Bethlen Almanac 2000 (Ligonier)
Cikkek - Articles
Szabolcs Kálmán: Problem or Opportunity? A Model for a Bilingual Church. A brief summary of a doctoral project. (The Hungarian version of this article is in Bethlen Almanac 1999, pp. 216-221.) This is about a practical doctoral project, a so-called ministerial doctorate (Doctor of Ministry), and not a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), although in many instances seminary professors teach with Doctor of Ministry degrees. Its purpose is to enhance the practical pastoral work of ministers in the field, by offering them a high level of academic and practical instruction. Consequently, along with the theoretical preparations, each candidate elects a “work-project,” (practical and measurable) which he/she performs in an academic manner in participation with members of the candidate’s congregation. A condition of the degree is that there must be a minimum of five years of prior ministerial work experience before one enters the program, and the candidate must continue his/her pastoral work while in this program, thus he/she can be only a part-time student. A minimum of three, a maximum of five years are given to complete the diploma project; with proper justification this can be changed. In my case, after obtaining two secular degrees, at age 35 I started my theological education at the San Francisco Theological Seminary, where after 3 full years of study, a Master of Divinity degree was awarded to me in 1974. I served as a pastor for 17 years at Grace Hungarian Reformed Church in the Los Angeles area, then in 1991,1 came to pastor the West Side Hungarian Reformed Church in Cleveland, Ohio. With my work load, I was unable to participate in any regular continuing education program. Although a major goal to further my education was ever present. My Cleveland church accepted the expenses for such education, thus in the summer of 1991 I entered the Doctoral Program at nearby Ashland Theological Seminary. This is the largest Protestant Seminary in the state of Ohio, indeed it is an Anabaptist school (Brethren), but the school is strong in ecumenical outreach, the faculty is composed of differing denominations, among them some Presbyterians (Reformed) as well. The academic standards were excellent at the Seminary, with an open and inquisitive atmosphere, and 234
