I know SMU is owned by the church.

Are professors required to be methodist? Are undergrads required to take any religion courses generally, or methodist theory specifically?

In what tangible ways does being owned by the Church affect how SMU operates?

Finally, has there been any consideration about breaking away from the Church but maintaining ties, like Duke, Northwestern and Syracuse have?

Professors can be of any faith. No mandatory religious classes and the largest Christian denomination is Catholic comprising something like 25% of the population. Large Jewish base too. Non-Methodist church members make up the majority of the board of directors. We are affiliated, but not controlled.

On a scale from 1 to John Wesley, I'd put SMU at a 3 just because of their name.

We are branding to SMU now not the full name

(06-30-2014 08:20 PM)Pony94 Wrote:  We are branding to SMU now not the full name

Pronounced "Smooo"?
My father-in--law attended in the 40's and was a circuit preacher in the Delta for a few years.

Sounds as though SMU is a bit more Methodist than Tulsa is Presbyterian (which in't much these days).

(06-30-2014 07:43 PM)CougarRed Wrote:  I know SMU is owned by the church.

Are professors required to be methodist? Are undergrads required to take any religion courses generally, or methodist theory specifically?

In what tangible ways does being owned by the Church affect how SMU operates?

Finally, has there been any consideration about breaking away from the Church but maintaining ties, like Duke, Northwestern and Syracuse have?

SMU has about the same level of ties to the church as Duke has

The only thing that our ties to the UMC really affect is that we operate a theology school

Actually, upon further research, Duke has far more ties to the church than does SMU. At Duke, 24 of the 36 Trustees are selected by the church. At SMU, I believe that it is 9 out of 42.

SMU... Where the white lines aren't just on the field.

(06-30-2014 10:12 PM)invisiblehand Wrote:  SMU... Where the white lines aren't just on the field.

Tulsa where a fan was kicked out for racial slurs against us

(06-30-2014 10:14 PM)Pony94 Wrote:  

(06-30-2014 10:12 PM)invisiblehand Wrote:  SMU... Where the white lines aren't just on the field.

Tulsa where a fan was kicked out for racial slurs against us

Methodists aren't a race.

(06-30-2014 09:42 PM)CalallenStang Wrote:  Actually, upon further research, Duke has far more ties to the church than does SMU. At Duke, 24 of the 36 Trustees are selected by the church. At SMU, I believe that it is 9 out of 42.

Duke is not owned by the church. SMU is. That's a huge difference, and the reason I even started the thread.

As a Methodist myself, I'm interested. Thanks for all the responses.

(06-30-2014 10:35 PM)CougarRed Wrote:  

(06-30-2014 09:42 PM)CalallenStang Wrote:  Actually, upon further research, Duke has far more ties to the church than does SMU. At Duke, 24 of the 36 Trustees are selected by the church. At SMU, I believe that it is 9 out of 42.

Duke is not owned by the church. SMU is. That's a huge difference, and the reason I even started the thread.

As a Methodist myself, I'm interested. Thanks for all the responses.

Correct, Duke is owned by the Trustees, 2/3 of whom are selected by the church.

(06-30-2014 08:17 PM)ncbeta Wrote:  On a scale from 1 to John Wesley, I'd put SMU at a 3 just because of their name.

lol

Aside from the name, Perkins School of Theology, and Highland Park UMC on campus, the average student or professor would never know it was a Methodist school.

Interesting thread

As far as I know nobody at Duke or at the Southern Methodist University in Dallas (or at Emory, yet another Southern Methodist university) is required to be Methodist or to teach Methodist thought, even within their divinity schools. Methodists aren't like that. You're probably thinking of Baptists or Mormons, who might seek to control academics at universities under their sway like BYU or TCU or Baylor or Liberty. Duke, SMU and Emory respect academic freedom as much as any other university on earth.

(06-30-2014 09:26 PM)TU72N76 Wrote:  Sounds as though SMU is a bit more Methodist than Tulsa is Presbyterian (which in't much these days).

Probably about as Baptist as Temple.

(06-30-2014 09:42 PM)CalallenStang Wrote:  Actually, upon further research, Duke has far more ties to the church than does SMU. At Duke, 24 of the 36 Trustees are selected by the church. At SMU, I believe that it is 9 out of 42.

Duke also has a divinity school. Every pastor I had growing up went to Duke.

edit: didn't see the post about Perkins school of theology.

(07-01-2014 04:51 AM)ncbeta Wrote:  

(06-30-2014 09:42 PM)CalallenStang Wrote:  Actually, upon further research, Duke has far more ties to the church than does SMU. At Duke, 24 of the 36 Trustees are selected by the church. At SMU, I believe that it is 9 out of 42.

Duke also has a divinity school. Every pastor I had growing up went to Duke.

edit: didn't see the post about Perkins school of theology.

And their nickname is the demon deacons.


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