2009-2010 Catalog Although the Mercer School does not confer an M.Div. degree, many of its course offerings include content material which is required in various canonical exams. These are based on A Short Summary of What Candidates Ought to Know in Each of the Seven Canonical Areas, from the Office for Ministry Development at the Episcopal Church Center (http://www.episcopalchurch.org/1521_6636_ENG_HTM.htm):
- The Holy Scriptures
The various scholarly approaches to biblical criticism – their values and limitations.
- Principles and practice of exegesis and hermeneutics.
- Chronology, history, important personalities in the Old Testament, New Testament and Apocrypha.
- Geography of biblical lands.
- Knowledge of world events and their effects upon the development of the Judeo-Christian tradition.
- Gospel narratives in Johannine and Synoptic traditions, including Acts.
- Theme, contents and historical context of each Old and New Testament book.
- Major theological developments in the entire tradition.
- Biblical sources of Christian creeds and historical doctrines.
- Church History, including the Ecumenical Movement
- Major events and personalities from Apostolic and Patristic times through medieval and reformation periods to the present - in relationship to their historical and social contexts.
- Development of distinctive Church institutions, formation of the canon of scripture, doctrinal development, heresies, theological controversies, creeds, classical writings, missionary expansion.
- Church of England from beginning to present, especially the Reformation period and since – Caroline Divines, evangelical revival, Tractarians, expansion of the Anglican Communion, Anglican role in ecumenical movement.
- The Episcopal Church from beginning to present in context of American Church history in general – major events and personalities.
- Modern missionary movement, biblical and theological basis, relation to Ecumenical Movement.
- General knowledge of Comparative religions.
- Major events and personalities from Apostolic and Patristic times through medieval and reformation periods to the present - in relationship to their historical and social contexts.
- Christian Theology, including Missionary Theology and Missiology
- Doctrines: Revelation, Creation, Sin, Christology, Atonement, Trinity, Soteriology, Church, Sacraments, Missiology and Eschatology.
- History of Christian thought: Church Fathers, creedal development, Anglican tradition, recent developments.
- Application: ascetical, hermeneutical, apologetic – relation to contemporary understandings of human nature in both individual and social dimensions.
- Christian Ethics and Moral Theology
- The sources of Christian ethics and moral theology, including the Holy Scriptures, Christian tradition and experience.
- Major ethical theories and major figures in the field.
- The nature, focus and justification for “the good” including the relation between God, Christ and the good.
- The nature of moral agency, including the understanding of such issues as freedom, responsibility, obligation, virtue, conscience and character.
- Moral judgment, including the knowledge of the relation between religious belief and moral judgment.
- The place of spirituality in Anglican teaching about the moral life.
- Major moral issues facing Christians, past and present, and how Anglican moral theologians have resolved or might resolve them.
- Studies in Contemporary Society, including Racial and Minority Groups
- Current social issues and problems, such as poverty, homelessness, hunger, racism, injustice, addiction, crime, illegitimacy, child abuse, war and peace, environmental pollution, etc.
- Ways in which the Church and Christian individuals have addressed and may address these.
- Current concerns peculiar to major ethnic groups in the USA.
- Liturgics and Church Music
- Christian worship and music according to the contents and use of the Book of Common Prayer and the various hymnals.
- Historical development of Christian worship from Jewish origins to present.
- Theological understanding of the role and function of worship in the life of individuals and of the Church.
- Sacramental theology.
- Esthetic and nonverbal elements of worship.
- The role of music in particular.
- Evolution, contents and use of the Book of Common Prayer, the Hymnal 1982, and other authorized liturgical and musical resources.
- Theory and Practice of Ministry
- Theology of vocation and of all forms of ministry.
- Ministerial roles of laity, diaconate, priesthood and episcopate.
- Duties and responsibilities of clergy in contemporary Church.
- Nature and significance of pastoral care.
- Knowledge of the practice of preaching, counselling, spiritual direction, the education of people of all ages, parish administration, stewardship, and evangelism.
- Polity of our Church, Constitution and Canons, national and local.
The GOE Administrator,
The Rev. Dr. Richard Tombaugh
920 Farmington Avenue, Suite 202
West Hartford, CT 06107
Phone (860) 233-2271
Fax (860) 233-2644
e-mail: gbecec@yahoo.com