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New Bexley Seabury Program Helps Dioceses Enhance Ministerial Preparation and Enrichment for Deacons
CHICAGO, January 25, 2017—Bexley Seabury, one of 10 accredited seminaries of the Episcopal Church, today announced its Diaconal Enrichment Program. Designed to supplement and build upon diocesan training programs, this program is for persons preparing for ordination to the permanent diaconate and for currently ordained deacons seeking to enrich their ministries. The Bexley Seabury Diaconal Enrichment Program offers a low-residency, graduate-level, five-course curriculum that focuses on developing theological understanding and ministry skills most essential to deacons serving in the Episcopal Church today.
Fundamental to the program is a course in Baptismal Ecclesiology, which is devoted to the deacon’s unique place in the ministry of all the baptized. Additional program offerings help participants refine their skills in pastoral care, cultural competency, community organizing, and preaching. All Diaconal Enrichment Program courses are offered in one of two formats—intensive week-long or hybrid week-end—that include both face-to-face and on-line learning.
Participants may earn a program certificate by completing Baptismal Ecclesiology and four additional program courses, which may include one elective. Alternatively, participants may take any individual course. Depending on the recommendation of their dioceses, participants may enroll as auditors, for continuing education credit, or for academic credit.
“The Bexley Seabury Diaconal Enrichment Program grew out of consultations that our faculty initiated with bishops in the course of revamping our Master of Divinity curriculum last spring,” said Bexley Seabury President Roger Ferlo. “We’re grateful for the bishops’ insights and for the opportunity to help them not only support their priests in training, but also their deacons who, more and more, are essential to building vibrant congregations.”
For deacons interested in more advanced theological study, academic credits earned in the Diaconal Enrichment Program may be applied to a Bexley Seabury Master of Divinity or Doctor of Ministry degree program. Bexley Seabury also offers a Diploma in Anglican Studies as well as continuing education and lifetime learning programs. All Bexley Seabury programs are low- residency, combining classroom sessions at the seminary’s Hyde Park/Woodlawn campus with online learning. All students are eligible and are encouraged to apply for scholarship support.
For more information on how to apply for the program please contact our recruiter Jaime Briceno: jbriceno@bexleyseabury.edu.
Bexley Seabury is an Episcopal center for learning and discipleship offering theological education in a generous spiritual and intellectual tradition. Our mission is to equip lay and ordained leaders for bold inquiry in service of the Gospel and active engagement in congregational and community life. Learn more about our degree, diploma and lifelong learning programs at bexleyseabury.edu.