Dr. Paul Chappell and Lancaster Baptist Church introduce a new resource website called Ministry127 (based upon Philippians 1:27).
I learned something new today. :)
[Susan R] I learned something new today. :)Ditto that. Thanks, Greg!
Rick Franklin Gresham, Oregon Romans 8:38-39
Honorary Doctorates are given to people who have made outstanding contributions in their fields; the Doctor of Divinity traditionally represented something a school might bestow on someone for a lifetime’s work in their field, if my memory serves.
An honorary doctorate is a meaningful as the school that bestows it, which is why most Fundamentalist/Evangelical honorary doctrates are worthless, as they function as replacements for earned doctorates, which was never the point of the honorary degree.
An honorary doctorate is a meaningful as the school that bestows it, which is why most Fundamentalist/Evangelical honorary doctrates are worthless, as they function as replacements for earned doctorates, which was never the point of the honorary degree.
There’s a pretty long standing tradition, I think, of using different “letters” for honorary degrees than the institution in question uses for earned ones.
Interesting history here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorary_doctorate
(Which suggests that honorary degrees as substitutes for earned ones—in special cases at least—has a broader tradition than recent fundamentalist/evangelical habits)
If Wikipedia can be believed, the DD in UK is much more significant and not usually honorary http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_divinity
Interesting history here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorary_doctorate
(Which suggests that honorary degrees as substitutes for earned ones—in special cases at least—has a broader tradition than recent fundamentalist/evangelical habits)
If Wikipedia can be believed, the DD in UK is much more significant and not usually honorary http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_divinity
Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.
[Jonathan Charles] Wow! Most of the book reviews are either of Chappell books or of books most pastors read 20+ years ago. I’d be interested to see them interact with recent books outside of their fundamentalist sub-culture.Most of the books they put out are by their own people. Their own books might have sharp covers but often have editing issues.
[Greg Linscott]Thanks for pointing this out, Greg. I wondered why anyone even wondered if it was earned.[Rick Franklin]Is there even such a thing as an earned Doctor of Divinity program?
There’s actually nothing to indicate whether Brother Chappell’s degree from Trinity was earned or honorary. I know that some schools in that branch of fundamentalism make no distinction. However, I was pleasantly surprised a few years ago when I saw a catalog from one such school that did.
My dad always lovingly termed the D.D. degree as “Donated Dignity”.
I do not necessarily enjoy sitting through the DD part of graduation ceremonies nowadays. I know how much it costs and how many years it takes to actually earn a PhD. To get a DD for just “doing right” and “being faithful” seems well………….. I’m not sure what I think. But I DO think they shouldn’t give them out to anyone under retirement age, for sure!
DD = Didn’t Do it.
[Becky Petersen] I do not necessarily enjoy sitting through the DD part of graduation ceremonies nowadays. I know how much it costs and how many years it takes to actually earn a PhD. To get a DD for just “doing right” and “being faithful” seems well………….. I’m not sure what I think. But I DO think they shouldn’t give them out to anyone under retirement age, for sure!
On that point and IMO, earned is earned. If one acquires the knowledge through personal study or because they sat in a classroom, the work is still being done. I’m all for folks receiving recognition for work accomplished and talents developed, regardless of whether it’s ‘official’ or not.
I know there are quite a few ministers with honorary degrees… but I didn’t know that the DD was usually honorary by default.
The only person I know who received an Master’s Degree from Louisiana Baptist University did so without ever setting foot on campus other than to receive his diploma . His course work consisted of some book reports and sermon outlines. When he couldn’t complete his “major project” on time, the requirement was waived and he received his degree anyway. I have my doubts about this place’s credibility.
"Some things are of that nature as to make one's fancy chuckle, while his heart doth ache." John Bunyan
…that the guys who get the honoraries are generally given them because of some “great” recognizable contribution to the cause? Their church has grown numerically through the years….their Christian school is top notch in their state…they’ve fought some huge battle against homos…state intrusion…etc. The message is clear. Your life & ministry is only significant and worth honoring—it’s great—if you’ve shown yourself to be some “great one.” In contrast, how did our Lord define greatness?
I don’t have much use for the whole “honorary degree” thing anyway (see sidebar below), but I think I’d have a great deal more respect for the granting institution if each year they awarded an honorary to a pastor or missionary who’s been laboring away in some obscure little place for years without much to show for it other than faithful service to the Lord and His people. I especially despise getting the tabloid ministry rags filled with ads for big conferences led by far right fundies, all of whom are “Dr.” but few if any of whom earned their degrees. There’s a point where it becomes utterly meaningless.
Sidebar:
Several years ago, I was talking with a college president (name & college left unidentified) who himself lamented the honorary degree tradition. For one thing, he couldn’t stand the guys who tried to schmooze their way to honorary status. In addition, he felt the process smacked of too much politics. I have appreciated that his institution at least will recognize lesser luminaries sometimes.
I don’t have much use for the whole “honorary degree” thing anyway (see sidebar below), but I think I’d have a great deal more respect for the granting institution if each year they awarded an honorary to a pastor or missionary who’s been laboring away in some obscure little place for years without much to show for it other than faithful service to the Lord and His people. I especially despise getting the tabloid ministry rags filled with ads for big conferences led by far right fundies, all of whom are “Dr.” but few if any of whom earned their degrees. There’s a point where it becomes utterly meaningless.
Sidebar:
Several years ago, I was talking with a college president (name & college left unidentified) who himself lamented the honorary degree tradition. For one thing, he couldn’t stand the guys who tried to schmooze their way to honorary status. In addition, he felt the process smacked of too much politics. I have appreciated that his institution at least will recognize lesser luminaries sometimes.
