Sats

[UZThD]

Dear Friend,

I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your lifelong companion. I am glad our Lovely Lord Christ is using you. I know your prayer is the same as mine--"to finish well!" You are on the road for sure.

Do you really think that SATS might want an old DMin warhorse like me. Maybe the publishing might help me to snag a job? Let me know what you think along these lines and whom I may contact and I will surely look into it.

Right now I have just taken on a new mentee for Columbia Evangelical Seminary and we are working out the details of his degree.

I am still in the classroom teaching Speech and all of the Religion courses at my little college. And my pastor and I have just released what is my fourth volume, it is on Bunyan.

I will be teaching Intro to Christian Ethics for a local university in March. I have two conference address on John A. Broadus to give in St. Louis in February.

Three years ago I helped found a publishing company--BorderStone Press, LLC. Last year alone as Acquisitions Editor I had to read, critique, and edit I estimate about 100 manuscripts. So I am very busy. But that deal at SATS really intrigues me. Let me know a contact person there.

I have always considered you a "scholar and a Christian gentleman!" and my friend.

"That is all!" :wavey:

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Rhett

Thanks for your condolences. Jan died a year ago yesterday. I miss her a lot!

I am so happy that you are being well used in teaching and writing.

I cannot speak for SATS, but I've always thought of your academic qualifications (and personal) as impeccable, and I was thinking, who better to supervise DMin work than a DMin? You might contact Kevin Smith, the VP at: kevin@sats.edu.za. If you like mention me.

Very best wishes,

Bill

 

[Greektim]

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I'm sorry if I sounded "contankerous."

But seems to me that what is important about SATS--especially here at BB where unaccredited, easy degrees are often discussed-- is whether SATS has accreditation, rigor, qualified faculty, accessability, moderate costs, usefulness, and PhD entrance requirements which are different than many USA schools.

By the last I mean that a MA or MTh or MAR may be sufficient to enter the SATS PhD. Certainly one can do the extra years and spend the extra thousands of dollars if one wishes- I did. But it is not required to enter SATS. Neither is a MDIV/ThM generally required, I understand, at the excellent UK schools.

To me it is quite unimportant to BB readers that SATS invites students in undeveloped countries without full computer access or libraries to visit the SATS library for two months.

If that point is important to you, that's fine with me. Then, I apologize again. Sorry!

No worries, my brother. I just wanted to "c" some things about the school. But I am somewhat acquainted with it having been in contact w/ Kevin Smith. I appreciate SATS accessibility and lack of snobbery (using the term losely so not every get offended w/ what I'm about to say) for requiring MDiv degrees. Funny, I am going nearly the same route as you doing a ThM w/out an MDiv. But I like that my MA was adequate for SATS.

I was just hoping to gain more information on the school and its inner workings. I have a hard time conceiving a school that has neither a residency program or a main campus w/ full on libraries and classrooms. That kind of institution seems suspect in the eyes of Americans (at least this one). But I have seen the work of their journal and graduates posted online so I know it is no cake-walk. Other testimonies from the school on the BB help as well. I just wished more schools here in the states considered SATS as a reputable option.

Thanks for the info!

 

[UZThD]

No worries, my brother. I just wanted to "c" some things about the school. But I am somewhat acquainted with it having been in contact w/ Kevin Smith. I appreciate SATS accessibility and lack of snobbery (using the term losely so not every get offended w/ what I'm about to say) for requiring MDiv degrees. Funny, I am going nearly the same route as you doing a ThM w/out an MDiv. But I like that my MA was adequate for SATS.

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Bill: Actually I finished work for the MDiv in 1992 as my Western transcript shows, and I completed the ThM in 1994.

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I was just hoping to gain more information on the school and its inner workings. I have a hard time conceiving a school that has neither a residency program or a main campus w/ full on libraries and classrooms.

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Bill: As far as coursework is concerned, SATS courses supply students with necessary resources. EG, the BTH honours (BA degree of sorts) course in OT Theology -which I supervise- requires readings (which are available for enrolled students ) in 26 scholarly writers! Students (1) must pass an exam on these writings. (2) Students must get a research proposal approved. (3) Then Students must write a research paper which requires interaction with at least 15 sources. This is for a BA level course! SATS also provides access to various journals on line.
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That kind of institution seems suspect in the eyes of Americans (at least this one). But I have seen the work of their journal and graduates posted online so I know it is no cake-walk. Other testimonies from the school on the BB help as well. I just wished more schools here in the states considered SATS as a reputable option.

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Bill: In my experience the PhD students I supervise are required to defend their research at several points: (1) After a student has satisfactorily passed the work in Research Methodology, he/she must (2) get the research proposal approved by the supervisor (me) and the SATS' grad Committee as well. Several tries may be required on the RP. That can take as long as a year! But usually it takes only several months. Then (3) Every chapter is scrutized and challenged by me. When the dissertation is finally done it must be passed by two qualified external readers. No, it is not a cakewalk.

But in regard to doing a "defense" of a thesis, I did my ThM thesis --consisting of four semesters getting As in each semester for thesis work-- on "Determining The Referent in the Major Pauline Baptismal Passages " (some Dispies think the referent is "Spirit Baptism") When it came time to defend that, instead I was asked to answer questions about coursework. I'm not sure my committee members even read the thesis.

But I assure you I read every word my students write and evaluate carefully their work. Dr Smith has said that I'm known as a hard grader. I think I've eased up a bit though.


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Thanks for the info!

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Bill: Thanks for your gracious forgiveness, and God bless all you do for Him.

Bill