Former Arizona Bishop reveals sad truth about Episcopal Seminary Education
by David Virtue, VOL:
The former Bishop of Arizona, Kirk Smith let the cat out of the bag when he revealed the true state of four Episcopal seminaries he has taught at since he retired.
In an article in The Living Church, “How Working in Four Episcopal Seminaries Changed My Understanding of Theological Education” the bishop revealed the true state of the four seminaries which included General, Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, Virginia Theological Seminary, and the Church Divinity School of the Pacific. You can read it here: https://covenant.livingchurch.org/2023/07/24/a-bishop-goes-to-seminary/
“My time at these institutions quickly dispelled my idyllic fantasies! about theological education within the Episcopal Church.”
“Being a bishop also allowed me to witness firsthand how the knowledge acquired by seminarians might or might not serve them in the field after graduation,” he wrote.
While acknowledging his confidence in the future of the church and the dedication of students from increasingly diverse backgrounds showing immense dedication, he approved faculty members, for “moving away from the academic mentality that prioritizes publication over teaching, focusing instead on equipping their students with practical skills for priestly and chaplaincy roles.”
The bishop described several “troubling trends.”
The concept of a “core curriculum,” encompassing subjects such as Scripture, theology, and liturgics (as defined by the canons), has largely become a thing of the past. Although these subjects are taught (sort of), the real energy and enthusiasm seem to be reserved for “elective” classes that often align with the current cultural debates, he wrote.
Smith went on to say that three of the four seminaries did not have a full-time faculty member dedicated to teaching the New Testament. Instead, adjunct instructors, some of whom were not Episcopalians, were entrusted with this crucial task. He went on to lament that the elective offerings in areas of hot-button cultural issues were disproportionately emphasized.
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