theology.sewanee.eduSchool of Theology

The University of the South Apply Visit Contact Give Home In This Section Degrees & Certificates Faculty & Staff Lectures & Events Education for Ministry Center for Religion and Environment SUMMA Student Theological Debate Society In This Section Welcome to the —an Episcopal Seminary Committed to forming lay and ordained leadership for service to the Episcopal Church and the world Announcement Commencement was held Friday, May 10 in All Saints’ Chapel. View the Recording. 01 Devout: The Sewanee Rule of Life View the Chapter 02 Learned: An Episcopal University View the Chapter 03 Useful: For the Church and for the World View the Chapter 01 Devout: The Sewanee Rule of Life Christian ministry requires leaders who are sensitive to the presence of God in their own lives, and in the lives of those with whom they are called to serve. It is a high priority for us to encourage one another’s capacity to pray, to pray more deeply, and to develop the discipline to pray more faithfully. Through daily worship, prayer, study, spiritual direction, and quiet days, the develops in its students such a pattern of life and a deep awareness of the presence of God. Whatever the context of one’s ministry, a reliable, disciplined prayer life is critical to survival and is the foundation of thriving in ministry. Seminary is the time to get this discipline well in place. Rule of Life A rule of life is a pattern that is consciously adopted to support one’s commitment to live as God calls us. Rather than a burdensome obligation, it is a means of creating balance and harmony in one’s life, establishing practices that nurture one’s life in Christ. All seminarians will develop a rule of life at the beginning of each year. Groups Under the guidance of their advisor, every student meets biweekly in a group format to discuss their Rule of Life, what’s working (and what needs some work!). These groups provide guidance, accountability, and stability in the spiritual life of all students—especially as they develop the habits of the heart necessary for a deeper discipleship. Spiritual Direction If the primary purpose of seminary is reorienting one’s life around prayer, study, and service, then by definition there is a period of being disoriented.” Every seminarian is provided, at no cost to them, a spiritual director to support personal and spiritual development. Quiet Days Twice a year the community—students, faculty, and staff—gather for a quiet day to pray and reflect on topics facilitated by an invited guest. Chapel The Book of Common Prayer is the center of our common life here, and the rhythm of our day is structured around the rhythm of the chapel bell. A typical week in the chapel looks a lot like this: Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Morning Prayer (Rite II) Morning Prayer (EoW) Morning Prayer (Rite II) Morning Prayer (Rite II) Morning Prayer (Rite I) Noon Eucharist (Rite II) Noon Eucharist (Spanish) Principal Eucharist Centering Prayer Noon Eucharist (Rite I) Evening Prayer (Rite II) Choral Evensong Evening Prayer (Spanish) Eucharist Evening Prayer (Rite I) Church Music Music can shape and nurture the soul in a powerful and profound way, and the has a commitment to church music that is second to none. Students will have access to a variety of courses, the chapel choir, weekly choral evensong sung by the seminary chamber ensemble, as well as various offerings from the music department at the College of Arts and Sciences. Learned: An Episcopal University 02 01 Devout: The Sewanee Rule of Life 02 Learned: An Episcopal University 03 Useful: For the Church and for the World 02 Learned: An Episcopal University Founded, owned, and governed by twenty-seven dioceses of the Episcopal Church, for more than 150 years, the University of the South, familiarly known as Sewanee, has had a distinct and historic legacy of being a leader in education within the Church. Through the College of Arts & Sciences and the Seminary, the University is committed to preparing the people of the Church for serving their communities and the world. The is first and foremost, a residential graduate school with a rigorous academic focus. Lectures and seminars are important, but it’s the way that one engages with one’s coursework that really counts. We bring together bright minds and a wide range of views from across the Episcopal Church, and the Anglican Communion, for deep theological conversation and reflection. You will be moving through the curriculum— Bible, history, theology, spirituality, ethics, liturgics, and homiletics in an environment where deep listening, vulnerable sharing, careful discourse, and personal and spiritual growth can all flourish. Degrees & Certificates Alternative Clergy Training at Sewanee Alternative Clergy Training at Sewanee (ACTS) is a non degree course of theological studies for ordination for deacons and part-time or non-stipendiary priests in small congregations who have special circumstances that prevent them from attending our residential M.Div. program. Learn More Master of Arts The Master of Arts program is designed as a general academic degree for people who wish to begin graduate study of theological disciplines in a church-related setting. It involves a two-year course of study, following either a general program or pursuing a concentration in a particular discipline. Learn More Master of Divinity The Master of Divinity curriculum is designed to form devout, learned, and useful leaders for the Episcopal Church. To this end, the curriculum includes study of Scripture, the Christian tradition, ministerial skills, and modern cultural contexts, with a view to the reasoned practice of the ministry of Word and Sacrament in both its historical context and its contemporary setting. Learn More Anglican Studies The Diploma of Anglican Studies and the Master of Sacred Theology in Anglican Studies are special programs that examine Anglican theology for those with a divinity degree and have transferred from another denomination in preparation for ordination in the Episcopal Church. Learn More Advanced Degrees Advanced degrees include the Doctor of Ministry and the Master of Sacred Theology. Both programs are designed for further education for those with a first graduate degree in theology. The D.Min. provides a way to enhance the skills and knowledge of those in professional ministry. The S.T.M. provides the opportunity to gain further mastery in a chosen area of theological study. Learn More 01 Devout: The Sewanee Rule of Life Useful: For the Church and for the World 03 01 Devout: The Sewanee Rule of Life 02 Learned: An Episcopal University 03 Useful: For the Church and for the World 03 Useful: For the Church and for the World Christian leadership is servant leadership, and it’s important to us that we foster a sense of humility and service in our students. When we explore our beliefs in the classroom and come to a place of conviction, we must then examine the consequences of those beliefs and put them into practice by taking action in the world around us. After all, one can’t learn ministry without doing ministry. Here are just a few ways students can be involved in serving the church and the world while in Sewanee. Creation Care Committee It’s our theological conviction that caring for creation is essential to our humanity, our covenant with God, and our mission as Christians. The Creation Care Committee seeks to magnify environmental and sustainability ministry opportunities at the by collaborating with existing institutions, including the Master of Arts in Religion and the Environment program, the Center for Religion & the Environment, the Corners & Edges Seminary Garden as well as the environmental sustainability programs at the College of Arts and Sciences. The committee facilitates hands-on environmental ministry experiences and ideas with an aim to inspire future clergy and lay church leaders for the work of environmental stewardship in the parishes and...