I am not a doctor of theology. I’ve tried to rationalize owning the one I had from the unaccredited school called Martin Luther School of Bible and Theology. I presented them with a 50K to 60K diss (based on my previously published chapters in my two coedited books, and some further original writing), but I just cannot justify it. I’ve been involved in the academic theology world for years, with just my MA degree (and I’m not even a fan of the academic theology world). I don’t need the ThD or PhD for what I do, ultimately. Anyway, just to be clear. The degree was legal, but unnecessary and not accomplishing for me what a degree like that should. And some other reasons. This has been a long wrestling match for me. Man.
Even so, I will always appreciate Dr. Enrique Ramos as a brother in Christ. And I will always appreciate the thoughtfulness behind him and his faculty awarding me with the honorary ThD as well (which is what kicked the whole thing off to start with). All very thoughtful gestures by which I remain humbled.