AP Story Mentions APNTS

March 31, 6:15 PM EDT

Giraffe to Receive Master of Divinity

By ANN DAYAMO
AP Education Writer

Taytay, Rizal, Philippines (AP)--Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary (APNTS), located in the suburbs of Manila, has always prided itself on providing quality graduate theological education to students from many different cultures. This year is no exception. In commencement services to be held on the Seminary's campus Saturday, April 4, a giraffe will march in the graduation ceremony, receiving his Master of Divinity degree along with seven human counterparts from three different countries.

The Rev. Mr. Steven Fulsian is the first non-human to take courses in the twenty-five year history of APNTS. Mr. Fulsian says, "It was hard for me to adjust to the low ceilings, but through the help of God I have been able to finish my degree in only four years." Before coming to the Seminary, Mr. Fulsian, an ordained minister in the Saharan Holiness Church, had established and maintained a ministry geared toward the physical and spiritual needs of giraffes in his native Kenya. "I hope," he continues, "that my success will encourage other non-humans to pursue theological education."

Mr. Fulsian's academic pursuits were not without their challenges, however. According to Dr. Floyd Cunningham, president of APNTS, "Our initial fear was not Steven's height, but his ability to communicate in English." Due to the existence of hundreds of languages and dialects throughout the Asia-Pacific region APNTS serves, all instruction at the Seminary is conducted in English. Incoming students whose native language is not English are required to pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Master of Divinity students like Mr. Fulsian must pass with a minimum TOEFL score of 500, while candidates for some other degrees must achieve at least 550. Though Mr. Fulsian had learned a good deal of English on an informal basis, listening to missionaries teaching English to children in Kenya, he had certain physiological difficulties which made speaking a bit of a chore. In addition, the English used in academic theology is more sophisticated than the typical conversational English to which Mr. Fulsian had previously been exposed. Upon his arrival at the APNTS campus in July 2005, Mr. Fulsian's initial TOEFL score was 460, insufficient to begin taking graduate classes. However, students scoring between 450 and 499 are allowed provisional acceptance and the privilege of taking non-credit English courses. Mr. Fulsian spent his first year of study in such courses, under the tutelage of Professor Beverly Gruver. Mrs. Gruver says, "Steven fervently applied himself to the study of English, and achieved one of the highest levels of improvement in TOEFL scores ever seen at APNTS." When Mr. Fulsian took the TOEFL again the next July, his score was 575, sufficient to enroll in any degree program offered by the Seminary.

Mr. Fulsian's physical stature also contributed to his unique experience. The APNTS campus is built on two adjoining, hilly plots of land in the Manila suburb of Taytay. Human students often complain of the arduous climb, especially of the 40 steps up to the main classroom building, known as Owens Hall, after the founding president of the Seminary. The Seminary conceded to Mr. Fulsian's needs by providing secure platforms at strategic points along the hill where he could stand and be able to stick his head through open windows to participate in class. In addition, computer operators and reading assistants were employed throughout Mr. Fulsian's stay at the Seminary to compensate for his lack of fingers. Mr. Fulsian praised the Seminary's efforts to accomodate his imposing physical presence. "APNTS really opened their doors," he says. Then, correcting himself, he continues, "I mean, their windows to me, and I am forever in their debt." Mr. Fulsian's height will also necessitate a change in the typical graduation exercises. Normally students wear academic gowns and walk across the stage one at a time to receive a hood from faculty members, decorated with the colors of the degree and the Seminary. In Mr. Fulsian's case, the gown and the stage march are excluded, but he will be given a hood. After the ceremony, when he stretches to his full height, the hood will settle across his shoulders as it is designed to do.

Master of Divinity graduates at APNTS are required to complete 90 semester hours, not including any remedial English study that may be needed. The Seminary also offers the degrees of Master of Arts in Religious Education, Master of Arts in Christian Communication, and Master of Science in Theology. APNTS is a graduate school in the Wesleyan tradition, preparing men and women--and, now, giraffes--for Christlike leadership and excellence in ministries.