Going to Seminary

A few people have commented that my lens would be better if I explained what seminary was... Well, the purpose isn't really to explain "what" seminary is, rather to give some advice to those thinking about going... None the less, I thought I'd be nice to include some information to help those who are just interested in reading:

(With a little help from the good folks at Wikipedia)

A seminary or theological college is a specialized and often live-in higher education institution for the purpose of instructing students (seminarians) in philosophy, theology, spirituality and the religious life, usually in order to prepare them to become members of the clergy. The English word is taken from the Latin seminarium, translated as seed-bed. In the Occident, the term historically refers to Christian educational institutes for clergy (mostly Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic, as many Protestant denominations preferred another term for their theological colleges).

253 seminaries... that's a bunch. So, how do you decide on which one to attend? How do you know which is the best seminary?

Well, this is seminary, so prayer is always a good starting place. As you prayerfully submit your decision making process to the Lord, there are a couple things to think through. In this post, we'll look at step one, "what degree do I want to pursue?"

This is step one because knowing what degree you want to pursue will help eliminate all seminaries that don't have the degree and it will also help in future steps when you are looking at specific aspects of the program within the seminary you are considering.

Most seminaries offer several standard degree options (We'll only be looking at Masters degrees in this series):

• Master of Divinity (M.Div.)


• Masters of Theology (Th.M.)


• Masters of Arts (M.A. in ___ )
  
  
  
  • Biblical Studies
  
  
  • Theological Studies
  
  
  • Christian Thought
  
  
  • Counseling
  
  
  • Missions
  
  
  • Youth Ministry
  
  
  • Religion

Now, this list isn't exhaustive, but it is a good representation of what is available. So, what is the difference in all of these?

The M.Div. is seen as the "traditional" degree that someone would go to seminary to get. This degree is almost universally the standard for ordination in all mainline denominations. Meaning, if you want to be a pastor in a denominational church, then this is probably the degree you're going to want to go for.

The M.Div. is going to take the longest to get, requiring 106 credit hours to graduate. You will be will be required to learn both Greek and Hebrew and you will take courses in theology, history, bible, and communication. Almost every M.Div. program is designed specifically to prepare the student for pastoral ministry.

The Th.M. is an advanced degree that almost always requires you to first have your M.Div. in order to be accepted into the program. That said, I feel like I've seen a few Th.M.'s that didn't require it... but I believe they are few and far between.

The Th.M. is designed to allows a student the opportunity to take specialized advanced studies in theological research. Th.M. programs typically require 30-60 credit hours for graduation and will typically require writing a thesis paper. This degree is typically gained in preparation for doctoral studies (Doctor of Ministry, D.Min.; Doctor of Theology, Th.D.; Doctor of Psychology, Ph.D.) and typically emphasizes a specific area of study. For example, at Reformed Theological Seminary, the Th.M. program focuses on Reformation Studies (saw that coming).

Finally, the M.A. is a degree designed to give concentrated study in a specific field. Part of the appeal of the M.A. is that you are only taking classes that are in your area of study. So, for example, if you want an M.A. in Biblical Studies, then most of your coursework will be in classes studying, very specifically, the scriptures. However, an M.A. in Missions will also, study the scriptures, but it will focus more class time on engaging and ministering within different cultures.

Now, I don't have the time to go into the details of all the M.A.'s available, but I hope you get the gist of what the degree is all about.

Knowing the degrees that are available to you will be useful as you seek to narrow down your list of seminaries. If you know you want an M.A. in Counseling... well, you've just knocked down a whole bunch of schools.

Finally, whatever degree you end up going for, you will likely need to get some noise cancelling headphones. These things really help you focus on your studies and I used them my entire seminary journey. They are really great!

According to a report from the Association of Theological Schools, the average tuition for a full time seminary student (05-06 school year) was $11,039. And that is just tuition... don't forget about books, rent, bills, etc.

Well, if you're looking for some assistance, the most obvious place to start is looking for a seminary scholarship here are a couple links that might also help:

- goingtoseminary.com's money section
- The Fund for Theological Education
- A List of Scholarships for Seminary Students

Along with those links, many seminaries have resources for students with financial needs. Two common (and really great) programs are:

Church Partnership Programs
In this program the school will offer a matching scholarship, typically up to 1/3 of your tuition, so long as your home church agrees to cover a portion of your tuition. This is a great deal!

Spouses attend FREE!
Two degrees for the price of one. Now, most seminaries will allow the spouse of a full time student to attend classes, however, some of these are only for auditing. That said, SOME will offer your spouse full credit courses. That's like getting two degrees for the price of one!

Whether you decided to do work study, get a grant, take out a loan, or apply for a seminary scholarship, remember that it is going to cost you to attend seminary. But, as the old saying goes, "Where God guides, He supplies."

With the advances of technology these days it is truly amazing the education one can get just by hoping online. Which raises a question, "How important is getting the actual seminary degree?"

Now, as I mentioned in my "which degree is for me" post, if you want to be a pastor in a denominational church, then the answer to this question is pretty obvious... very important. But, say you're just wanting to expand your education, or you simply want to gain some deeper understanding in a few areas, but the actual degree isn't something you need... or maybe the finance just aren't there...or maybe you just want to test the waters.

Well, there is an option. Many of the best seminaries are starting to make their class lectures available for FREE! That's right, you can sit in on literally hundreds of hours of seminary teaching and never leave the comfort of your iPod.

Here is a list of some of the seminaries I know who are giving away their lectures. If you know of anymore, please post a comment and share the goodness.

