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Trinity Anglican Seminary

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Coordinates: 40°35′37″N 80°13′48″W / 40.593605°N 80.229968°W / 40.593605; -80.229968
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Trinity Anglican Seminary
TypePrivate graduate institution
Established1975
AffiliationAnglican
PresidentBryan C. Hollon
Academic staff
15
Administrative staff
25
Students199
Location
Ambridge
,
Pennsylvania
,
United States of America
CampusSmall Town
ColorsBlue and Gold
NicknameKneelers
Websitewww.tsm.edu

Trinity Anglican Seminary, formerly known as Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry, is an Anglican seminary in Ambridge, Pennsylvania. It is generally associated with evangelical Anglicanism.

History

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In the mid 1970s, several prominent evangelical-leaning Episcopal clergy and lay leaders became disillusioned with what they considered the liberal theology and "theological relativism" of the existing Episcopal seminaries. Some members of this group had been involved with the charismatic movement that began in the mid-1960s in some parishes, while others, many associated with the Fellowship of Witness, held to a more traditional Anglican Evangelicalism. These advocates for conservatism in the Episcopal Church of the United States began to meet and plan a new seminary with a curriculum based on orthodox Protestant theology and evangelical principles.

In 1976, Alfred Stanway, a retired Australian missionary bishop to Tanganyika (present-day Tanzania), accepted the call to become the first dean of TSM. Beginning with 17 students and meeting in rented space, Trinity held its first classes in September 1976. Stanway served for two years before retiring. His successor, John Rodgers, oversaw major growth during his 12-year tenure. In 1989, William C. Frey resigned as Bishop of Colorado to become the third dean and president. In 1996, Peter C. Moore, a founding board member and noted evangelical leader, became the fourth dean and president. [1] Paul F. M. Zahl was elected Trinity's fifth dean in 2004. He stepped down in May 2007, and Rodgers came out of retirement to serve as interim dean and president for one year. English evangelical Justyn Terry was named the school's dean in August 2008 and remained in office until returning to his homeland. He now serves as academic dean of Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, England. In May 2016 Laurie Thompson was asked to serve as the interim dean. Subsequently, the board invited Thompson to become the seventh dean and president.[1] He was installed on the eve of St. Patrick, March 16, 2017, at St. Stephen's Church in Sewickley. Sarah Lebhar Hall was the preacher on Joshua 1: 1–12. In May 2022, Thompson retired. On October 4, 2022 at St. Stephen's in Sewickley, C. Bryan C. Hollon was installed as the eighth Dean and president at Trinity.

In 2007, Trinity dropped the word "Episcopal" from its name on some of its publications and printed materials. The school's official name, however, remained unchanged. The modification was made in acknowledgment of the growing number of realigning Anglican bodies sending students to the seminary, including the Anglican Church in North America, the Anglican Mission in the Americas, the Reformed Episcopal Church and the Convocation of Anglicans in North America, the latter two of which are sub-provinces of the ACNA (see Anglican realignment).

Trinity has "board members, faculty, staff, students and alumni on both sides" of movements to realign.[2] Trinity remains, however, an independent institution, neither owned nor controlled by any diocese, parish or province. Trinity disaffiliated with The Episcopal Church in January 2022.[3]

Trinity now serves 150 full-time and part-time students on its campus in Ambridge and 75 more in online degree programs. Many former professors have become bishops in the Episcopal Church or other Anglican bodies around the world.

On June 3, 2024, the school officially changed its name to Trinity Anglican Seminary.

Evangelical leadership

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Founded by leaders of the evangelical wing of the Episcopal Church, TSM has become a central player in the renewal movement in the Episcopal Church. The majority of its over 1,000 graduates who currently serve as clergy and lay leaders are evangelical. Some of the alumni, faculty, and trustees of the school have been among those who support conservative theology within the Episcopal Church, advocating historic views on matters such as the virgin birth, deity of Jesus, and the literal resurrection of Jesus, as well as moral stances such as opposition to abortion and an affirmation of a traditional Christian view of marriage. Some of the graduates of this institution have assumed leadership positions within the Anglican realignment movement, been deposed by the Episcopal Church, and are now members of the Anglican Church in North America.

Although unquestionably evangelical, the seminary includes students, faculty, and staff from among evangelical, charismatic, and Anglo-Catholic wings of Anglicanism, as well as members of other conservative Christian denominations.

Ecumenical relations

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Although it is an Anglican seminary, Trinity School for Ministry is home to students from a wide variety of denominations. TSM maintains an M.Div. with a Presbyterian track, with students from the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. The North American Lutheran Seminary of the North American Lutheran Church has also been located at TSM since its founding in 2013.

Academic information

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TSM is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada[4] and is a charter member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.[5]

Degree programs

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  • Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.)
  • Master of Divinity (M.Div.)
  • Master of Arts in Religion (M.A.R.)
  • Master of Sacred Theology (S.T.M.)

Diploma and certificate programs

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  • Diploma in Anglican Studies – available on campus or online
  • Diploma in Christian Ministry – available on campus or online
  • Certificate in Christian Ministry

Notable alumni

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Archbishops

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Bishops

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Other

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Notable faculty

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References

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  1. ^ "History & Future". Trinity School for Ministry - an evangelical seminary in the Anglican tradition. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  2. ^ Responding to the Birth of a New Province[permanent dead link] by Justyn Terry. Retrieved July 15, 2009.
  3. ^ Trinity School for MinistryArchived 2022-03-03 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved March 3, 2022
  4. ^ A.T.S. Member Schools Archived 2009-04-22 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on July 15, 2009.
  5. ^ TSM Profile on ECFA website. Retrieved on July 15, 2009.
  6. ^ TESM news Archived 2007-02-14 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on October 3, 2006.
  7. ^ San Joaquin priest elected Episcopal bishop of South Carolina. Archived 2006-10-04 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on October 3, 2006.
  8. ^ The Rev. Gregory O. Brewer Elected Fourth Bishop of Central Florida Archived 2012-07-28 at archive.today
  9. ^ Paul R. House
  10. ^ A Brief History of the Diocese of the Rio Grande Archived 2010-03-26 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ The Rev. Dr. Grant LeMarquand Appointed as Area Bishop of the Horn of Africa
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40°35′37″N 80°13′48″W / 40.593605°N 80.229968°W / 40.593605; -80.229968

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