www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News MA/Diploma in APPLIED ORTHODOX THEOLOGY - New Cohort with Private Byzcath Forum!

Sophia,

It is open to anyone who is interested in learning more about Orthodoxy. The program also offers a Youth Ministry specialization for both the Diploma and the MA.

Gordo

Sophia,

I can not say with certainty since in this case I am acting only as the moderator to that forum, but I believe the program is open to all. You may want to confirm this by contacting them via email for a confirmation. As in some seminaries, the courses are generally geared towards ordination towards diaconate or priesthood. I know in the case of Holy Cross Seminary and St. Vladimir's Seminary, they do have a number of women students enrolled in degree programs that will be using the knowledge they gain in some of the parish and/or diocesan ministries.

Do let us know what they give as an answer.

Good Luck!

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Dear Fr. Anthony,

The St. Stephen's Course of Studies is an excellent program. I highly recommend it.

A little background on my personal experience with this program: I was previously enrolled in this program but somehow failed to convince the eparchy that it would be suitable theological studies for deacon studies. I was first sent to the Latin program that no one really intended on using and no explanation was given how I would "supplement" my studies for Byzantine/Eastern ministry. The Pittsburgh Deacon program's existence was even denied in writing even after four of our students attended the first year intensives. So this made me consider the St. Stephen's program. Thank God there is a light. It is sometimes difficult to want to learn Eastern Christian theology in our churches. I would think that the Antiochians can provide us with a beautiful avenue for studies where there is lacking.

The big objection I heard all along about the St. Stephen's program was that it was considered a mere adult enrichment program. No one wanted to discuss it. Period. I think this is one critical point you all have to make if this excellent program is advertised in any of our eparchies.

Though the Metropolia already set up its own deacon program modelled in the same way as the one with the Antiochian House of Studies - two weeks in house intensives, papers to write, ... the St. Stephen's program is accredited (if one works towards the masters) and the reading requirements are more intense. The people who operate the program are truly wonderful people. They treat you professionally which is refreshing.

I have been contemplating re-enrolling in this program and maybe inviting a few more to come along in order to discover our vast and deep Eastern Christian traditions. My pastor earned his doctorate in pastoral ministry there.

I would like to invite all byzcath.org members to consider this wonderful gift the Antiochians are providing. You will learn a lot in our Eastern traditions. It will not be a "learn the Latin way first then supplement it with Eastern tidbits later" program. It is grounded in Eastern Life and Religious Experience.

Cantor Joe Thur

Cantor Joe,
You mentioned that it is accredited. By whom? Someone mentioned earlier the accredidation of the Republic of Lebanon: is this what you are referring to, or possibly the Association of Theological Schools?
Thanks.

I looked into the program a couple of years ago and am quite positive that it is not accredited by the Association of Theological Schools.

However, the Doctor of Ministry program affiliated with the Antiochian Center through Pittsburgh Theological Seminary is ATS accredited.

The following link will give you a list of the theological schools accredited by the Association of Theological Schools, the accreditation body for North America.
http://www.ats.edu/member_schools/alpha.asp

Please note that of the Eastern Orthodox schools only the following are accredited:
Holy Cross, St. Vladimir's and St. Tikhon's.

The scarcity of serious Eastern Orthodox academic scholars with accredited graduate degrees in North America is a concern that needs to be addressed.
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (Presbyterian) has worked with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of the USA and other Orthodox jurisdictions to offer a program that allows an Orthodox focus. One of the past presidents was of Armenian heritage and although not Orthodox or Armenian Apostolic Orthodox himself was open to Orthodoxy and wrote a book many years ago on Protestants and the Eastern Orthodox Church. This school is accredited and very well respected.

Dear Joe,

Thanks for your post. Though the only way I am remotely affiliated with the programs is by moderating the private forum on this board. I gain nothing personally by the new forum or the program other than to look in on the discussions that will be taking place there.

