Episcopal Divinity School
Encyclopedia
The Episcopal Divinity School is a seminary of the Episcopal Church based in Cambridge, Massachusetts
. Known throughout the Anglican Communion
for prophetic teaching and action on issues of civil rights and social justice, its faculty and students have been directly involved in many of the social controversies surrounding the Episcopal Church in the latter half of the 20th century and at the start of the 21st. While an Episcopal seminary, it also trains students from other denominations not seeking ordination in the Episcopal Church and has since 2011 had a relationship with the Metropolitan Community Church
in which the latter's candidates for ordination may train at the Episcopal Divinity School and receive specific instruction on Metropolitan Community Church polity
as part of their degree programs.
The Episcopal Divinity School offers Master of Divinity
, Master of Arts in Theological Studies, and Doctor of Ministry
degrees, as well as Certificates in Anglican Studies, and has a history of relationship with Harvard Divinity School
, including a cross-registration program. The Episcopal Divinity School is a member of the Boston Theological Institute
, a consortium of nine Boston-area seminaries and divinity schools that share library and academic resources and allow cross-registration for courses. Since 2010, it shares part of its campus with Lesley University
and also offers cross-registration and pools resources with that school.
The Philadelphia Divinity School was founded in Philadelphia in 1857 as the Divinity School of the Protestant Episcopal Church by Dr. Alonzo Potter, Bishop of Pennsylvania.
The Episcopal Theological School was founded in Cambridge in 1867 by Boston businessman Benjamin Tyler Reed. ETS had from its inception a close relationship with adjacent Harvard University, which was Unitarian
at the time. ETS also had a close relationship with PDS, and its first Dean was John Seely Stone, who had previously taught at PDS.
or low church
movements, PDS and ETS focused on broad social and academic matters rather than issues of churchmanship as such. This may affiliate them with broad church
movements, although neither institution explicitly identified themselves as such. EDS has continued in that tradition.
In 1968, ETS hired its first African-American professor, Rev. Dr. Robert Avon Bennett.
nesses. In 1929 women were first admitted at PDS in small numbers to theological education programs designed for those preparing to teach religion in colleges.
ETS became the first Episcopal seminary to hire a woman, in 1941, to its full-time faculty.
In 1974, after the formation of EDS, 11 women were "irregularly" ordained to the priesthood of the Episcopal Church. Several EDS faculty members took part in the ordinarion and two of the new priests, Carter Heyward
and Rev. Dr. Suzanne R. Hiatt, were employed as EDS faculty. The affiliation of EDS with this ordination would cause many Bishops to refuse to send their postulants for ordination to EDS to receive a theological education. EDS retained a reputation for controversy stemming from this incident even after the Episcopal Church as a whole voted to ordain women to the priesthood in 1976. EDS quickly became the first Episcopal seminary to have women teaching in all fields of study.
In 1964, members of the ETS community marched in Boston to protest the racially-motivated Birmingham church bombings. In the following year, ETS students and faculty traveled to Alabama to take part in the Selma to Montgomery marches
. Several students sought to return to Alabama after the Selma marches to continue to work for racial integration in that state. Jonathan Myrick Daniels
, one of those students, was shot and killed outside a store in Hayneville, Alabama
while trying to protect a young African-American woman, Ruby Sales
, from a gunman. Sales would go on to attend ETS herself and work for civil rights, founding an inner-city mission dedicated to Daniels. Daniels is remembered as a martyr
of the Episcopal Church and is remembered regularly at EDS.
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Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
. Known throughout the Anglican Communion
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
for prophetic teaching and action on issues of civil rights and social justice, its faculty and students have been directly involved in many of the social controversies surrounding the Episcopal Church in the latter half of the 20th century and at the start of the 21st. While an Episcopal seminary, it also trains students from other denominations not seeking ordination in the Episcopal Church and has since 2011 had a relationship with the Metropolitan Community Church
Metropolitan Community Church
The Metropolitan Community Church or The Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches is an international Protestant Christian denomination...
in which the latter's candidates for ordination may train at the Episcopal Divinity School and receive specific instruction on Metropolitan Community Church polity
Polity
Polity is a form of government Aristotle developed in his search for a government that could be most easily incorporated and used by the largest amount of people groups, or states...
as part of their degree programs.
