In the cloistered world of Episcopal seminaries, time sometimes seems to stand still as clergy-in-training gather in stone chapels to pray in ways familiar to their forebears centuries earlier.
But the semblance of timelessness can be deceiving.
Some of the 11 seminaries affiliated with the Episcopal Church are slashing core programs, while others report rapid growth in enrollment. Still others are reexamining conventional wisdom about what it takes — and how much it costs — to shape a faithful priest.
The Episcopal method of training clergy “is a very expensive way to do theological education,” said Daniel Aleshire, executive director of the Pittsburgh-based Association of Theological Schools. “There is significant financial stress in the Episcopal seminary system.”
Centrist and liberal seminaries are facing especially hard times….
Centrist and liberal seminaries have no reason to exist. Since there is nothing to believe, nor any history that has any relevance to the good new days, nor any spirituality to communicate that can’t be communicated more effectively on Oprah, the only option left is offering graduate education in . . . what?
Law.
With emphasis on property law and not-for-profit corporation law.
“With emphasis on property law and not-for-profit corporation law.”
I think you mean ‘prophet’ (except the VGR kind).
There just isn’t that much to teach in an ECUSA seminary. There are celebrated examples of this lack of need: Barbara harris was made a bishop with no seminary degree, Vincent warner with not only no seminary degree but also no Bachelors! (simply amazing.). Then there is KJS, who makes it very clear that no theological understanding whatever is a result of PECUSA seminary training. Once you digest these examples (you might add the seminary trained minds who trained, graduated, confirmed, then thrice ordained the unbaptized bishop of Utah) you might just conclude those seminaries have been on the rocks for a few decades now.