Sandy Webb is a seminarian at Virginia Theological Seminary and formerly staff at the Episcopal Church Center.
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“When talking about seminary selection, I have discovered that many people had the same experience that I did. It’s what I have come to describe as a “spoon drop moment.” You do all of your research, you weigh all of your options, and you can’t decide. Then, one day, you’re eating your breakfast cereal, and you drop your spoon and say, “I have to go to ___.”
Each of the Episcopal seminaries is unique, and your overriding criterion should be which of them will be the best fit for you. This is an extremely important decision, but it is also important that we remember the role of divine providence in making this decision. God has a seminary in mind for each of us, and we need to make sure that we’re keeping our eyes, ears and hearts open to what God intends rather than what we personally desire.
When I was searching, I thought that I wanted the strongest possible academic environment. But, what I discovered in my discernment process is that I really needed a place whose primary focus was on formation in the context of Christian community. I needed to let go of my own understanding of what I needed as an intellectual and grab on to what God needed for my formation as a priest.
The balance between academic rigor and priestly formation is an ongoing conversation at all of our seminaries. In a recent Ember Day letter, my bishop suggested to me that he will be concerned when we think we have that question resolved. You may want to ask about this as you visit different seminaries. As young people, recently out of college, with thirty-five or forty years of ministry ahead of us, this question is particularly relevant. However, those circumstances also make it supremely important that we listen to what God wants for us rather than what we want for us.
In looking back on this whole process, in the midst of my second semester at Virginia Seminary, I can tell you with absolute honesty that I have never regretted my decision to follow God’s path rather than insisting on my own. Good luck, and godspeed!”
CampCross in the Diocese of Spokane is looking for people, 19 and up to work as program staff with youth from ages 4th grade to 12th, as well as families and adults. CampCross has had a long history of international staff, and for many of the youth central Washington, it is their only chance to meet people from outside the US. Camp Cross have a growing number of Hispanic youth from farm-worker families, so having someone on staff who can speak Spanish fluently would be really add depth to the experience of those campers and help them feel at home as part of the Camp family. The qualifications are pretty standard for a summer camp: energetic, personable, able to lead activities, experience with children, able to deal with stress, able to share their faith and so on. As for language, fluent English isn’t by any means necessary.
Working at a summer camp is not only a powerful spiritual experience for personal and vocational discernment, but also a unique chance to develop leadership skills, as well as program planning skills (worship, retreats, games, etc).
Feel free to check out the website or email Chase Shields, CampDirector:
Tuesday, July 08, 2008 - Sunday, July 13, 2008
Location: Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas EYE 2008 Website
E.Y.E. is jam packed with fun and excitement! It is an opportunity to meet other youth from all over the world and experience the church on a global level. Participants are lodged in the host facility’s dorms and eat meals at the campus dining facilities. The event community gathers regularly as a large group for worship, program, music, and media. Participants also meet daily in an ongoing small group. A variety or other activities, such as carnivals, forums, workshops, sports/recreation, and free time help round out the schedule.E.Y.E. is a triennial event (held once every three years) as mandated by General Convention of the Episcopal Church. The first E.Y.E. was held in 1982 at The University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. The most recent E.Y.E. was held in 2005 at Berea College in Berea, Kentucky.
E.Y.E. is coordinated by the Ministries with Young People Cluster of the Episcopal Church with the help of a Design Team of youth and adults from across the U.S. and beyond.
Okay. You’ve prayed and discerned and thought about your calling, and now it’s time to think about seminary. How does anyone make a decision like that? Is it like going to college? Or choosing a place to live? A lot of factors will go into your decision about which seminary you choose to attend. This is a time when you want to make as many contacts as possible with as many different people as you can. Where did your parish priest or college chaplain go to seminary? Where did your bishop go? Does he or she want you to attend a particular school? At first, there seems to be a bewildering number of choices to make. The range of seminaries in the Episcopal Church is very, very broad. With a few categories of thought in mind, though, you can start to think concretely about where you are called to be. Read the rest of this entry »
by Lynne A. Grifo, Office for Ministry Development
Anglican theologian Charles Gore wrote:
Only those who know from the ground up what they believe, and why they believe, are able to help those who seek them out.
Theological education is related to baptism. With baptism we enter into new life following the example of Jesus Christ. It is a life of service and action to promote justice, peace and reconciliation. Baptism is much more than a momentary experience; it is the beginning of life-long process of spiritual growth. Learning is a key part of this growth process. The mission of theological education is to better equip the people of God for faithful and effective ministry and leadership.
Seminary education is one form of theological education. There are 11 accredited Episcopal seminaries and you can find information about them at the website Theological Education for All. They offer degree programs, certificates, and opportunities for continuing education, including courses on-line. They are located around the U.S. and each has a unique history, character and set of strengths.
Students in three-year Ministry of Divinity (M. Div.) programs are usually, although not always, in the process toward ordination. Other possible degrees are: a Master of Theological Studies or a Master of Arts (e.g. in Religion). Episcopalians also study theology at other seminaries and universities around the country. Many dioceses offer local training programs which, while not providing a degree, do prepare persons for designated roles in the church. If you hope to explore a call to be a priest or deacon your diocesan bishop would be the first person to talk to about where you might study. It is important to have this conversation before you register for a degree program at a seminary.
Some bishops want to encourage young adults in particular to consider a vocation in the church and may offer to fund the first year of seminary for a promising student. For information about other potential sources of financial aid click here and here.
The idea that God might be asking you to explore a career in the ordained ministry can be scary. Maybe you think you’re not sure enough yet to do anything about it. Or maybe you don’t really know what’s involved in preparing to be a clergyperson. This guide will try and give you a look inside the ordination process. Read the rest of this entry »
The history of the diaconate in the Episcopal Church is well documented in Ormonde Plater’s book entitled Many Servants. Plater traces the evolution of the diaconate in The Episcopal Church from the mid 19th century, including missionary deacons who served from the 1840’s through the 1930’s, deaconesses who served from the mid 1860’s to the 1970’s (and beyond, though this form of diaconal ministry gave way to the diaconate as we know it now), the male perpetual deacons who were ordained between 1952 and 1970, and finally what he terms “modern deacons,” who have been ordained since 1970. There are currently more than 2700 deacons in the Episcopal Church. In the nearly twenty-five years since the ordination service for deacons was revised in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, The Episcopal Church has begun to live ever more completely into this description of the diaconate found in The Examination:
“My brother/sister, every Christian is called to follow Jesus Christ, serving God the Father, through the power of the Holy Spirit. God now calls you to a special ministry of servanthood directly under your bishop. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are to serve all people, particularly the poor, the weak, the sick, and the lonely. Read the rest of this entry »
A few years ago I participated in a weekend retreat on “discerning your spiritual gifts.” I was excited. We were going to harness the powers of modern diagnostic tools such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, as well as the traditional methods of Bible study and prayer, to probe deep into our hearts and psyches and to find where our true gifts lie. And the procedure worked–by the end of the weekend, I knew I have gifts for teaching, writing, and leading worship. There was only one problem: I knew all of this before the retreat! It was nice to have my gifts affirmed in this way, but when a group of us got together at the end of the weekend to discuss how to use the gifts we had discerned, it was all speculation. We had discerned our talents and gifts, but we still hadn’t a clue what, if anything, we ought to do with them. I left the retreat confused and disappointed, praying: “God, I thank you for all your gifts, both large and small, but what can I do with my life that will be most pleasing to you?” I didn’t even know if I should base my life on my already-known talents. Read the rest of this entry »
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