re: Erskine Catalog Lists Trinity Theological Seminary

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Yes, but friend Russell, the idea is not to learn theology from looking at pictures. One must read a bit too. (hee, hee)

 

For Real! No wonder I had such difficulty in systematic theology.