Holy Orders ?

[gitlance]

Hey all! I have a slight concern that I was hoping everyone here could help me with. I have just recently started attending the Episcopal church, and my confirmation is set for this November. However, I have been accepted and am enrolling in Oral Roberts University this Spring. Now, it's an inter-denominational school, with students from all the major denominations: Baptist, Catholic, Charismatic, etc...

I have always wanted to be in the ministry. I've felt a call from my earliest days to be a minister, and lately I've given serious thought to pursuing Holy Orders in the Episcopal church. Now I realize that I must attend Episcopal seminary after undergraduate school. Do you think there would be any problem with me majoring in Theology and Church History at ORU, and then pursuing Episcopal seminary and eventually the priesthood? I do know of several Episcopal priests who went to ORU, usually before they were Episcopalian, but eventually went to seminary and were ordained.

Thanks!

God bless!

 

[Father Rick]

You won't have any problem at all...

I highly suggest you talk to the Bishop of the diocese you are in and tell them of your plans to see how to best coordinate your schooling. When you graduate from ORU, you will probably have to take another year or 2 of school through an Episcopal seminary so if you can find which courses are best to take at undergrad level it may help you later on.

By the way-- I attended Southeastern College (Assemblies of God) for my undergrad, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary for an M.A. and St. Michael's College (Old Catholic) for my M.Div. so there are others of us out there who have travelled similar routes.

If you're not familiar with us OC's, we're a "double-first cousin" of the Anglicans.

 

[Polycarp1]

Talk to your Rector or Vicar, and ask for a referral to the Bishop -- it's wise to begin the discernment process this early, and your priest will probably know the appropriate next steps (they vary somewhat from diocese to diocese). If he doesn't the Bishop certainly will.

ORU, while a good school, is quite conservative theologically, while most (but not all) Episcopal seminaries are quite liberal (again theologically) -- you should discuss with someone in authority a way to structure your studies so that the transition is not a shock. From what I've heard (my last Methodist pastor before we converted and his wife were both ORU graduates), the pastoral care and homiletics programs at ORU are excellent, and you might want to arrange permission to take them as an undergraduate, which might waive or reduce to a practicum your need to deal with them in seminary.

 

[seebs]

I do not mean to be disruptive, but... If I were going to study theology, ORU would not be my first choice.

 

[Filia Mariae]

I do not mean to be disruptive, but... If I were going to study theology, ORU would not be my first choice.

How come? I know nothing about it so I am really wondering.

 

[Father Rick]

How come? I know nothing about it so I am really wondering.

ORU is known much more for it's emphasis on practical ministry instead of theology. Their area of expertise is actually medicine/nursing.

 

[chalice_thunder]

Hey gitlance ~

Many blessings as you proceed down the discernment road. It is full of challenges and blessings. (I am currently a postulant for priesthood) I agree with some of what has been said above: Talk to your Rector/Vicar; and ask that a parish discernment group be formed. Check out the whole process with your diocesan office - often it can be full of pits and turns, so you are best-off if you read up on what is expected of you.

Next, don't be afraid to ask your parish for continuing prayers as you go forward. You will come to rely on them for support.

ORU may be a fine school to attend - but you may want to consider any other passions that might arise within you. There is no requisite undergrad degree in order to go to seminary - you only need a degree in SOMETHING.

I will share this with you. I completed my undergrad degree in Vocal Jazz and Composition; and if I continue on to seminary, my undergrad degree will have much more to do with my authentic priesthood than if I had opted for a degree in Biblical history or something of the sort. (That's just me. Just don't forget that God uses EVERYTHING that we have to offer!!!)

At some point, assuming you wish to go forward, you will want to check out the numerous seminaries. I visited 3. One left me completely cold. One provided the most extravagant welcome to me and my partner of 20 years. (They even somehow found out that we have 2 dogs, and told us that there was a sort of community dog co-op of sorts on campus!) and the 3rd was something in between the other 2. Honestly, if I am to attend seminary, I would opt for the last one - for the simple reason that it is closest to my home.

All that being said, these days many dioceses are allowing postulants to study at local accredited schools of theology that might not have the "Anglican dipping" requirement...so this is also something you may want to look in to.

This sounds like an exciting time for you, and my prayers are with you as you go forward. May you be richly blessed - each and every step of your journey.

 

[gitlance]

Thank you all so much for your insight, prayers, and support!! It's so comforting to know that I have such a "great cloud of witnesses" behind me. God's blessings to all of you!!!!

 

[Polycarp1]

My answer was conditioned, by the way, on the idea that you've been accepted at ORU and confirmed that you'll be attending there. They are a quite conservative college, so be sure to get grounding in areas that they will not cover well that will be of value in seminary and in your ministry thereafter. (Rev. Smith and Fr. Rick can be of quite a bit of help in this regard, I suspect.)

 

[Rev. Smith]

It is not likely to give you a firm theological grounding in sacramental and liturgical worship, which are central to both Anglican and Old Catholic worship (to name but two).

My only concern would be will you have to "unlearn" a great deal of what you learned in the ORU program? Depending on where you live there are a number of very good undergrad programs run by Catholic universities, that will give you a religious underpinning similar enough to the Anglican view to work well. (I just mentally substitute Christ for "Pope" in any lession on authority)

Have you considerd simply taking your undergrad studies at an accredited seminary? There are a number of fine schools that offer undergrad degrees.

 

[tyeutter]

The theology you are likely to get at Oral Roberts will be a mixture of classical Pentacostal and Charismatic. The historic theology of Anglicanism is shaped by an interaction between pretridentine Roman Catholic Theology and Reformed Theology. Our mysticism is shaped by reflecting on those mysteries found in the Word; like the incarnation, the Trinity, Christ's substitutionary blood atonement. The men at Oral Roberts will put more emphasis on experience; the way salvation is experienced, the way the Holy Ghost is experienced in the life of the believer.

In addition to the other Institutions of higher learning already mentioned may I suggest you look at Nashotah House, a conservative High Church reading hall in Wisconsin, Philadelphia Theological Seminary a Reformed Episcopal School in PA, and St. Joseph of Arimathea Anglican Theological College in SanFransico. The latter is related to the Anglican Province of Christ the King. Take seriously their suggestions for undergrad programs.

 

[Cliffnotes]

Good luck to you in your search.

I have recently been approached by my priest about the Diaconate. An Anglican priest recently here from Ireland heard me teach a three week study on salvation and pluralism, and he told my priest he felt I was perhaps resisting a call to ministry.

I believe my mind and heart are open to the possibilities, but I am far from a decision.

In researching the educational requirements, our Diocese much prefers an Episcopal seminary for holy orders to the priesthood. However, they offer a diaconate program in conjunction with a local Presb. seminary.

And as another poster said....if this is your undergraduate degree we are talking about, it simply does not matter where you go or what your degree is in. Find a place and a major you enjoy and do well in school!

Peace.

 

[Polycarp1]

Slightly OT but related to Holy Orders generally: The question of Anglican Orders and Apostolicae Curae came up today in OBOB, and I've started a thread in Ecclesiology here to discuss (ideally, not argue) what it says and why we Anglicans believe otherwise.