Originally Posted by R. Scott Clark

Hi David,



Sure, as long as you realize at, e.g., WSC, the primary focus is on training pastors and we won't do anything that interferes with that focus. That means that sometimes MA students can feel a little "forgotten," and we appreciate that, but it cannot be helped entirely.

That said, we do have three MA programs and a pretty good track record of sending students on to do advanced study. You can earn an MA and go on to doctoral work so long as you do well here and demonstrate that you have the ability to do the work.

Most Christian PhD students would benefit from theological training. I've seen some pretty bad historical dissertations that would have been helped immeasurably by a couple years in seminary, especially if one is intending to write on religious topics.



If one didn't go to seminary, then one should at least get some training at a Christian college somewhere.



Our view is yes, though we have had Ruling Elders serve as faculty members. One should at least be active on a session/consistory. Again, our primary vocation is to train pastors. It's theoretically possible for folk to train pastors without having pastoral experience themselves (and that's how most seminaries do it) but we find it helps a great deal for a prof to know how what they are teaching relates to pastoral ministry.



That's a matter of vocation. You need to decide whether you're called to teach folk what to think and do (theology) or what people have thought and done (history) or perhaps how to communicate (languages).

Blessings,

rsc