www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall M.Div. for Byzantine Christians

Homer Glen would be nice.

You know we own a plot of land next to the cemetary in between Joliet and New Lenox. It seems to me that even if we didn't have it on the holy grounds we could put up a seminary there. Maybe even a college.

One more thought. I don't know the name of the Assyrian Bishop but for several years he worked hard to bring about a raproachment with the Catholics. You may have read about it. It seems though that he had a rebellion in the ranks and they excommunicated him. Now he's looking for another place to land. Since this is a public forum I'll write no more but I think you might get my drift.

CDL

Education is essentially a combination of two elements: imparting factual information and imparting cognitive/analytical skills to make use of the factual information.

Since the establishment of the first University in Bologna in the Middle Ages, 'degrees' have been granted that acknowledge a person's achievement in mastering one or the other (or both) of these achievements. Mastery of factual information became a vocational degree (medicine MD, dentistry DMD, law JD, teaching MAT, etc.); those who mastered both the factual information and the cognitive structuring of information, got degrees in philosophy with a major in XXX.

Thus, the clergy got vocational degrees in theology/ministry, i.e., the M.Div. Formerly clergy got the STM, Masters in Sacred Theology, (or the Lic.Theol. - the 'license de Theologie') which focused on both the practical ministerial elements, but also the underlying philosophical bases of theology. The M.Div. was established in the U.S. (and Canada) as the appropriate degree for ministerial (vocational) clergy, without the focus on systematic/philosophical theology. (One needed an undergraduate degree in philosophy to move on to the STM.)

To be a functionary, the M.Div is a wonderful degree. To delve into the underlying systematic/philosophical theology, the STM is the degree to obtain.

The Catholic church has always required a solid foundation in philosophy before moving on to theological studies. It is difficult to preach or teach on the Trinity, the nature of sacraments, or the discernment of sin/non-sin in moral theology without the philosophical underpinning. In my perspective, we have serious problems in the Church as a result of folks having a good knowledge of "church", but a poor knowledge of "why" one or another perspective represents the nature of the Church's teaching.

My point is this: get the best theological training that one can. Don't learn only the canon law, the rules/regulations, the history, etc., but understand how the Church has come to where she is today based upon the reasoning that the Church has employed over two millenia. It's not a question of following or obeying what is 'taught', but rather the reality of understanding (or trying to understand) the human condition and how it connects with God.

Find a good academic program - BUT, read, read, read, meditate, meditate, meditate, and pray your tail off. And talk with other baptized Christians who have grace, to act as a touchstone for where you are going.

God bless all! (Study, study, study!!!)

Dr. John, the Academic

Dr. John,

I have missed you. Welcome back though I note that you have been back for a month. Excellent post as usual.

One of the impediments to conversion for some of my former Methodist colleagues is precisely the over emphasis upon canon law and the lack of understand of the "why" as you put it. Being a convert I'm not as privy to the more recent educational paths priests have taken. I perceive that there has been a lessening of emphasis upon philosophy in the last 40-50 years. Am I correct?

CDL

Not dr. John...nor could I hold a candle to him...but...

I know back in the late 80's early 90's as a candidate to the priesthood for the eparchy of Passaic Bishop Michael required me to major in philosophy...although...I don't think that is always done any more...there was alot of surprise from many members of the clergy that it was being required of me at that time...I personally just went along with it...and it wasn't until years later that I began to understand the value of the education that went along with the Philosophy Bachlors degree...

Chris

For those who are interested, might I recommend that you consider both the MA in Philosophy and the MA in Theology from Holy Apostles Seminry in Cromwell, CT through distance learning. The faculty are excellent, and solidly orthodox. In fact, the director of the program of distance learning is an OCA priest, Father Sergius Halvorsen.

God bless,

Gordo

http://www.holyapostles.edu/

Holy Apostles is top notch. I have a priest friend who studied there.

Some men who have completed the St. Stephen's Course have been ordained to the diaconate and presbyterate in the AOC. Not sure about other jursidictions.