Yeah, I get your point Jonathan. The States does seem to have some excellent Seminary options. I know of some young men in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (which is slowly going the way of PCUSA) who went to WTS rather than the PCI's own college in Belfast.

Your three requirements - 1689 Conf., traditional worship, and cessationist - sounds like a reformed baptist of the Met Tab variety. So if reformed baps are not sending their men to any of the colleges I mentioned then it is unlikely that any would come out. Highland would have a Presbyterian slant and Reformed Theological College is primarily for the Reformed Presbys in Ireland (who are exclusive Psalm singers without musical instruments). OakHill would be primarily evangelical Anglican with some Independents thrown in for good measure (although I note that Gary Williams from OakHill was one of the speakers at the Banner of Truth conference this year).

I suppose I would be comfortable going to any of them (I am a reformed bap who belongs to a Presbyterian congregation) because godly pastoral training is not just restricted to reformed baps. In fact, the Reformed Theological College in Belfast has some exceptionally gifted Profs. but every one of them pastors a church somewhere in Ireland.

I think Derek Thomas (now of First Presbyterian in Jackson) completed his PhD work via Highland. He seems to think it is a good college.

Duke

__________________
Dr Philip S. Taylor
Husband to Jayne
Member of Whiteabbey Presbyterian Church (PCI)
Reformed Bap (most of the time)
Research Fellow (Queen's University Belfast)
Belfast, Northern Ireland
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