Click to join the conversation with over 500,000 Pentecostal believers and scholars
Click to get our FREE MOBILE APP and stay connected
| PentecostalTheology.com
FAKE DOCTORAL DEGREES among PENTECOSTALS CHARISMATICS and WHAT TO DO WITH THEM?
You’ve heard it many times: Pastor Reverend Bishop Doctor or the very reverend bishop doctor So-and-So…
What is the impact of face doctoral degrees from unaccredited online “institutions” in the ministry and church today?
Our seminaries degrees are accredited and pretty clear on their prerequisites:
Doctor of Ministry – a 30-credit program. Requirements: an accredited M.Div. or its equivalent (72 accredited graduate hours within certain broad distribution requirements) a minimum cumulative GPA in accredited graduate study of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and at least three years of full-time ministry following completion of the first professional master’s degree
Doctor of Applied Intercultural Studies – An MA in an appropriate theological or missiological discipline from an acceptable school with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
PhD in Intercultural Studies – a 60-credit program that facilitates the development and academic certification of vocations in missiological and intercultural teaching and scholarship. An M.A. in an appropriate theological or missiological discipline from an acceptable school with a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale is required
PhD in Biblical Interpretation and Theology – Requires Bachelor’s Degree or the equivalent from an accredited college or university with a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. Exceptions to the GPA level may be made by the department, especially in light of excellent graduate work. An accredited MDiv, MTh/ThM, MPhil, or STM with strength in Biblical and Theological Studies with a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. Please note: Students with other Masters’ degrees (MA, MATS, MACM, MAR) will be considered if their prior work demonstrated ability for advanced study. Students with work beyond the MDiv (ThM and equivalents, DMin or other professional doctoral study) may apply for Advanced Standing in the form of course relief up to 8 units. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Modern Research Language: Willingness to obtain the modern research language required for the student’s concentration within the first two years of the program and Biblical Languages
What is the situation in your denominational group? Do you get many fake doctorates?
MORE on the TOPIC:
- MANDATORY COLLEGE DEGREE for all PENTECOSTAL MINISTERS
- Assemblies of God and the Neo-Pentecostal Movement
- SOME INTERESTING TOPICS OF PENTECOSTAL THEOLOGICAL DISCUSSIONS
- Should education be mandatory for young Pentecostal ministers?
- Distinctives in Pentecostal Theology
- Recent exposure of Rick Joyner’s fake doctoral degree
David M. Hinsen
I personally don’t know of any but PTS M.Div. which I just started is an 80 credit hour program and is required for the Ph.D. 74 credit hours required if you already have Greek and Hebrew.
Charles Page
It used to be that COG men got their degrees from Luther Rice is that still true?
Charles Page
Ministers used to get a degree by mail order from Luther Rice Seminary
John Ruffle
Burn them?
Cor Leonis Johnson
Three preachers that I know, present themselves as “Doctor” but never finished college or seminary. One of them actually finished his first year of college before he dropped out. One of them flunked out after his first semester. The other, barely finished high school but calls himself “Doctor” on his website and on his letterhead. Two of them are from Florida, and one of them is from Texas. This is in direct opposition to Jesus’ words (and warning) in Matt. 23.5-12. I have great respect for men and women that have earned doctorates but still refuse to bill themselves as “Doctor.” I have met several. But, I question why we allow men to bill themselves as “Dr” when they have not achieved the academic qualifications required for the title. I certainly believe in making room for a man based on his gift and not on his title, but I have no room for a man that claims a title that he has not earned.
Jon Ray
Not even college?
Cor Leonis Johnson
Can you imagine what would happen to me if I claimed to have a PhD in computer science? I would never be able to get another job from a reputable company. Some of these men claim that the title was conferred upon them by their churches. If I claimed that my employer has conferred a PhD upon me, I would be laughed at and ridiculed.
Cor Leonis Johnson
I just remembered an evangelist from Arkansas that did this as well. He dropped out of high school, but wants to be called “Dr” today.
Cor Leonis Johnson
At one time, he would boast about how much Scripture he had memorized even though he had dropped out of high school. Now, he wants to be called “Dr.”
Jon Ruthven
Back in the day, the MDiv (used to be BD), the ATS accreditation standard was 90 semester hours of graduate level work. (You had to pass a Greek entrance exam, or else pass a non-credit Greek intro course). I had 188 semester hours total when I finished my PhD. Had to pass research language exams, French and German. I had 25 sem hours of Greek; 45 sem hours Hebrew. Since then, in the interest of “fairness” the programs have been steadily dumbed down along with serious grade inflation. At the undergraduate level, only 7% received an A, most grades were C (average).
Stan Wayne
Very good thing to reflect on – tis pompous prideful stupid embarrassing unChristlike – to name a few :
“Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
Matthew 23:10, 12 ESV
John Ruffle
A good friend of mine asked me to proof a book of his. I suggested he drop the “Dr.” from his name (even though it was justified) and to his credit, indeed he did drop it.