A young theologian named Fiddle,
Refused to accept his degree,
He said, “It’s bad enough being Fiddle,
Without being Fiddle D.D.!”
Refused to accept his degree,
He said, “It’s bad enough being Fiddle,
Without being Fiddle D.D.!”
"Some things are of that nature as to make one's fancy chuckle, while his heart doth ache." John Bunyan
OK, I think we’ve established that the fellow has not distinguished himself academically, which means he’s… just like thousands of others who have not. My point is that having an honorary degree may or may not indicate achievement but it should not be seen as putting someone below average.
As for the work involved… I’ve done enough degree work to easily imagine the labors involved in a solid PhD program. But let’s remember: it’s not like building a congregation of that size and school of that size and cranking out all these books etc. is easy. There’s a reason not everybody does it. So given what we know a “DD” is, it is also ‘earned’ just in a different way. I don’t think building and leading a large ministry is one bit easier than earning a PhD for most people (for many, earning a PhD is much easier than building and leading a large ministry!).
Bottom line: I can’t see how one degree is “better” than the other. They are just different. The differences are important and I’m all for being clear about how they’re different. (And yes, I do also believe there are abuses: degrees granted to enhance organizational relationships, or as political favors, etc. But abuse of something isn’t a vote against it, it’s just abuse. Maybe the argument is that it is too easily abused, though. I can see that.)
As for the work involved… I’ve done enough degree work to easily imagine the labors involved in a solid PhD program. But let’s remember: it’s not like building a congregation of that size and school of that size and cranking out all these books etc. is easy. There’s a reason not everybody does it. So given what we know a “DD” is, it is also ‘earned’ just in a different way. I don’t think building and leading a large ministry is one bit easier than earning a PhD for most people (for many, earning a PhD is much easier than building and leading a large ministry!).
Bottom line: I can’t see how one degree is “better” than the other. They are just different. The differences are important and I’m all for being clear about how they’re different. (And yes, I do also believe there are abuses: degrees granted to enhance organizational relationships, or as political favors, etc. But abuse of something isn’t a vote against it, it’s just abuse. Maybe the argument is that it is too easily abused, though. I can see that.)
Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.
Aaron, I don’t think you’re grasping the essential point of a D.D., at least how it has been historically understood, as Joseph mentioned above. The D.D. is for accomplishments in the realm of scholarship that would be similar to the finished product of a doctoral program. For example, James Dale produced a multi-volume examination of the word βαπτιζω throughout the history of the Greek language, and for that he was awarded a D.D.. You’re not supposed to get them for building big churches or writing popular-level books or bringing the gospel to millions via radio. Those are all worthy accomplishments and very likely quite difficult, but they are not academic accomplishments. Why would you give an academic certification to someone who has distinguished himself in a non-academic field? Do you ordain professional singers? Do you give medical licenses to philanthropists? It’s simply a confusion of fields.
The D.D. used to represent the acknowledgment that people outside of normal doctoral studies could nevertheless distinguish themselves academically and be recognized for their achievements. As such, it was a real degree and people could display it without embarrassment (remember, D.D. used to be the regular degree). As more and more honorary degrees have been awarded for non-academic reasons and by educational institutions that don’t even award the corresponding academic certification, they have become a joke. This is a loss both for the academy, which can no longer recognize real academic work done outside its walls, and the church, that generally doesn’t know the difference between the two and fawns over anyone who calls himself “Dr.”.
The D.D. used to represent the acknowledgment that people outside of normal doctoral studies could nevertheless distinguish themselves academically and be recognized for their achievements. As such, it was a real degree and people could display it without embarrassment (remember, D.D. used to be the regular degree). As more and more honorary degrees have been awarded for non-academic reasons and by educational institutions that don’t even award the corresponding academic certification, they have become a joke. This is a loss both for the academy, which can no longer recognize real academic work done outside its walls, and the church, that generally doesn’t know the difference between the two and fawns over anyone who calls himself “Dr.”.
My Blog: http://dearreaderblog.com
Cor meum tibi offero Domine prompte et sincere. ~ John Calvin
[BryanBice]…that the guys who get the honoraries are generally given them because of some “great” recognizable contribution to the cause? Their church has grown numerically through the years….their Christian school is top notch in their state…they’ve fought some huge battle against homos…state intrusion…etc. The message is clear. Your life & ministry is only significant and worth honoring—it’s great—if you’ve shown yourself to be some “great one.” In contrast, how did our Lord define greatness?It happens Bryan. My father received an honorary degree from BJU several years ago. His accomplishment….he’s been faithfully working in the same church since 1967. It’s not a big church, but he has faithfully serving all of those years with little recognition. I think it is good to honor people like this. Whether the honoring should come in the form of an honorary degree or not is not my call, but I believe the school did a good thing by honoring a pastor such as my father.
I don’t have much use for the whole “honorary degree” thing anyway (see sidebar below), but I think I’d have a great deal more respect for the granting institution if each year they awarded an honorary to a pastor or missionary who’s been laboring away in some obscure little place for years without much to show for it other than faithful service to the Lord and His people.
BTW, before being called to this church in 1967, he had completed his bachelors, masters, and all coursework for his doctorate except for his dissertation. Not sure exactly what the degrees were, but he certainly was/is edumacated!
Ricky,
I think Bryan is actually saying men like your Dad are the ones that deserve these types degrees.
I think Bryan is actually saying men like your Dad are the ones that deserve these types degrees.
Roger Carlson, Pastor Berean Baptist Church
Discussion