Archive for January 20th, 2005
“Can you please put down my proper designation?”
“Oh … you mean Dr. XYZ?”
When I read the Unholy Route a couple of years back, I really felt sad and angry at the same time about what’s going on in church leadership in Malaysia. Here’s what I mean …
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For some time now, reports have been circulating of Christian ministers obtaining their PhDs from institutions – such as churches and para-church organisations – which clearly do not have or lack the credentials to award the title. It is also a fact that there exist seminaries which almost guarantee any applicants their PhD with low entry requirements, cheap fees and little effort.
Similarly, we hear of doubtful practices in the awarding of honorary PhD, which is meant to be a special award bestowed by universities to people who have contributed significantly to society in various fields. Like some shady secular universities, we now have seminaries offering honorary PhDs for reasons that are only known to the recipients.
All these dubious practices have caused people to become suspicious of anyone with a ‘Dr’ to his name. People are now inclined to wonder if the doctorate is genuinely earned or obtained the ‘pasar malam’ (flea market) way, or worse, bought.
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Apparently, I did post something on this here in Free PhD? Short Cut Doctorates? in 2003. Now it’s 2005, I guess this kind of practice is here to stay. Unless, more and more Christians in Malaysia are informed and begin asking, “Dr. XYZ, I’m interested to know what was your PhD thesis?
how was the process like? If I’d like to get a copy of it, how should I go about it? …. ” (something along those lines.)
I strongly believe that theology and practical(or relevant) ministry are not mutually exclusive. In fact, true theolocial pursuit really deals with down to earth pastoral and ministry concerns. There are legitimate courses that can sere the local church and beyond like what is mentioned in “Redeeming the D.Min.” by Dr. Leong Tian Fock Of course, there’s ivory tower intellectual approaches (the typical dry professor picture) that doesn’t help. The route of anti-intellectualism is going to hurt us in Asia and Malaysia in particular. But, this pseudo-intellectualism will hurt us even more in the long run.
Ok .. I must admit, this post is more for my own therapy … Read on if you need an extra dose entitled No Short Cuts.. I think for some it will turn out to increase our immunity agaist what will make Christianity sick in our country. I’ve said enough … now get ready for the pastors’ prayer meeting.
Read the rest of this entry »
I’m checking out a fellow Lutheran Rich Melheim’s The Melheimian Sabbatiblog. One thing for sure both of us seem to like He Qi’s Art …
I like the subtitle of his blog …
“Every life is a sabbathical, and all ministry is an intentional interim”
It’s really nice to read a Lutheran pastor writing stuff that’s innovative, integrative and life giving or challenging (especially in relation to the mainline church)! I foresee more links to him in the coming days …