I would echo what Luke said. Look up the authors, theologians, and teachers that you like. Then, check what schools they attended, what schools they teach at, what schools are associated with them, etc.

Also, most schools have some kind of affiliation. I am presently at Calvin College, which is obviously Reformed. Westminster Theological Seminary, Reformed Theological Seminary, and Southern Theological Seminary are of this ilk.

Dallas is the mainstay of Dispensational teaching, which is why I would never consider it. As Luke pointed out, his list is considered much more liberal, “progressive,” and some schools aren’t evangelical. Denver is also more free to differ with tradition.

Here’s the thing: It’s okay to be broad and progressive. But it’s another thing entirely to go against the orthodox, catholic teaching of the corporate church for the past 2,000 years (lower-case “o”rthodox, “c”atholic). For example, Westminster Theological Seminary is heralded as one of the greatest schools, and one reason is because it simultaneously upholds Reformed tradition, while further exploring its implications deeper and deeper.

For a great post on this subject that is fresh off the press, James K. A. Smith (theologian, philosopher) just put a blog post up about secular colleges, Christian colleges, and the idea of “education”: should it be cultivation of free thinking, or formation of correct thinking?

http://forsclavigera.blogspot.com/2008/11/fish-on-academic-freedom-again.html

-Aaron

My list was very short btw. I started looking at Gordon Conwell (Boston campus) but quickly realized they didn’t quite offer the foundation in Bible exposition that I was seeking. So I started using DTS as a curriculum gauge as I explored, never really thinking that I would actually go there. But when I met with my pastor, a DTS grad, he encouraged me to consider where else? Which is where I am now. My 2nd choice was Talbot.

So just a couple of thoughts. Maybe consider what area of ministry you are interested in. I would say follow the leading figures in that area and see where either they teach, have taught or are affiliated with in some way, like speaking engagements.

Also, examine the doctrinal statement and make sure its one you are comfortable with. Some may be too lax in a key area or too and some may be to rigid. Curriculum is a consideration also. For me, I knew I wanted a strong foundation in bible exposition and exegesis in original languages in context of dispensationalism so my choices were a bit easy.

If you’ve already come up with a list, maybe scan publications from faculty and see what they’re saying and their theological positioning.

Anyway, just some thoughts. Hope it helps.

Would any of you care to share how you come to your lists?

Evaluating seminaries and obtaining honest objective information form their admissions office can be difficult to say the least.

How can one know the leaning and core of a seminary without knowing many (if any) graduates from there?

Thanks!

Adam

Ph.D. is good for someone that takes an academic route for
a career, but it isn’t necessary for the pulpit. And, on the
same note, most guys that take a Th.M. don’t really know
the Bible until they are out of school for a few decades.

Most theology people that we encounter that operates our churches
work from template concepts they learned in any
screwall. Most of the time the degrees and schools are
chosen and taken for resume enhancement.

People view DTS as some staunchly conservative dispensational institution. This may be the DTS of the 80s, but it is hardly the case today. There is no way some professors there could teach at other conservative institutions. This isn’t evident in the literature I assume because of the pressure the school has to maintain it’s “conservative” status, but if you speak with certain students there, then you would know what I speak of. They’re not liberal in the sense of denying essentials or buying into all the higher criticism stuff (JEDP, deutero-Isaiah, etc), but many professors have beliefs, interpretations, and hermeneutics you wouldn’t hear in a southern baptist church. Personally, I view this as a good thing, but I believe the general public thinks of DTS as if it were still in the 80s, which it is clearly not (nearly everyone I know thinks it’s some staunchly conservative, classical-dispensational, and fundamentalist school….trust me, it’s not).

Even though some may see my list as somewhat progressive and liberal, I still tried to keep it evangelical (maybe with the exception of Duke, who I basically added because I like Hauerwas and Hays and b/c out of all the more liberal divinity schools they are the most involved and caring about the health of the church).

Denver Seminary
Fuller Seminary
Dallas Theological Seminary
Asbury Seminary
Duke Divinity

Places I wouldn’t really consider:

Southern Seminary
Southwestern Seminary
Gordon-Conwell
RTS
Westminster (especially post-Enns)
Southeastern Seminary

What I look for:

Honest scholarship
Scholars not afraid to go against the party-line
Emphasis on exegesis and biblical theology (not systematics)
Profs interested in students
Novelty
Missional
Love for people, love for God
No gay rules like we’re still in high school
Practical and incarnational
No dichotomy between orthodoxy and orthopraxy