Marc Cortez recently
posted on the dismal job prospects of folks who have recently received a PhD in Theology (HT to
Phil Sumpter). Here is a portion of his post, just so you get what he is getting at:
In 2008 ATS schools hired 420 new faculty. In 2009 they hired 339. By
2010 the number was down to 226. That’s an almost 50% decrease in just
two years.
[...]
That becomes a problem
when you consider the number of new PhDs produced every year. ATS
schools alone graduate over 400 new doctoral students every year. Add in
the students graduating from non-ATS schools (including all of the
overseas programs) and you begin to see the shape of the market.
I felt that his post was interesting and worthwhile. Here is the comment I posted on his site:
I just am wrapping up a PhD in divinity (close enough, no?) and am very
content working as a missionary to Muslims. I teach on the side at a
local university but that is not my main job or main source of income.
Consider the mission field. It is wonderful and dynamic, trying and
exhilarating. Even if I got an offer for a T[enure] T[rack] position I would not
automatically take it.
So check out
his blog post, and chime in with your own thoughts. My overall impression is we need a closer relation between theological training and mission, like back in the maligned medieval Church, which I rather like.
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