AMiA Anglican Studies Program Develops Clergy

Recently, the 4th of 6 courses was completed in the Anglican Mission in The Americas's ongoing Anglican Studies Program. The Church of the Resurrection in Wheaton, IL hosted the class on Anglican Polity and Ecclesiology. The course was taught by the Rev. Canon Dr. Rudi Heinze, a Church of England priest who has retired from teaching over 20 years at Oak Hill College, London. Guest lecturer for one day was Dr. Gillis Harp, professor of history at Grove City College.

21 students attended the class, all day Monday through Friday, May 23-27. The course was an historical look at Anglicanism from the early days of the Church up to the first Lambeth Conference. After a week of history, one would expect to find bedraggled students at the end of the week. In fact, the class ended with an hour and a half exercise in which each student took on the persona of an Anglican they had studied for the course. The group then discussed the question, 'What is Anglicanism?' Richard Hooker chimed in, as did C.S. Lewis (complete with pipe!), Bishops Jewell and Ryle, Archbishops Cranmer and Laud, John Donne, and many others. All of these Anglicans of the past came to life in the discussion sometimes agreeing, sometimes disagreeing with each other. The lively talk brought a week of in-depth learning to a close on a high note. This august group of Anglicans then applauded Canon Heinze for the wisdom and grace he had brought to the class.

Another 21 students attended a Sacramental Practicum held in Little Rock, AR, August 15-17, 2005. This marks the second offering of this practicum by the Office of Clergy Credentialing since the inception of the Anglican Studies Program in 2004.

As the Rev. Chip Edgar, Rector of the Church of the Apostles (Columbia, SC), opened the practicum, he noted the Anglican challenge of "trying to convince people who love Jesus that liturgy matters." Practicum participants were then asked to share about the influence of the prayer book and the shape of liturgy in their individual AMiA congregations.

This intensive 3-day practicum covered Anglican spirituality, the vestments of the church, the history of the prayer book, an overview of liturgies, principles of liturgical presiding, the church calendar, and the theology of the 1662 prayer book. Participants were also given hands-on instruction in the celebration of the Eucharist.

In addition to the Rev. Chip Edgar, practicum instructors included: the Rev. Martin Johnson, Rector of All Souls' Anglican Fellowship (Wheaton, IL); the Rev. John Richardson, Rector of St. Peter's Anglican Church (Birmingham, IL); and Dr. Alan Jacobs, Professor of English, Wheaton College (Wheaton, IL).

The next of the classes in Anglican Ecclesiology in the Anglican Studies Program will pick up where the 2005 Wheaton class left off. On January 7-11, 2006, immediately prior to the Winter Conference in Birmingham, AL, Dr. Phil Harrold, Assistant Professor of Church History at Winebrenner Theological Seminary, will continue teaching on Anglicanism in America from the first Lambeth Conference up to today. The class will be held at the Beeson Divinity School at Samford University. Then the class will shift to the future of Anglicanism, when papers addressing that subject will be read by Anglican leaders and scholars from all over the world, including Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi from Kenya, Archbishop Bernard Malango from Central African Republic, Bishop John Rodgers, Bishop Fitzsimmons Allison, the Rev. Dr. Stephen Noll, Vice-Chancellor of Uganda Christian University, the Rev. Dr. Lyle Dorsett, Billy Graham Professor of Evangelism at Beeson Divinity School, the Rev. Carlos Miranda, Assistant Pastor, Anglican Church of the Word, Pembroke Pines, FL, among others. The class will conclude on Wednesday afternoon before the conference, with a seminar on evangelism by the Rev. Rick Richardson, Director of the Masters in Evangelism Program at Wheaton Graduate School and Associate National Director for Evangelism with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA.

The Office of Clergy Credentialing offers the Anglican Studies Program to enhance the education of leaders for the Mission. The program consists of 6 graduate-level courses, offered as week-long or 3-day units in areas such as Anglican Theology (Word and Sacrament), Anglican Ecclesiology and History, and Practica. This is an excellent means of acquiring further study in Anglicanism for those who are now preparing for ordained ministry, those who wish to supplement earlier education, or interested lay people of all ages. For more information about the Anglican Studies Program, please contact the Office of Clergy Credentialing at (301) 270-4178 or leadership@anglicanmissioninamerica.org

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