On The Side, Dr Phil

Graham didn’t go by Dr. Billy Graham and I sure have never heard anyone refer to Obama as Dr. Barack Obama.

A person of integrity would not go by the “Dr.” tag if they had not actually earned the degree…

Obama recieved a honorary doctorate from Notre Dame did he not?

An honorary degree is different that a “diloma mill” degree. One is bestowed by a institution on an individual who they deem deserving for some reason or another. A “diploma mill” degree is a short cut to some sort of legitimacy!

Anybody with half a brain can research and discover that Hunt’s degrees were honorary! If you take the time to talk with him, he would tell you this himself. Say what you will…he is the real deal and a man of integrity!

Ed

I personaly think that far to many churches look at the degree instead of the calling. There are churches that will not even look at you if you do not have the “right type of Degree”. I find this very wrong, the call should be first! I am not saying that a pastor should not be educated, however I do not think that you have to go to a college to get educated. Here are some problems as I see it.

1. Some of the “good Colleges and Seminary’s” have compromised there stance on the bible in order to make others welcome…why would I pay a large amount of money to get trained in a college that has failed to hold to the Word of God?

2. Most pastors make far less then those who you are speaking about. My father was a pastor, and never had a full time position at a church. He always had another job to make ends meet…I ask you does it show good stewardship to go to a college and pay a tution that when you get out you may or may not make up?

3. There are those who God has called and the pastor can not go to a seminary. Perhaps its because he has a family, or perhaps he is being used where he is. A courspondence Course is right up the ally for that person.

4. I hear the term “diploma Mill” being used. However I used to work at Vanderbuilt University, and that is as much of a “Diploma Mill” as the next place. I am not saying that every one at the University got a degree handed to them, however you would be surpised how much is done under the table…now the degree is “accepted” yet the student never really earned it. Most of what you get in much of these colleges is a force fed education, study to get the right answers on the test and don’t think for your self. Bottom Line…a college or university, (Degree mill or not) is only as good as the person who is earning it.

5. I could care less as a pastor about taking English, or Math or any other subject…What I want and what I need as a Pastor is a course on the things of God. If this is what I am after then I am not concerned with the 4 goverment institutions that say if my seminary is a good one or not.

6. I will say that pastors can get into a trap of using titles. The best thing you could call me is Bro.

Steve is a fine young man and loves Jesus and has a sweet family. My friend, you need to be like the publican and say, “God be merciful to me a sinner.”

I have an earned degree from The southern Baptist Theological Seminary under Dr. Mohler. I am not offended that my pastor uses the name “Dr.” He has paid the price through the years and has been obedient and faithful to the Lord.
The Seminaries simply recognized him for his many years of successful work in the Kingdom.

I am 51 years old. I have pastored for over 30 years. I do not believe I deserve an honorary doctorate because I have not stayed in one place and paid the price like Dr. Hunt.

Terry R. Tuley
Woodstock, Georgia

By padding I meant the adding of fluff. i.e Degrees from diploma mills. That this has become accepted practice doesn’t make it right.

I don’t think this disqualifies Johnny Hunt as a pastor or as President of the SBC. I would like him to remove any connection with the diploma mills and, perhaps pursue a legitimate doctorate if he is interested. I doubt it will make him a better preacher if he does, but if the Dr. is important……then do the work.

IMO I would like to see preachers stop using ALL titles including Rev. How about Bruce, Johnny, pr Chris?

Thanks
Bruce

I agree the use of diploma mills raises an ethical questions, but it is not lying to obtain a degree from an institution and then use a title that goes along with that degree. When someone has a Dr before their name I always ask where did they receive it… I don’t assume anything (and nobody should, I am sure you have heard what ASSUME can mean).

Most pew sitters don’t care what your title is… I have friends that worked from they day they graduated high school on getting a doctorate. They tried to get ministry positions but all they had to offer was a degree and that didn’t cut it. Now they are out teaching and they can only teach what they learned and have no practical application for their knowledge. They earned it but have no idea what to do with it.

I honestly “see” your point but what I don’t get is the fact that people are willing to spear a man over it. You accused him of “padding” his resume but it is a statement that you cannot back up. That is what bothers me.

I noticed in your profile that you label yourself a “liberal Christian.” I would like to inquire as to what you mean by such a statement. I don’t think this is the forum for that discussion so would you please respond to me at christopherallenlee@mac.com.

Thanks again for your time.

Simple.

Earn it. Use it.

Honorary. List it but don’t use it.

Diploma Mill, honorary or not. Don’t list it. Don’t use it. And probably expose the diploma mill for their unethical acts.

It is lying when we use Dr. and it comes from a Diploma mill. (an issue you seem to not be willing to address is that diploma mills are scams and unethical)It is sleight of hand when Dr. is used and it is honorary.

People ASSUME when someone has Dr. before their name that they did the work to get it. Most pew sitters don’t know the politics and “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” stuff that goes on when people get honorary degrees.

Johnny Hunt should remove the diploma mill degrees from his resume. Any other honorary degrees from accredited institutions should be listed as honorary. Hunt should not use Dr. in front of his name because he has not earned it. (especially since they are from known diploma mills)

I do not know Johnny Hunt and I am not a Southern Baptist. Not relevant. The issue is the infatuation of Evangelicalism with degrees and titles. So much so that we will take unethical paths to get them.

In the Independent Baptist circles I used to run in I doubt that 10% of the Dr’s were earned. Most of them came from diploma mills or were awarded for being “a good buddy” of the institution.

I think I have exhausted my argument on this. Those who don’t see this…….ain’t gonna see it