I have never been to a theological college to study. I have not really sought for such a time nor has such thought occurred to me except for a brief seconds. One reason why I have not been keen to study is because of the students that graduated from the theological colleges. I have often felt that it was a waste studying four years for BD when one could just as well read and study at home. Of late I have changed in my perception of such study. After all, I cannot expect all the students to graduate having mastered Church history and theology, and ready to speak to the issues the Church and society face. There are bundles of students who go to study because parents want them do that; and there are others who do that because theological colleges are the only ‘rehabilitation centre’ that can help them get out drug addiction; and there are still others who can afford to study only in such theological colleges. For different reason, therefore, seminaries are not able to produce ideal students. It is mainly for this reason that I have now felt that it’s unfair to undermine the contribution of theological colleges.
A good seminary will definitely provide good library and a good number of faculty numbers and also admit God fearing and hardworking students. To be able to interact with all these resources is indeed something one cannot get elsewhere. But in reality not everybody is wise enough to make use of all the resources available.
In India I have heard people say that UBS, Pune, is the best seminary in India. UTC, Bangalore, is good but it has compromised in its doctrinal matters, they say. SAIACS is doing good, some opined. I am inclined to agree with all the observations. But compared to the number of Christians in India the number of fairly good seminaries is really small. Why is this so? The number of good theologians is also extremely small. We have so many theological colleges, but there is hardly anyone offering Ph.D in Old Testament or Systematic Theology etc. We have many theological colleges offering degrees so cheaply. I think theological colleges has also more or less taken the shape of a small scale industry, manufacturing degrees after degrees for those who cannot afford to join big names. It is also a pity that many of them are funded by Christians in the West.
My view is that some churches/denomination should join hand and form a good seminary. Instead of each denomination running its own seminary and in the process struggle to have a good library, not to mention well trained faculty members, if these seminaries pull resources together they can few very good seminaries. That way denominational bias will be screened out too. As for those seminaries owned and run by individual person funders should re-examine their quality and accountability. I don’t think it is a good tradition for theological colleges to be owned and run by a single person. Such institution gradually takes the form of a family enterprise.
What we really need is a fairly good number of fine seminaries, not a huge number of third class seminaries that can’t even buy books and hire good teachers . After all if we want churches and para-church organizations to remain healthy we need healthy seminaries.
A good seminary will definitely provide good library and a good number of faculty numbers and also admit God fearing and hardworking students. To be able to interact with all these resources is indeed something one cannot get elsewhere. But in reality not everybody is wise enough to make use of all the resources available.
In India I have heard people say that UBS, Pune, is the best seminary in India. UTC, Bangalore, is good but it has compromised in its doctrinal matters, they say. SAIACS is doing good, some opined. I am inclined to agree with all the observations. But compared to the number of Christians in India the number of fairly good seminaries is really small. Why is this so? The number of good theologians is also extremely small. We have so many theological colleges, but there is hardly anyone offering Ph.D in Old Testament or Systematic Theology etc. We have many theological colleges offering degrees so cheaply. I think theological colleges has also more or less taken the shape of a small scale industry, manufacturing degrees after degrees for those who cannot afford to join big names. It is also a pity that many of them are funded by Christians in the West.
My view is that some churches/denomination should join hand and form a good seminary. Instead of each denomination running its own seminary and in the process struggle to have a good library, not to mention well trained faculty members, if these seminaries pull resources together they can few very good seminaries. That way denominational bias will be screened out too. As for those seminaries owned and run by individual person funders should re-examine their quality and accountability. I don’t think it is a good tradition for theological colleges to be owned and run by a single person. Such institution gradually takes the form of a family enterprise.
What we really need is a fairly good number of fine seminaries, not a huge number of third class seminaries that can’t even buy books and hire good teachers . After all if we want churches and para-church organizations to remain healthy we need healthy seminaries.
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