As far as a �personal enrichment program�, I would like to offer a thought on that. I agree that maybe that sort of title should be continued. Only some that are taking the program are actually candidates for Holy Orders, whether it be the diaconate or the priesthood. Until recently, it was an in-house program of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of America. It has been recently expanded in the last couple of years to embrace other Orthodox jurisdictions for their late vocations, but also to help enrich and prepare the laity for service in parish and diocesan ministries.

To qualify that by attending and completing the program, would qualify a student for ordination would be unfair and possibly even fraudulant. Even the seminaries of the Orthodox Churches state that the program academically prepares the student for �possible� ordination to Holy Orders. The actual qualification for ordination of the candidate or student are left to the canonical requirements of his jurisdiction and ultimately the potentially ordaining hierarch. No matter how we use the program information in anything we learn, whether it be the Saint Stephen�s Program or whatever, we are surely enriched by it, but hopefully we will take that information and pratically apply it for all to benefit by it.

Now for the others wondering about accreditation. ATS is only one accrediting body and then for only those seminaries that are generally imparting "Divinity" degrees. There is Eastern States, Middle States etc. that also accredit, along with individual state agencies. St. John of Damascus School of Theology of the University of Balamand is not only internationally recognized but accredited on par with schools such as the University of Athens and the University of Thessaloniki. I have to remind some of our posters that most Catholic universities do NOT hold ATS accreditation, but are accredited by some other body. I also would like to point out that Christ the Savior, Holy Trinity, Saint Herman's, and Saint Sophia Seminaries are not on the ATS list, but hold state or other accreditation. These schools still educate candidates for Holy Orders despite lacking this accrediatation, generally by being teamed up with another college to suppliment their programs.

As I suggested in an earlier post, if you wondering as to accreditation, course of study, etc. a link and email address have been provided for you to obtain the information. I would suggest that it be used.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Joe,

Thanks so much for that perspective. This is one of the principal reasons why I wanted to consider the program...it will be good for the spiritual journey! I echo your sentiments as far as participation from Eastern Catholics. My understanding is that the program was designed with a view to participation from Eastern Christians from many different jurisdictions - as well as from those who are just plain interested in learning more about Orthodoxy.

God willing, we will all have an enriching experience through this program! Thanks be to God for the Antiochians!

Gordo

Thanks so much, Father Anthony. Your words about the Balamand and the Theological Schools of the Greek Universities were very nice and personally for me, much appreciated.

For those who want to see the St. John of Damascus School of Theology of the University of Balamand and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, here are their links. www.balamand.edu.lb [balamand.edu.lb] and www.pts.edu. [pts.edu.]

The PTS Antiochian cooperative D. Min. Program is the Eastern Christian Focus.

For Balamand, click Faculties, Centers and Institues, then St. John of Damascus School of Theology and then MA in Applied Orthodox Theology, USA.

Christ Is Among Us! Indeed He Is And Ever Shall Be!

Three Cents

Is this something in which a Roman Catholic would be allowed (dare I say encouraged)to participate?

Learning,

My suggestion would be to contact AHS and ask. Their stated purpose is to help others learn more about Orthodoxy, including those who are not Orthodox. I would think, so long as you understand that you are there to "learn (Orthodoxy) as you go" (I could not resist! ) and not to debate the virtues of Roman Catholicism over and above Orthodoxy, you would be welcome. We can certainly engage in some dialogue over differences in the forum. My hunch, though, is that we will discover more points of agreement than not!

Hope that helps,

Gordo

Has anyone ever heard of the Byz. Cath. seminary?????? They offer Master's degrees for the laity in theology! Why would you not rather support our archeparchy by attending there rather than the Antiochenes???? Our seminary seems to be the way to go for Byz. Caths. and they accept women as well as men. It is a little more $$$ than the St. Stephen's but it is a better masters. They offer an option where you can go to Duquesne and the seminary and get a good degree from a regionally accredited school! The degree from the antiochian house of studies is from the university of Balamand???? Not even a U.S. accredited univ. If you plan on further studies beyond the masters, and don't want to do their doctorate degree, which is in ministry and for priests, any good regionally accredited school would laugh!!!!!!!!!!!!

acolytejim,

You bring up some issues for consideration. I can only speak to the reasons why I am planning to attend the AHS program and not the BC Seminary program.

