Online Seminaries - Under $400/CR?

Presbyterian Continuist

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I'm looking for at least moderately conservative schools. Also: no pentecostal schools.

Please suggest schools that meet these few requirements. Thanks!
I did my M.Div through Nations University, situated in New Orleans. It is non-denominational, free to countries outside of the US, except you have to buy your own text books. The faculty are affiliated to the Church of Christ. As a Pentecostal I asked them what their view was of that, and they said that they have many Pentecostal and Charismatic students and so are very tolerant in that area, which was a relief to me. But Pentecostal theology is not part of their course, and I didn't push it with them.

I started with them before they became accredited, and it took me three years to obtain the degree. In the last year of my study, they obtained accreditation, so I ended up with a fully accredited degree. Once having been accredited, the year after I graduated, they decided to charge around $900US per year to selected countries where students could afford the fee, and New Zealand was one of those countries.

They felt that they have a product worth the fee, and I fully agree with them. I found it a great pleasure to study with them, and my student advisor, from Tennessee, become a friend and we had great fellowship during the three years I studied with her.

Their ministry is actually directed to third world students who cannot afford regular fees, and it is free to them so that they could get a good, accredited ministry degree to serve Christ in their own countries. I found that the tutors and course writers love God's Word, are Reformed in their theology, and very loving in the way they deal with students.

I fully recommend them to you.
 
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Thanks for that! I might try them.

I'm looking for schools where I can get a degree within the listed cost, though.
When I was looking for one I did an extensive search, and although there are plenty of degree "mills" that will give a diploma on "previous experience", which actually are scams to make money and give degrees not recognised by anyone, I found it difficult to find one that didn't have a fee under around $2,000 a year. When I found Nations University, I was very careful about them and asked some questions of them because they were offering their degrees free to those outside of the U.S. I had to make sure that they were a genuine ministry offering a worthwhile degree. Because I wasn't wanting to use it for any professional ministry but as a lay preacher, I decided to go with them. As a old-age pensioner I didn't have $2,000 in my back pocket to do a degree from somewhere like Northwestern, which is also a good Bible College. Also, I didn't want to do my degree through a Charismatic one, because I wanted do study through a Bible college that went along with my Puritan Reformed foundation.

I started my theological training through my local Anglican church that showed me that I could do extra-mural study for a Licenciate in Theollogy through St John's Anglican Theological College in Auckland NZ, and all I had to do was to receive the course material, read through the books, and do an end of year examination, either at the College or at an appoved venue. One year I did it in Auckland, and the next I did it at the Bishop's home in Wellington. I did five papers, before I got distracted and did a B.A. in English Literature at Canterbury University.

So, you might have the opportunity in your city or town through your local Anglican church, so it won't cost you anything to go and ask your local Anglican vicar about it. Now, here in NZ, I think they charge around $300 a paper and there is tutoring that goes along with it.

I'm not sure what the Baptist church offers in the way of extra-mural study, but it might be worth finding out.
 
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blackhole

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Also, I didn't want to do my degree through a Charismatic one, because I wanted do study through a Bible college that went along with my Puritan Reformed foundation.

I had already looked at Nations, and I wasn't interested because they're church of christ, even though they officially declare as non-denominational. However, if you got along just fine and you're a reformed puritan, maybe they're not so bad.

How do they compare with the CoC problems that I often hear about, e.g. viewpoints like "doctrine divides?"
 
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I had already looked at Nations, and I wasn't interested because they're church of christ, even though they officially declare as non-denominational. However, if you got along just fine and you're a reformed puritan, maybe they're not so bad.

How do they compare with the CoC problems that I often hear about, e.g. viewpoints like "doctrine divides?"
In the three years that I studied with them, they did not push Church of Christ doctrine. I found nothing in their course material that went against either my Puritan Reformed theology, or my Pentecostal theology. I have heard that the Church of Christ is anti-Charismatic, but I never experienced any of that at all. My research paper (like a thesis) was on the healing ministry from the Scriptural, historical, and current practice, along with my refutation of Cessationism and my assertion that God does heal today, and they gave me a 95% grade for it. I asked the Holy Spirit to help me write my essay assignments, and I always got in the 90s grades for them.

