Description
Pittsburgh Seminary is an approved seminary for the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh and seeks to partner with other dioceses.
The Anglican/Episcopal Studies Track is open to PTS students pursuing a Master of Divinity or Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies, who desire a deeper knowledge in specific fields such as church history, doctrine, liturgy, and practical theology.
- Students will take part in spiritual formation and complete a year in a field education placement, typically an Anglican or Episcopal church.
- The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh will train students seeking ordination in anti-racism and church discipline procedures.
- Students seeking ordination will also participate in the Diocese’s Love+Teach+Heal Leadership Academy, which brings clergy and lay leaders together for deeper theological conversations.
Candidates for ministry in the Episcopal Church must complete courses in the Anglican/Episcopal Track for a Concentration in Anglican/Episcopal Studies, which includes history, doctrine, and liturgy (Book of Common Prayer). The Seminary will work in cooperation with other accredited Episcopal seminaries to ensure regular and multiple opportunities for students to take the necessary courses. These may be offered on-site at PTS, on other seminary campuses as intensive courses, or through other seminaries online. To facilitate communication between students, the seminaries, and Episcopal students’ respective dioceses, the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh provides an on-site advisor at PTS.
Concentration in Anglican/Episcopal Studies (M.Div.)
The Canons of the Episcopal Church require satisfactory preparation in seven subject areas for ordinands. The seven canonical areas are:
- The Holy Scriptures
- Church History, including the Ecumenical Movement
- Christian Theology, including Missionary Theology and Missiology
- Christian Ethics and Moral Theology
- Studies in Contemporary Society, including Racial and Minority Groups
- Liturgics and Church Music
- Theory and practice of Ministry
The canons additionally require anti-racism training and instruction on the Title IV disciplinary procedures. Other courses might be especially recommended depending in part on the student’s particular area of interest.
M.Div. Track Requirements
- Fulfilling all requirements for the Seminary’ M.Div., including two required units of field education (typically a placement within the context of a local Anglican or Episcopal congregation).
- Within PTS’s M.Div., completion of a required set of courses with an Anglican/Episcopal Studies emphasis.
- Daily participation in the worship life of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
- Participation in the Anglican/Episcopal House of Studies at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
- Participation in Love+Teach+Heal Leadership Academy of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, or equivalent Diocesan program for spiritual formation.
- Completion of Diocesan Middler evaluation.
- Emphasis in required courses.
Required Courses
In addition to field education, candidates for the Concentration in Anglican/Episcopal Studies will learn more about Anglican/Episcopal theology and context within these required courses:
- Exploring Christian Worship, exploring the Anglican/Episcopal liturgical praxis within the context of wider catholic worship traditions and writing a final assignment on a text, practice, or artifact from within the Anglican/Episcopal tradition.
- Spiritual Formation, studying Anglican/Episcopal spirituality within the context of wider catholic spiritual traditions and to developing a personal rule of life rooted in the Anglican/Episcopal tradition.
- Ecclesial Formation, including a course on the Anglican/Episcopal theological tradition.
- Required Electives
Elective Courses
The M.Div. program has up to six slots for electives, or four slots should the candidate elect to pursue both Greek and Hebrew in fulfillment of the biblical language requirement.
- One elective needs to fulfill the Historical Texts and Contexts distribution requirement.
- One elective needs to fulfill the Biblical Narrative and Theology distribution requirement.
- Candidates for the Anglican/Episcopal Studies Track are expected to use their distribution of electives to take directed studies courses on periods, figures, and questions from within Anglican/Episcopal history and theology.
- Of the remaining elective slots, which are open electives, student will use one to take a course on liturgy and the Book of Common Prayer.
- Required electives can be completed via coursework at PTS or, with prior approval, via transfer credit at another ATS accredited seminary.
Supplemental Courses
In addition, the following supplements to credit bearing coursework will be required:
- Homiletics seminar “What is Anglican/Episcopal Preaching?”
- Spiritual formation seminar “What is Anglican/Episcopal Spiritual Formation?”
Concentration in Anglican/Episcopal Studies (M.A.P.S.)
M.A.P.S. Track Requirements
- Fulfilling all requirements for the Seminary’s M.A.P.S., including wto required units of field education (typically a placement within the context of a local Anglican or Episcopal congregation).
- Within PTS’s M.A.P.S., completion of a required number of electives with an Anglican/Episcopal Studies emphasis
- Daily participation in the worship life of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
- Participation in the Anglican/Episcopal House of Studies at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
- Participation in the Diocesan-wide program for Spiritual Formation.
- Completion of diocesan Middler evaluation.
- Emphasis in required courses.
Required Courses
In addition to field education, candidates for the Concentration in Anglican/Episcopal Studies have the following opportunities to concentrate on Anglican/Episcopal theology and context within required courses:
- Exploring Christian Worship, exploring the Anglican/Episcopal liturgical praxis within the context of wider catholic worship traditions and writing a final assignment on a text, practice, or artifact from within the Anglican/Episcopal tradition.
- Spiritual Formation, studying Anglican/Episcopal spirituality within the context of wider catholic spiritual traditions and to developing a personal rule of life rooted in the Anglican/Episcopal tradition.
- Ecclesial Formation, including a course on the Anglican/Episcopal theological tradition.
- M.A.P.S. Final Project Seminar, giving Anglican/Episcopal students a chance to complete a final project or paper related to an Anglican/Episcopal ministry context.
- Required Electives
Elective Courses
The Seminary’s M.A.P.S. program has three slots for open electives, and three slots for ministry electives. Candidates for the Concentration in Anglican/Episcopal Studies are expected to fulfill these electives in the following way:
- Ecclesial Formation, which will include a course on the Anglican/Episcopal theological tradition.
- Two courses or directed studies on periods, figures, and questions from within Anglican/Episcopal history and theology.
- One ministry elective focused on Anglican/Episcopal Liturgy and the Book of Common Prayer.
- Required electives can be completed via coursework at PTS or, with prior approval, via transfer credit at another ATS accredited seminary.
Supplemental Courses
In addition, the following supplement to credit bearing coursework will be required:
- Spiritual formation seminar “What is Anglican/Episcopal Spiritual Formation?”