Seminaries – Page 14 – Episcopal Cafe

Episcopal seminaries grapple with new realities — II

July 10, 2008 No Comments

For both theological and practical reasons, the Episcopal Church is moving toward a “nonprofessional” ministry of part-time or unpaid clergy. And an increasing amount of pastoral, spiritual, and educational work is being carried out by lay volunteers. By some estimates, between 60,000 and 100,000 lay people have been trained in Bible, church history and theology in an intensive four-year program called Education for Ministry.

Episcopal seminaries grapple with new realities — I

July 9, 2008 3 Comments

The high cost of residential theological education conducted in accordance with the traditional academic model—$50,000 a year per student at Seabury, for example, with only $13,000 covered by tuition—turns out to be only one element in the growing pressure in the Episcopal Church to develop a new system of training for ministry.

The cost of one’s calling

May 17, 2008 3 Comments

The Washington Post today examines the downsizing and program-trimming trend among Episcopal seminaries, noting a correlation between that trend and the dynamics within the denomination. But the more likely causal factor, the article continues, is, quite simply, money.

Jefferts Schori and Tutu address Sewanee graduates

May 10, 2008 No Comments

The Most Rev. Desmond Tutu, archbishop emeritus of Cape Town, addressed University of the South’s School of Theology on Friday, and Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori delivered the commencement address earlier today. Tutu talks about thanksgiving, and about being agents to fulfill God’s purpose. Calling on the graduates to heed the cries for help from those in need, he notes that our greater cause is to bring about more compassion, love and laughter in this world.

A disciple-making church?

May 9, 2008 5 Comments

The term “discipleship” is probably associated, for some of us, with more evangelical and fundamentalist traditions and “making disciples” primarily with overseas mission, often associated with cultural conservatism. But I believe it’s a term that we in the Episcopal/Anglican tradition should be reclaiming, reframing, and considering in light of our tradition and the culture surrounding us.

What happened at Seabury

May 2, 2008 1 Comment

The men and women of the Seabury Board, faculty and staff are facing the harsh truths of trying to sustain our seminaries as “mini-colleges” in an era when the rules of the theological training game have completely changed. This is not a “failure” on their part, but recognition of the future. The truth is, we are in an adapt-or-die evolutionary moment for theological education.

Seabury gives faculty notice, cuts nine staff jobs

April 24, 2008 1 Comment

“Our primary work right now is caring for the people in the Seabury community whose lives are being dramatically disrupted,” Dean Gary Hall said. “While we need to look to what Seabury might become in the future, we have focused almost all of our energies on the immediate concerns facing those around us.”

The future of seminaries

April 6, 2008 No Comments

The nation has 165 seminaries, but 39 percent of seminary students attend just 20 of them. The 20 large institutions, all but two evangelical Christian, raise substantial money, have big endowments or receive moderate to high denominational support — or do all three. In the future, Mr. Aleshire said, “There may be just two kinds of seminaries, those with substantial endowments or effective annual giving and the nonexistent.”

EDS partners with Lesley University

March 6, 2008 2 Comments

Episcopal Divinity School has announced a new partnership with Lesley University and made an official announcement about the resignation of Dean Steven Charleston.

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