Marty Lynn was my student advisor and I found her a very supportive lady. If you use their message option on their website (NationsU) make it attention to her and use my name as the person recommending them, then she will be very happy to answer your questions.
 
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blackhole

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In the three years that I studied with them, they did not push Church of Christ doctrine. I found nothing in their course material that went against either my Puritan Reformed theology, or my Pentecostal theology. I have heard that the Church of Christ is anti-Charismatic, but I never experienced any of that at all. My research paper (like a thesis) was on the healing ministry from the Scriptural, historical, and current practice, along with my refutation of Cessationism and my assertion that God does heal today, and they gave me a 95% grade for it. I asked the Holy Spirit to help me write my essay assignments, and I always got in the 90s grades for them.

Marty Lynn was my student advisor and I found her a very supportive lady. If you use their message option on their website (NationsU) make it attention to her and use my name as the person recommending them, then she will be very happy to answer your questions.

That sounds very good, perhaps I'll go with Nations.

Do you have any idea how well respected this degree is? I want to pursue a doctorate afterward.
 
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That sounds very good, perhaps I'll go with Nations.

Do you have any idea how well respected this degree is? I want to pursue a doctorate afterward.
I can't tell you that. I know that they are accredited and it is a three-year Mastorate degree. It was a pity that they didn't offer a doctorate, otherwise I would have been tempted to carry on to a D.D. I guess that you might need to enquire with someone like Northwestern to see if they would accept a Nations University mastorate as qualifying to do a doctorate through them.
 
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blackhole

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I can't tell you that. I know that they are accredited and it is a three-year Mastorate degree. It was a pity that they didn't offer a doctorate, otherwise I would have been tempted to carry on to a D.D. I guess that you might need to enquire with someone like Northwestern to see if they would accept a Nations University mastorate as qualifying to do a doctorate through them.

I think I'll e-mail Northwestern, Dallas, and Westminster.

Thanks again, Oscarr.
 
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I did my M.Div through Nations University, situated in New Orleans. It is non-denominational, free to countries outside of the US, except you have to buy your own text books. The faculty are affiliated to the Church of Christ. As a Pentecostal I asked them what their view was of that, and they said that they have many Pentecostal and Charismatic students and so are very tolerant in that area, which was a relief to me. But Pentecostal theology is not part of their course, and I didn't push it with them.

I started with them before they became accredited, and it took me three years to obtain the degree. In the last year of my study, they obtained accreditation, so I ended up with a fully accredited degree. Once having been accredited, the year after I graduated, they decided to charge around $900US per year to selected countries where students could afford the fee, and New Zealand was one of those countries.

They felt that they have a product worth the fee, and I fully agree with them. I found it a great pleasure to study with them, and my student advisor, from Tennessee, become a friend and we had great fellowship during the three years I studied with her.

Their ministry is actually directed to third world students who cannot afford regular fees, and it is free to them so that they could get a good, accredited ministry degree to serve Christ in their own countries. I found that the tutors and course writers love God's Word, are Reformed in their theology, and very loving in the way they deal with students.

I fully recommend them to you.


Sounds interesting, can you post a link to their website? God bless
 
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Albion

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I'm looking for at least moderately conservative schools. Also: no pentecostal schools.

Please suggest any that meet these few requirements. Thanks!
I do not have an answer to this, but I would focus on two things if I were in your situation:

What do you intend to use the degree for?

Which church(es) do you expect to be presenting your credentials to?
 
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Tolworth John

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I'm looking for at least moderately conservative schools. Also: no pentecostal schools.

Please suggest any that meet these few requirements. Thanks!

The best plave for advice is from your pastor, he will also confirm to you whether you should be doing such a course.
There is also the considerstion that a clearly gifted and committed church member with a call to serve God should be assisted by the church.

If that isn't you forget it and concentrate on a career, while also supporting your church in every way you can.
 
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blackhole

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I do not have an answer to this, but I would focus on two things if I were in your situation:

What do you intend to use the degree for?

Which church(es) do you expect to be presenting your credentials to?

For writing books, not for local ministry.
 
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