Summary
Getting a PhD isn’t the usual route to preparing for the pastorate, but several years ago, Jonathan embarked on this academic journey. Actually, it was a team effort, requiring a tremendous amount of commitment and help from Christa and many others.
In this episode, Jonathan and Christa talk about why Jonathan decided to pursue a PhD, and the specific course of study he chose. They also cover questions you submitted for him, including:
- “How has it benefited your pastoral ministry?”
- “Where did you do your extensive reading and focused, organized writing?”
- “How did he land on apologetics as his focus? Were there specific life events that lead him in that direction?”
- “What was the course load?”
- “What made you decide PHD over Dmin or EDD?”
- “What are things to look for when choosing a seminary or program to take it?”
- “If a church had a good pastor/assistant pastor and wanted to help further his training for service, how could the church help?”
- “What is the advantage of a PhD, let’s say over fishing? What is the purpose or necessity of a PhD for a Pastor?”
There are more questions asked that we plan to address in next week’s episode!
Listen to the full episode at the links below!
Resources
- The Intellectual Life
- The Pastor as Public Theologian: Reclaiming a Lost Vision Paperback
- On Pastors and Professors
- Some PhD FAQs
— episode Seventeen —
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