Selected for Southern

Several weeks ago, I posted that I was in the final stage of PhD application process at Southern Seminary. It is an intensive process that lasted about nine months. I received word yesterday that I have been accepted into the PhD program. This opportunity has been brewing for years. Former professors, friends, family and other colleagues would ask if I was going to pursue my doctorate. Of course, I always had to check my personal motives, and I am a pastor first and last. If the choice came to getting a piece of paper and leave the church I love, or have no doctoral degree, the decision was easy-give me the church. Evidently I am not alone. There are countless pastors who desire academic research to better them as a Christian and a pastor, yet want to remain on the “front line” of advancing the gospel (i.e.-the local church). Hence Southern (ahead of other institutions) has created the modular PhD format. This allows individuals to receive the same rigorous academic research as resident PhD candidates without leaving their post in ministry. To put it simply, it is perfect for pastors who are serious about scholarship. Please don’t misunderstand; one doesn’t have to have a degree to be an effective pastor. In many cases, it would be detrimental. Ironically, my favorite dead preacher, Charles Spurgeon who I hope to research, never received a degree and went down in history as the “Prince of Preachers”. Jesus Himself was alienated by the religious community because He hadn’t come up through the proper channels.
I will post more on this later as I learn and journey through this. I will be reunited with my former professor Don Whitney who now serves as professor of spirituality at Southern and will be my faculty supervisor. There is much to take in, and I am much humbled already.