Jonathan Ketcham
Puritan Board Freshman
Im an undergrad student seeking to transfer into a 5 year BA/Mdiv program. I've been torn between SBTS and SEBTS for the past couple months. Here is the dilemma.
As a reformed Baptist, Southern seems like a great option, I've heard marvelous things about how God is using their faculty. I've also heard good things about Southeastern from a close friend. I live in Grand Rapids but my brother in law and sister (and my new nephew) who are dear friends and mentors are moving down near Southeastern. I would love to be near them, which is a small part of why Southeastern seems appealing. Yet on the other hand, in Louisville I would be 6 hours from my family in Grand Rapids. I don't want to choose a school solely on location, but I know they are both great schools. So for me, if they are close enough to each other, maybe I should go to Southeastern where I could see family more often. I guess my question simply
put is, is Southern that much better than SEBTS to the point where it would be important to sacrifice something small like proximity to family.
From what I've gathered, many say that Southern may be a better school. I don't want to sacrifice any quality of preparation for ministry. Both schools adhere to the Abstract of Principles which I like, but Southern does seem more Reformed, and likely a better education. Another thing I'm wondering about is whether it would be good to go to a place where I may find more like minded Reformed teaching (Southern). Or would it be better to be at a school that is still very solid, but maybe puts less of an emphasis on reformed theology, thus, also teaching me how to interact with various viewpoints (SEBTS).
As a reformed Baptist, Southern seems like a great option, I've heard marvelous things about how God is using their faculty. I've also heard good things about Southeastern from a close friend. I live in Grand Rapids but my brother in law and sister (and my new nephew) who are dear friends and mentors are moving down near Southeastern. I would love to be near them, which is a small part of why Southeastern seems appealing. Yet on the other hand, in Louisville I would be 6 hours from my family in Grand Rapids. I don't want to choose a school solely on location, but I know they are both great schools. So for me, if they are close enough to each other, maybe I should go to Southeastern where I could see family more often. I guess my question simply
put is, is Southern that much better than SEBTS to the point where it would be important to sacrifice something small like proximity to family.
From what I've gathered, many say that Southern may be a better school. I don't want to sacrifice any quality of preparation for ministry. Both schools adhere to the Abstract of Principles which I like, but Southern does seem more Reformed, and likely a better education. Another thing I'm wondering about is whether it would be good to go to a place where I may find more like minded Reformed teaching (Southern). Or would it be better to be at a school that is still very solid, but maybe puts less of an emphasis on reformed theology, thus, also teaching me how to interact with various viewpoints (SEBTS).