Yes - and I share your excitement. I believe the faculty at St. Cyril and Methodius Seminary is top notch, and the program looks very thorough.

Here is a link to the program:

http://www.byzcathsem.org/seminary/degree.php

I am also a BIG FAN of the Metropolitan Sheptytsky Institute in Ottawa. It offers civil and ecclesiatical degrees, including the only pontifical degree program in Eastern Christian Studies in North America.

http://web.ustpaul.uottawa.ca/Sheptytsky/programs/programs_main.htm

You are making some assumptions here. One is that I would prefer, all things being equal, a particular Orthodox jurisdiction's program to an Eastern Catholic program. If the Byzantine Catholic Seminary offered its program through a distance learning cohort model with an abbreviated residency requirement, I would seriously consider it. My hope would be that any differences would be minimal, since we are, after all, Orthodox Christians in unity with Rome!

I would also point out that the Melkites have elected to send their seminarians to Holy Cross Orthodox Seminary in Brookline, MA.

Alas, Jim, not everyone is as fortunate as you to live in Western Pennsylvania to take advantage of such local programs. The St. Stephen's Program is designed to educate and equip Eastern Christians who live outside of a 90 mile radius of Pittsburgh and are unable to uproot their families to study there. My hope is that the BC seminary will someday explore that option, especially in light of advances in DL methodologies and tools that have developed overthe years.

Excellent, but again only women and men who either already live in Pittsburgh or the surrounding area or plan to move there. Not helpful to me or others.

Actually, if you compare the programs, I believe that St. Stephen's is substantially LESS $$$. Since I have not taken either program (nor, I assume, have you) I can only speak to what I have been told by others. The St. Stephen's Program is evidently very well done, has top notch professors and maintains academic rigor in the program. (Having read Father Joseph Allen, he alone is reason to attend this program. Add to that names like Tarazi and Meyendorff, and you've got some pretty heavy hitters. Evidently our sister Church in the OCA finds this program effective for diaconal formation, so I'm not sure what standards you are using.

Wow - you really get excited about these things! Duquesne is "grand" as the Irish say. I've had many friends and associates who have studied there, and felt it was a challenging, first-rate program. Again, distance is the key differentiator.

You seem to suffer from EPD (Excessive Punctuation Disorder)!!!!!!! Yes - the University of Balamand in Lebanon. Quite a school. Patriarch Ignatius IV of Antioch was once the Dean of the Seminary there - and he is no intellectual slouch.

To quote Ronald Reagan, "there you go again"! Usually you need to hit the key once and release to make your point.............

What was your point anyway? Oh yes - I was distracted by endless punctuation! You assume, Jim, that all of us plan to go for our doctorates in theology. Perhaps we just want to be grounded in our heritage as Eastern Christians and are unable (or unwilling) to uproot everything familiar and move to Shangri-la (aka Pittsburgh, PA) to pay more for formation to help be more effective teachers, catechists, evangelists, husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, monastics, employees, or (maybe someday) clergy. Theological formation is principally for the sanctfication of the individual - the mind and the heart - and to equip them to be apostles. If this will help me be holier and more effective in my apostolates, what is your issue?

Based upon my own research, the structure and content of the program, my own circumstances as well as the list high quality faculty at AHS, I'm comfortable investing my time, energy, resources, etc etc into my education through St. Stephen's. It matters not one iota that some committee of a regional accrediting agency has not placed its seal of approval on AHS.

Just to remind you of Father Anthony's post on this:

So......

Best of luck to you in your own higher education pursuits out there in Western Pennsylvania, Jim. So will you be studying in Rome or Navarre for your own doctoral work???????????????????

Gordo

acolytejim,

I would also point out the specialization in Youth Ministry. For some, such specialized training in an Eastern context may go a long way in helping our churches to retain our future!

Our BYZAN-TEENS!

Gordo

The reason is the course on offer is Orthodox Theology, so why would anyone want to do that in a Catholic Seminary.

Seminaries are used for many educational purposes today and opening up the lectures to a wider audience is great.