SEMINARY COURSES AVAILABLE FOR FREE:

- Reformed Theological Seminary (iTunes Required)
- Fuller Theological Seminary (iTunes Required)
- Covenant Theological Seminary
- Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (Registration Required)

So, I figure it would be good to work on a list of seminaries offering online and distance education degrees. Now, keep in mind that almost every school that offers a distance education will require, at least, some residential classes. This list will only include programs that are accredited by the Association of Theological Schools and allow you to complete 90% of your degree off campus:

- Reformed Theological Seminary Master of Arts in Religion (MAR)
-Fuller Theological Seminary Master of Arts in Global Leadership
-Covenant Seminary Master of Arts in Theological Studies (MATS)
- Liberty University (too many to figure out which ones are totally distance)

Apparently this company, Chegg, rents college textbooks. The cost to rent for a semester is about 55-65% off the list price. Now, yes, I think you should buy all your seminary books and keep them as a resource for the rest of your life and then pass them along to someone when you die... However, if money is tight, this might be a good solution.

I did a quick search for "systematic theology" and it returned 213 results. So, it looks, at first glance, that they would have the books you'd need. Also, I found that if you use the code: Rent4Spring you can get a 5% discount.

Finally, as you might notice in the ad, they'll plant a tree for every book you rent... so that is always nice.

As for book renting... I don't know... if anything it is interesting.

Here is some wise words from tHe Resurgence on having a family while attending seminary. I find it all very helpful:

1. You are not single without children. Your priorities are 1) God, 2) Family, 3) everything else. If you lose your family for your ministerial aspirations, you have lost your qualifications for the ministry.

2. If you need A's and B's for possible doctoral studies, take fewer classes rather than upsetting the priority list above. If you were an A student in college, you must get past the idolatry of the grade.

3. You may not always be able to read everything assigned in a class. Be judicious in what you set out to accomplish. Rank the importance of the texts at the beginning of the semester, acquiring the professor's help if necessary, and start with those. You must be diligent in your reading, even if you are not a quick reader. Nonetheless, set a goal and a corresponding calendar to get all your work completed for each class, having the important texts read in case (err, when) an emergency crops up.

4. Get papers completed early and utilize the Writing Lab (or similar writing/tutoring service if available). Since you may not be able to read the quantity of books a single or non-father student will devour while in seminary, and therefore without the benefit of exposure to as diverse examples writing quality, you must pay attention to edits and critiques of your writing in order to improve.

5. Do not neglect Bible study and devotion times. You may have to change your routine or your devotion time during the day. You must spend time in the Bible to supplement your seminary education. This means that you should not neglect Bible study for an assignment (but neither should you use it as an excuse for not completing something due to poor planning or management).

6. Read wisely. Select your books carefully. Read reviews. Open the book before you read, peruse the bibliography to get a feel for what main sources the author draws from, read the biographical information about the author, note the publisher, and read the last chapter. This will get your mind in tune to the work and ready to glean its significant points. Unfortunately many books in the bookstore today hide significant points within sermon illustrations, anecdotes and useless repetition of nonsense instead of coming right out and saying, "This is my point/thesis, this is what it means, this is why it's true and this is why its significant."

7. Keep up with your languages (see this site for help)!! Michael suggests to take them early, and if you want to get done in 3-4 years, you must take them right away. Also, try to group classes (like OT + Hebrew, NT + Greek, Preaching + NT Greek, etc.) and remember many electives usually require more outside study time than core classes. Pick your electives very carefully, especially if you want a concentration.

8. Do not ever, ever decide on a professor based on his soteriology. But try to pick classes based on the professor you want to take. This may mean figuring out a way to take Tuesday and/or Thursday classes, or changing your schedule. Yet never dismiss a professor. God has something for you to learn in every class, and if you think otherwise, you don't need to be in seminary.

9. Debate other students wisely. Michael's advice here is spot on- make sure you know what you are talking about and be humble. If you are a Calvinist, try to steer clear of debates on Calvinism. Do not say anyone is "not God-centered." For all, do not dismiss anyone out of ignorance. Too many who pipe up in class debates on the subject quickly reveal they do not know what is going on. Do not say Reformed Baptist churches should call themselves Presbyterian. Do not call everyone attending non-Reformed churches "man-centered" or "seeker-sensitive." And don't discuss soteriology the first time you meet someone.

10. Do not believe what blogs say about seminaries. Once you begin attending, the ignorance of many bloggers is revealed when you see things are directly opposite what they dogmatically claim. If anyone comments on the intellectual level of the faculty, it reveals a biblical-realism disconnect (i.e. an affinity to academy rather than biblical theology).

11. Don't be loud. Don't dominate conversations and theological discussion. Do not ask questions every class period, and do not ask multiple questions per class. Everyone in the classroom is paying money to hear the professor.

12. Having obligations such as a professional job and a family will preclude you from fitting in to the "campus crowd." Expect not to be a favored student. Be careful who you partner with in accountability.

13. Do ministry. Do not fall into the trap that ministry begins after seminary. One example: have people over for dinner often. Ministry does not have to mean teaching a class at your church. In fact, if you are not already on staff somewhere, volunteer for jobs you may never have the chance to do again, like parking duty or cleaning bathrooms.

14. Men, support your family. Don't be shy about accepting help when offered, even if it is enough to live on. This is God's provision. However, going into chronic debt is not healthy. Do not put your babies in day care for seminary.

15. Do not neglect family devotion time. Catechize your children. Read through Scripture and doctrine with your wife.

16. Try hard. Seminary is hard work. It is harder than you can imagine. Know this, but determine to do the best you can do (given various circumstances) on every assignment. The rewards are sweet.

17. Exercise. For you husbands who love your wives, buy a jogging stroller (do they make four-seaters?) and take the kids off her hands in the evening while you get some exercise. Give her time alone to do her quiet time, cook, or simply catch her breath. What a great stress reliever for you both! (Thanks SelahV for the reminder)