Charles Page
He could have stayed a doctor and dropped the book
Harold Beesley
Harold Beesley liked this on Facebook.
Stan Wayne
It is gauche to put Dr in front – even MDs put MD at the back – only chiropractors and preachers put it in front
Jon Ray
To be called a doctor in front of a congregation demands so much responsibility – especially if doctor in doctrine is meant and expected
Stan Wayne
My doctor is smarter than your doctor
Jon Ray
Maybe he can fix your confused political orientation then 🙂
Stan Wayne
https://www.facebook.com/APONUGLFJFA/videos/577215955819079/
Eva Benevento
“Honorary” doctoral degrees should have a different nomenclature. I’m not against honoring people, but conferring degrees is a different matter. A person with an earned degree could be less spiritual than a person receiving an honorary degree, but the earned degree is not for spirituality. It is for academics. Fake doctoral degrees need exposure and it is the responsibility of denominations and independent religious communities to not accept them and dismiss ones in existence. There are certainly enough titles people can hang on themselves besides doctor. Allowing this to persist is misleading to people who don’t know the difference.
Varnel Watson
The nomenclature has always been “honoris causa” but who’s counting
Gilberto Rosado
The church created “Doctor” and formed the basis of modern-day education which was usurped from the church.
The church need not submit to academia for permission to recognize their teachers which is what “doctor” means.
If a church based entity desires to confer an honor or a degree to one of its own, it should and the state should not have anything to say about it. Christians that feel that it is okay to submit to external standards are compromising the integrity and independence.of the church.
The above does not apply to secular churches of course.
Andrew Bauer
Sir, the church may have been the progenitor of university education, but that doesn’t mean that it offered degrees without them being earned. To do so is disingenuous at best and fraudulent at worst. It doesn’t matter whether it is a public institution, a seminary, or a church body that confers the degree, it should be earned.
And what on earth is a ‘secular church’?
Varnel Watson
Wait a minute Gilberto You mean the Catholic church right?
Gilberto Rosado
What difference is there related to the OP?
Varnel Watson
It will mean Catholic church introduced fake doctorates in the church
Gilberto Rosado
They introduced doctorates to the whole world!
Varnel Watson
The Catholic church?
Gilberto Rosado
Your focus is on “fake” doctorates. The problem is that many people consider any “doctorate” as fake if it isn’t received from an accredited university or if it is honorary.
There are those who consider any doctorate other than the PH.D not a true doctorate either.
Bottom line: it’s all about money and academic self-justification. Christians are simply duped again: once by losing their educational heritage to the world and now again in our complacency with, and promotion of, secular standards.
Joseph D. Absher
Speak for yourself I ain’t duped. I got a Bible and I ain’t scared to read it and believe it and preach it!!!
Gilberto Rosado
What of the OP Joseph D. Absher?
Joseph D. Absher
Its easy to lay charges but not so easy to carry them…
Varnel Watson
You’ve got a good point there on #accreditation
Wayne A. Channer
Anyone being call Dr. Bishop XXXX truly has NO CLUE WHAT THEY’RE DOING. It The style (Rev, Rt Rev or Most Rev) comes first followed by the Title Dr. then their name.
Varnel Watson
Correct. Except if you are an actual Dr. MD
Paul Hughes
My disappointment is the lack of true Bible scholars even in our denominational colleges and universities. The 19th-century scholars that I often read, could not only handle Greek and Hebrew, but usually Latin, sometimes Syriac and Coptic, and were conversant in French and German, as well. They were the ones who wrote the great grammars, lexicons, and commentaries that we still use today.
Varnel Watson
We also have PhDs in non-theological matters trying to the Pentecostal theology which in my opinion messes up theology proper
Linda A Shelley-Shelestowsky
Anyone can start a church, anywhere, especially non denominational. You don’t have to be anything, just a calling.
Linda A Shelley-Shelestowsky
PhDs are needed, there are a lot of messed up people in churches.
Steve Celich
The very doctor reverend most high evangelist pastor teacher miracle woker extraodinaire.. add more if u like. Ya, its a shame.
Street Preacherz
Do you know Doctor Hope. He was the President of our “City on a Hill” A of G college in Milwaukee. Very humble man. Much loved and respected here.
Varnel Watson
Well in a secular company you may have title like Senior Project Manager for Major Programs and so on stuff that dont really mean nothing to no one else
Steve Celich
The title senior project manager in major programs only has meaning to those with the correct experience
Steve Celich
Troy, I have learned to be highly skeptical of people with phds in religion. Having gone to graduate school at Regent University and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary I found that a lot of ph.ds although they can memorize facts barely really understand the issues at hand.
Steve Celich
True. But then a PhD only means that one wrote a book that they had to paid 3 to 5 to read and supposedly they “added” something of value. The value is in the beholders eye’s. Doesnt mean they really know what they r talking about.