A little late to this party. The one thing I didn’t see addressed here (unless I missed it) is career-change pastors. Is it essential that someone with a couple of degrees and many years of work experience go back to seminary? Not that it’s unheard of to do that, but the college-freshman dorm discussions have already been done a couple of times. You get to a point of diminishing returns. Secular example: Someone has a degree in, say, computer science. After 10-20 years working in industry, they decide they want to get a Masters in software engineering. Is an online masters as good as an on-campus degree? In that case, probably so. Someone who has been in the workforce for 10, 20, or 30 years, and has been attending and/or leading in church, has probably already experienced a lot of the non-education-related on-campus events that add to an on-campus degree. Is it necessary to repeat them? Seems like the advantages of an on-campus degree accrue mostly to those who don’t already have degrees and/or are in the under-30 age range. At some point, life experience replaces a lot of the relational things that happen in college.

[...] Patton, “Why Traditional Onsite Seminary is Still (by Far) the Best Option”; available from http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2010/03/why-traditional-onsite-seminary-is-still-by-far-the-be…; Internet; accessed 10 March [...]

Tom D and Wilson,

Tom..again, Amen and well said. I fully agree. Wilson: I don’t think you offended anyone here; certainly not me. Try dealing with my Christian realitives (and perhaps me, come to think of it) if you want to know about people who give offense. You have nothing to ask forgiveness for…except perhaps, as you point out, your typos. But I constantly offend people with my horrible typos (not my spelling, you understand: it’s just the types!)–and I’m an advertising/PR writer!! Humility doesn’t come cheap Also, Wilson, you said, to paraphrase, that “taking is good sometimes…and I have nothing to give….” I can’t agree with you for two reasons: 1. I feel more comfortable with the word “receiving” instead of the word “taking”–It’s all in the motivation. And 2. Questions are a valuable contribution in almost any venue. Most people come here to contribute by their questions, because they know that hard truth is hard to find–and sometimes hard to accept. I will always side here with those who believe that onsite education is better than online learning. But…I know from experience that the online learning provided by Micael Patton and Rhome Dyck on this website is an important, valuable experience for any Christian–B.A., MDiv, Phd or not. For example, I have a strong background in Biblical studies, but I’ve completed the online RMM theology program twice. And I still come back occasionally. It just never gets old. Actually, the only thing I don’t like about this website is that I have to post a comment without immediate access to Spell-check! Oh well…. Love y’all

Wilson

Sorry if I upset you, you didn’t cause me any harm. I think you have more to give than you are aware of, as our God doesn’t leave you unarmed in the world. He is preparing you to serve him, and you won’t need a degree before He will find you useful, as long as He finds you willing.

Moses told the Lord he was weak of speech, and God gave him Aaron as a mouthpiece, and also loosened Moses tongue. He had a lot to say after that, as you know. Keep at it, and don’t be too hard on yourself.

Tom

Pardon any typos, as I’m doing this on my HTC Touch Pro

Well, everybody, now that I’ve upset everybody without intention, let me first ask for forgivness.

Second, again, not a real good way of saying this, but IMHO contrary to popular opinion, it is ok to “take” at times, too. I don’t have anything to give here, so if I take my time to post here, it will almost always be a question; unless, as right now, I’ve turned into an apologist of myself. The reason I don’t have anything to contribute here is because I know nothing. I am a 36 yr old sophomore in a foriegn language program so I can prepare myself for a DTS ThM and hopefully a PhD from somewhere out in the ether. In four years, I will have something to give. I don’t have anything to give right now. Today, I was asked what I was going to do with so much education. I told the friend simply “I will prepare with the educational goals that I’ve put forth, but I refuse to have any plans about occupation. I could pump gas for all I care. I seriously doubt I’ll be a pastor, as I don’t have a heart for people. That said, I enjoy learning, the Bible, and languages. So, the chips are learning, the Bible, and languages; may the chips fall where they may.

Tom is right though. I rarely reply to posts that are more than a day old. I just don’t have time. Sometimes when the first word in the reply is “Michael” I will at least read it more!

Otherwise, the moderators will look to it.

Tom D,

Ironically, this is a reply to your reply to Wilson’s posted discouragement about not having received a reply to his… contribution here. (and BTW, please forgive me if I’m treading on well-trodden ground, but I just woke up after a 2nd night of 2Hrs sleep and haven’t had the energy to read any of the other posts). Actually, it’s probably enough to just say, “Well said, Tom D”, and “Amen”. I’ve found that when people give with an expectation of return, they are best adised to expect disappointment–but when they give unconditionally, they immediately receive a wonderful gift they were not expecting–if that makes any sense. (Way too tired here!) Smiles to y’all

Wilson,

As far as I know that satallite campuses you are talking about are local venues, so this is good. Of course, with any satallite campus, it is going to lack some of what the main campus lacks as well as the “cream of the crop” profs. I imagine that that satallite campuses will have adjunct profs? If so, they are not going to be as engaged in some of the areas of discipleship that others would.

Having said that, I assume that it would much much better than the online stuff.

I’m not planning on being in the ministry, so the assumption hasn’t served you well.

The question was not answered by me, simply because even though I have stated my opinion and intentions, rarely do any of us follow through exactly how we plan.

The opinion was still wanted.

Wilson,

I don’t think Michael replies to every question, and you sort of answered yourself by revealing your plans. Your last reply makes you appear thin skinned and impatient, which will not serve you well in ministry. There are no limits to the way people will mistreat you when you are serving God.

Here there was no harm done to you at all. You have to let it slide off or it will control and consume you. I say this humbly, as I have fought that battle, and still must on occasion. I’m 58 now and that makes it easier, because I have all those years of mistakes to guide me. Rom 12:18-19 is my guide when the pressure valve is about to release.

Tom