Anglican
Studies Emersion Program
The
Anglican Studies Emersion Program (ASEP) was developed to meet a need within
the traditional Anglican churches.
These churches are spread out, geographically, over the whole world. Members within those churches often
have a difficult time finding a course of study based on the historic and
traditional truths so long held by many of the world’s Anglican family of
churches. The ASEP is designed to
meet the needs of traditional Anglicans, who in a structured program of study,
want to learn more about the Church and Anglicanism.
The
ASEP owes much to the Canon Laws of various Anglican organizations, whose
outline of subjects for the formation of deacons and priests was used as the
basis of the seven areas of study (minimum) covered in the ASEP. The structure of the courses (content,
process, product, and affect) was developed by Dr. Sandra Kaplan, and is
recognized in the educational community as a best practice for course design.
In
an ideal world believers could study the faith at a local college and be sure
they were receiving the true orthodox and catholic theology and practice. With over four thousand different
“Christian” denominations, sects and cults in the United States of America
alone, believers cannot be sure they are getting the faith as it was and is
preached and believed in traditional Anglicanism.
It
is also true that it would be ideal for all deacons, priests, and bishops to be
educated and trained in a seminary setting. Nothing can replace the study/research,
debate, and worship that a man can experience in a good seminary community. The reality is that such seminaries are
few and far between. Men will,
also, be called to serve God in Holy Orders in many, often isolated,
situations. The ASEP can be used
for the formation of such men when the ideal is impossible.
Prior
course work, studies, and parish work may be considered by the ASEP to fulfill
any part of the program. It is the
learner’s responsibility to provide documentation of that prior work to the
ASEP. Such documentation might
include transcripts, papers, and/or letters from superiors in the Church.
A learner who is using the ASEP to prepare for
Holy Orders must have an accompanying letter from their bishop confirming that
purpose. It is the suggestion of
the ASEP that such a learner would also be engaged in practical training under
their parish priest or their bishop.
The libraries of bishops and mature priests may be the only place to
find some of the texts that will be used.
Duplicates of the
learner’s ASEP work should be made available to their bishop. A bishop may also require more study or
projects for the learner to complete.
The Rule of Life that the candidate is keeping needs to be on file with
the ASEP. Candidates for Holy
Orders who are studying through the ASEP must be male and be from a catholic
and orthodox Anglican Church, province, diocese, or parish.
Evaluation
of all learners in the ASEP is based on the research projects they complete as
they address the assignments in each area of study. Each learner should prepare and keep a notebook for each of
the seven areas of study, with designated sections/chapters corresponding to
the specific assignments in each of the areas. They should also be mindful of the need to develop materials
they could/would put to use in their parishes.
It
is the hope of the author that ASEP will serve God and the Church well. If you have any question please feel
free to contact the Colorado Anglican House of Studies.
The
Rev. Robert K. Herrell
Anglican
Studies Emersion Program: THE COURSES
Content: Subject
matter and mandatory knowledge
Area
– I. Holy Scriptures, A.
Old Testament Studies
Assignments
– 1. Authorship of the First Five Books of the
Bible
2.
Contents and Historical Background of the Old Testament
3.
Messianic Literature
4.
Psalms
Process: Base,
productive, and research skills
Text
– Introduction to the Old Testament,
R.H. Harrison
and/or
others
Assignments
– 5. Outline and Categorize the Books of the
Old Testament
6.
Biblical Hebrew Application ~
Focusing
on a word, verse, chapter, or book
from
the Hebrew Old Testament
the
learner will exhibit a knowledge of its
significance
and meaning in the Church.
Product: Summarize
and transmit assimilated knowledge and skills
Culmination
– Usability
Notebook of assignments, with bibliography
Affect: Appreciation,
understanding, awareness, attitudes, values, etc.
Value
– Direct importance to the learner
7. The Meaning and Importance of the Old
Testament to the Church
Anglican
Studies Emersion Program: THE COURSES
Content: Subject
matter and mandatory knowledge
Area
– I. Holy Scriptures, B.
New Testament Studies
Assignments
– 1. Indepth Knowledge of One Synoptic Gospel
2.
Significance of the Gospel of St. John
3.
Value of The Acts of the Apostles
4.
Focus on Two Epistles: Romans and
First Corinthians
Process: Base,
productive, and research skills
Text
– Introduction to the New Testament,
Donald Guthrie
and/or
others
Assignments
– 5. Outline and Categorize the Books of the
New Testament
6.
Biblical Greek Application ~
Focusing
on a word, verse, chapter, or book
from
the Greek New Testament
the
learner will exhibit a knowledge of its
significance
and meaning in the Church.
7.
An Understanding of the Apocrypha,
and
Its Use in the Church.
Product: Summarize
and transmit assimilated knowledge and skills
Culmination
– Usability
Notebook of assignments, with bibliography
Affect: Appreciation,
understanding, awareness, attitudes, values, etc.
Value
– Direct importance to the learner
8. The Meaning and Importance of the New
Testament to the Church
Anglican
Studies Emersion Program: THE COURSES
Content: Subject
matter and mandatory knowledge
Area
– II. General Church History
Assignments
– 1. Councils of the Church
2.
Patristics
3.
Christian Missions
4.
Ecclesiastical Polity
5.
Elective Period or Topic
Process: Base,
productive, and research skills
Text
– The Christian Tradition, 5 vols, Pelikan
A History of the Church in England,
J.R.H. Moorman
History of the Christian Church,
Williston Walker
The Oxford History of Christianity, John
McManners, ed.
and/or
others
Assignment
– 6. Outline and categorize the development of
the Church.
