PhD Declaration: Asbury Theological Seminary
So, one of the toughest life-decisions I've ever had to make, choosing where to accept PhD offers, is finally behind me. I've decided to accept the full-ride offered to me by Asbury Theological Seminary. I will begin my post-graduate studies there this fall (2009) in Biblical Studies with an emphasis in New Testament. I have not declared a sole advisor yet but that will come later.As many of you know, I am an alumnus of ATS (I recived my MABS) there a couple of years ago. I'm happy to be going back as I love the culture and especially the focus on wedding academics and spirituality together. In the end, I turned down a few other schools after the wife and I evaluated our life circumstances (e.g. family, finances, church, time, community, , moving, vocations, future opportunities, etc.); again, this was a lot to wade through and it was not an "easy" decision by any means.
Anyway, if you are not familiar with ATS, check out the image and read the bit below:
Asbury Theological Seminary was established in 1923 as an evangelical seminary in the Wesleyan-Arminian tradition. It consists of four schools (Biblical Interpretation and Proclamation, Practical Theology, Theology and Formation, and the E. Stanley Jones School of World Mission and Evangelism) located on three campuses: Florida, Kentucky, and Virtual. ATS “was founded ‘to prepare and send forth a well-trained, sanctified, Spirit-filled, evangelistic ministry’ to spread scriptural holiness throughout the world.”
Congrats!
ReplyDeleteIf I may ask, how does one qualify for a full ride at ATS?
Michael,
ReplyDeleteCongrats. I hope you enjoy ATS. Doctoral studies are among the best of your life.
Thanks Dr. Bird :)
ReplyDeleteJimmy, basically, it's up to the selection committee. Fortunately, I was someone they selected for a full-ride. I don't know if they have set criteria or not, so, I can't really give details. Sorry, but thanks so much for the congratulatory remarks.
ReplyDeleteCongrats. I hope to make a similar announcement some day myself... especially the full ride part!
ReplyDeleteAny idea what you will be focusing on? Luke? John? Matthew? Paul? Revelation? Am I missing one?
Congratulations, and blessings in your PhD program. Those years were the most important in my life in terms of shaping my vocational identity.
ReplyDeleteScott, I hope the same for you buddy.
ReplyDeleteBryan, Thanks so much, I appreciate it!
Congrats, I may see you around while I'm working on my MABS. We'll have to catch up there especially since I don't think I'll make it to the SCJ conference in April after all :(
ReplyDeleteBrad, that's unfortunate about the SCJ conference but yeah, we'll def. catch up at ATS if I don't see you there. Thanks and congrats on the MABS entry to you.
ReplyDelete-TMWH
Congrats on the acceptance and full-ride. I remember applying to Ph.D. programs - definitely the most humbling experience of my life. But now, coming to the close of my third year, with a dissertation and teaching in the very near future, along with several presentations at both regional and national SBL meetings, and my first scholarly article forthcoming, I'd say grad school has been good to me. It is a wonderfully stressful yet rewarding time. Enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteJohn,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the looking out and encouragement. Here's to hoping for several good years of doctoral work!!! Congrats on your achievements as well! What's the title of your article and what journal is it going to be in?
Michael:
ReplyDeleteThe journal is Perspectives in Religious Studies, it will be in the Spring 2009 issue, and it is titled "Jacob, Laban, and a Divine Trickster: The Covenantal Framework of God's Deception in the Theology of the Jacob Cycle."
I plan to post a .pdf of it that I have on my blog in the next week or two . . . please check out my blog (click my name) for that shortly, but also for my other posts that are there and feel free to comment . . . the more the merrier.
Best of luck, and keep in touch!
Shalom!
That's awesome Mike! Great choice too!
ReplyDeleteBrian, Thanks a lot buddy. John, that sounds like a rather interesting article. Congrats.
ReplyDeleteMichael:
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'll take "rather interesting" as a compliment, and not a dimunition or a priori aversion to the title! ha!
It is simply trying to make sense of an inherent 'difficulty' (and I use that word with hesitance) in Scripture, and a gap within scholarship.
Check out my blog, please (click my name), and read some of my early posts, as well as my recent one on "5 Genesis books I could not do without" and you may get some sense of where I am coming from . . . I look forward to your comments.
All the best!
Fantastic! I wish you the best. And as of this moment, I look forward to your dissertation. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteErnesto...man, you are certainly a fun and encouraging guy!!! Thanks for hitting me up on FB and then on hear. Hopefully, we can interact with one another more and more as time progresses. Blessings friend.
ReplyDelete-TMWH