ThM's are a bit of a holdover from the days when minsters went from the B.D. to ThM to ThD. Since the rise in popularity of the secular university model for evangelicals seeking terminal degrees, we have seen more M.Div/M.A. to Ph.D. (depending on the school). Some pastors obtain them because they want more theological training than the M.Div. and don't want to waste their time on a D.Min., studying church growth or some such thing. If you go to the PhD in a seminary environment, you may very well obtain a ThM along the way.

A secular PhD has a certain cache in some evangelical circles. Many Christian colleges prefer a person with a terminal degree from a secular school. Many Ph.D. programs will include a M.A. along the way. Pick up a M.Div. from seminary and you may end up with a M.A. and Ph.D. from UCLA, Harvard, or wherever.

On the money side, Southern has a decent PhD program and if you are SBC, it will be TONS cheaper than ANYTHING else out there (unless you are a total genius and able to pick up lots of aid). You didn't say what your speciality will be. SBTS has some VERY good people (e.g., Tom Nettles in Church History). However, if you go to a secular school for a PhD, expect to teach at that institution while you are a grad student, thus earning some money.

The idea of going to school with a family (particularly a non-working wife) is VERY tough. My wife and I married during our B.A. programs at Westmont. We both attended Fuller together, where we began having children mid way through the programs (my wife was still sitting on a funny pillow when she went to Dr. Fuller's class on the Sermon on the Mount). My several other programs were ALL done with kids underfoot [anywhere from 3-5 (and finally down to 1 again) currently at a time]. It is VERY difficult to do this. And, it can bury you in debt.

As to Fuller, it still has (IMO) a reputation for cranking out top flight scholars of a certain kind. People like Kim Riddlebarger (White Horse Inn) is a Fuller PhD (Piper received his M.Div. there). But, then, Dr. Purpose Driven got his D.Min. there! If you are thinking of teaching in a broadly evangelical school or in a secular university, Fuller would be fine. HOWEVER, it has positioned itself on the "cutting" edge left of the evangelical world. In some circles that will be a career blocker in and of itself.

__________________
Dennis E. McFadden, Ex Mainline Baptist (in Remission)
Atherton Baptist Homes, CEO
First Baptist Church of Alhambra, Member, Transformation Ministries (CA)

Click to get: Board Rules -- Signature Requirements -- Suggestions?