Product: Summarize
and transmit assimilated knowledge and skills
Culmination
– Usability
Notebook of assignments, with bibliography
Affect: Appreciation,
understanding, awareness, attitudes, values, etc.
Value
– Direct importance to the learner
7. The Meaning and Importance of Christian
History to the Church
Anglican
Studies Emersion Program: THE COURSES
Content: Subject
matter and mandatory knowledge
Area
– III. Anglican Studies
Assignments
– 1. The Church in the British Isles to
Venerable Bede
2.
From Bede to the Reformation
3.
The Via Media
4.
Catholic, but not Roman; Orthodox, but not Greek
5.
The Anglican Communion
Process: Base,
productive, and research skills
Text
– Anglicanism, More and Cross
Anglicanism, Stephen Neill
The Unity of Anglicanism, Henry R.
McAdoo
The Anglican Spiritual Tradition, J.R.H.
Moorman
The Anglican Spirit, A. Michael Ramsey
and/or
others
Assignment
– 6. Outline and categorize the development of
the Anglican Church.
Product: Summarize
and transmit assimilated knowledge and skills
Culmination
– Usability
Notebook of assignments, with bibliography
Affect: Appreciation,
understanding, awareness, attitudes, values, etc.
Value
– Direct importance to the learner
7. The Meaning and Importance of Anglicanism
to the Church
Anglican
Studies Emersion Program: THE COURSES
Content: Subject
matter and mandatory knowledge
Area
– IV. Theology and Doctrine
Assignments
– 1. Historical, Philosophical, and Systematic
2.
The Three Creeds of the Church
3.
The Offices of Instruction
4.
The 39 Articles
5.
Eschatology
6.
Heresy
Process: Base,
productive, and research skills
Text
– Dogmatic Theology, Francis Hall
The Romance of Orthodoxy, Homer Rogers
and/or
others
Assignment
– 7. Outline and categorize areas of Theology
and Doctrine.
Product: Summarize
and transmit assimilated knowledge and skills
Culmination
– Usability
Notebook of assignments, with bibliography
Affect: Appreciation,
understanding, awareness, attitudes, values, etc.
Value
– Direct importance to the learner
8. The Meaning and Importance of Theology
and Doctrine to the Church
Anglican
Studies Emersion Program: THE COURSES
Content: Subject
matter and mandatory knowledge
Area
– V. Liturgics
Assignments
– 1. The Book of Common Prayer:
Development,
Content, and Use
2.
Christian Worship: History and
Principles
3.
Development of the Liturgy of the Mass
4.
Eucharistic Ecclesiology
Process: Base,
productive, and research skills
Text
– Liturgy and Worship, Lowther Clarke
The Parson’s Handbook, Percy Dearmer
Ceremonial of the English Church, Vernon
Staley
The Library of Liturgiology &
Ecclesiology for English
Readers: Essays on Ceremonial,
Vernon Staley, ed.
and/or
others
Assignment
– 5. Outline the administration of the seven
sacraments
and
their significance to the life of the Church.
Product: Summarize
and transmit assimilated knowledge and skills
Culmination
– Usability
Notebook of assignments, with bibliography
Affect: Appreciation,
understanding, awareness, attitudes, values, etc.
Value
– Direct importance to the learner
6. The Meaning and Importance of the
Sacramental Life of the Church
Anglican
Studies Emersion Program: THE COURSES
Content: Subject
matter and mandatory knowledge
Area
– VI. Practical Theology
Assignments
– 1. Christian Ethics and Moral Theology
2.
Homiletics: Content and Delivery
3.
Pastoral Care
4.
Parish Organization
5.
Christian Education
6.
Canon Law
Process: Base,
productive, and research skills
Text
– A Priest to the Temple, George Herbert
A Manual for Priests
The Parson’s Handbook, Percy Dearmer
Homiletics and Pastoral Theology, Wm. Shedd
Canon Law (as selected by the Bishop)
and/or
others
Assignment
– 7. Develop usable material for a parish.
Product: Summarize
and transmit assimilated knowledge and skills
Culmination
– Usability
Notebook of assignments, with bibliography
Affect: Appreciation,
understanding, awareness, attitudes, values, etc.
Value
– Direct importance to the learner
8. The Usefulness of the Material on the
Parish or Institution Level
Anglican
Studies Emersion Program: THE COURSES
Content: Subject
matter and mandatory knowledge
Area
– VII. Elective Studies
Assignment(s)
– (select as least one area)
1.
Comparative Religions
2. Church Music: Mass Settings, Services, and Psalter
3. Biblical Exegesis
4. Christian Apologetics
5. Church Planting and Missions
Process: Base,
productive, and research skills
Text
– Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis
Faith and Practice, Frank E. Wilson
The Catholic Religion, Vernon Staley
The Romance of Orthodoxy, Homer F.
Rogers
(Uncommon Sense)
and/or
others
Assignment
– 6. Outline and develop at least one area of
elective study.
Product: Summarize
and transmit assimilated knowledge and skills
Culmination
– Usability
Notebook of assignments, with bibliography
Affect: Appreciation,
understanding, awareness, attitudes, values, etc.
Value
– Direct importance to the learner
7. The Meaning and Importance of the
Elective Study Area(s) to the Church
In Christ's love,
Fr. Robert Pax
