,

Yes I am looking at studying in the UK and teaching in the US and/or UK. Most likely teaching in the US as my husband is American. Although I am a Hindu background believer, I was born and raised in the UK. As far as education goes, for Asians, it is always worth it. I want to make the most of my education and experience of working amongst Muslims for future Christian service.
I do not have a network that connects me to western institutions as yet, but I do have a few more years. Hopefully the that will change in the future.

Thanks so much for your answering my question and giving me something to aim towards.

Sincerely,

Usha

Thanks for your post. I’m sure I can’t answer the ‘worth it’ question, since there are so many local and personal variables in play. Nor is it clear to me from your post whether your reference to professors in the USA and UK means you would be looking to use doctoral credentials in the West.

I *do* know of a significant number of ‘western’ institutions that are aggressively diversifying their faculty. Some of them are well down the road in doing so.

All best,

David

Thanks for posting on Canter Bridge.

Clearly, it’s the quality that counts. Especially at your (our …) age, we need to mine quickly the value of any educational project with which we engage and credentialing will have slipped from the top of our priority list.

There are arguably some valid reasons for a school to remain ‘unaccredited’. There are a host of bad ones. It’s worth digging deep to discover where the beef is (or is not) in a program whose leadership has chosen not to seek or has been unable to secure accreditation. That’s also true of an accredited program, but in the latter you have proxies accomplishing some of the due diligence on your behalf.

I don’t know the first two programs you’ve mentioned. I have very high regard for Denver Seminary. Given my ignorance of your alternatives, take this observation with the necessary grain of salt.

I wish every blessing upon your endeavor. I find very little reason to worry about ‘life-long learners’, as you describe yourself. People like you learn and thrive in good programs and bad. But the good ones are better.

All best,

David

Thanks for your post.

I’m happy that you find yourself with ‘more to consider’ by way of Canter Bridge. Yet my feelings are mixed, as I would not want you to move far from the motivating factor of your ‘love of the Hebrew Bible’ and your understanding that ‘pursuing the PhD ought to be a labor of love, not a career move’.

The first of these two things is pristine and essential; the second is simply true.

Maybe adding some additional ‘things to consider’ will have a reinforcing or purifying effect on these two realities. It seems to me that this would be a good thing. Just don’t give them up because of something you read here!

I wish you all the best as you seek and find the necessary discernment and courage.

David

Steffen

In my own reflections, I think the strongest driving force has been my love of the Hebrew Bible, which I discovered in my very first Intro to OT class in my M.Div. program. This has been supported by those who have suggested that pursuing a PhD ought to be a labor of love, not a career move. Your reflections have given me more to consider. Thank you again!

Thanks for your post. I’m sorry it’s taken me months to respond. I needed the time to dampen down my besetting defensiveness.

I suspect that, if we knew each other’s biographies, we’d decide that we agree.

David