The Episcopal Divinity School offers Master of Divinity
Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
, Master of Arts in Theological Studies, and Doctor of Ministry
Doctor of Ministry
The Doctor of Ministry degree is, according to The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada , a doctoral level degree oriented toward ministerial leadership often in an area of applied theology, such as missions, evangelism, church leadership, pastoral psychology or the...
degrees, as well as Certificates in Anglican Studies, and has a history of relationship with Harvard Divinity School
Harvard Divinity School
Harvard Divinity School is one of the constituent schools of Harvard University, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the United States. The School's mission is to train and educate its students either in the academic study of religion, or for the practice of a religious ministry or other public...
, including a cross-registration program. The Episcopal Divinity School is a member of the Boston Theological Institute
Boston Theological Institute
Boston Theological Institute is the largest theological consortium in the world, bringing together the resources of universities and divinity schools throughout the greater Boston area and some of the most prestigious educational institutions...
, a consortium of nine Boston-area seminaries and divinity schools that share library and academic resources and allow cross-registration for courses. Since 2010, it shares part of its campus with Lesley University
Lesley University
Lesley University is a private, coeducational university in Boston, Massachusetts and Cambridge, Massachusetts.The university is a member of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, National Association of Schools of Art and Design, and New England Collegiate Conference.-History:The...
and also offers cross-registration and pools resources with that school.
Founding
The Episcopal Divinity School (EDS) was founded in 1974 by combining the Episcopal Theological School (ETS) and the Philadelphia Divinity School (PDS). Both institutions were facing bankruptcy at the time and by basing the new school on ETS' campus and otherwise combining resources the new institution was able to ensure a modicum of financial stability.The Philadelphia Divinity School was founded in Philadelphia in 1857 as the Divinity School of the Protestant Episcopal Church by Dr. Alonzo Potter, Bishop of Pennsylvania.
The Episcopal Theological School was founded in Cambridge in 1867 by Boston businessman Benjamin Tyler Reed. ETS had from its inception a close relationship with adjacent Harvard University, which was Unitarian
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
at the time. ETS also had a close relationship with PDS, and its first Dean was John Seely Stone, who had previously taught at PDS.
Churchmanship
PDS and ETS had both attempted to insulate themselves from affiliations with partisan factions within the church. Where other seminaries that existed or would come to exist within the Episcopal Church often affiliated themselves with either the high churchHigh church
The term "High Church" refers to beliefs and practices of ecclesiology, liturgy and theology, generally with an emphasis on formality, and resistance to "modernization." Although used in connection with various Christian traditions, the term has traditionally been principally associated with the...
or low church
Low church
Low church is a term of distinction in the Church of England or other Anglican churches initially designed to be pejorative. During the series of doctrinal and ecclesiastic challenges to the established church in the 16th and 17th centuries, commentators and others began to refer to those groups...
movements, PDS and ETS focused on broad social and academic matters rather than issues of churchmanship as such. This may affiliate them with broad church
Broad church
Broad church is a term referring to latitudinarian churchmanship in the Church of England, in particular, and Anglicanism, in general. From this, the term is often used to refer to secular political organisations, meaning that they encompass a broad range of opinion.-Usage:After the terms high...
movements, although neither institution explicitly identified themselves as such. EDS has continued in that tradition.
Social Issues
PDS, ETS and EDS have all been known for their focus on pastoral action around progressive social issues.African-American Education
From its inception, PDS admitted and trained African-American students, which was not done anywhere else in the world. The Episcopal Church itself, originally as the Church of England under the Bishop of London in British colonies in North America, had early seen several attempts from within at including African-American and indigenous American peoples in the full life of the church; the first person to be baptized in the Church of England in North America was a Native American person. Social values, particularly with the rise of racial slavery in North America, meant that there were considerable obstacles to such practices, and debates over whether it was right to baptize African-American slaves were controversial. Clergy who baptized slaves were often expelled from their parishes by the wealthy vestries which held their contracts. The church was largely controlled by affluent whites and despite rare actions by clergy, African-American slaves and ex-slaves were largely excluded from participation in the life of the church.In 1968, ETS hired its first African-American professor, Rev. Dr. Robert Avon Bennett.
Education and Ordination of Women
In the 1880s, PDS begin training women as deaconDeacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
nesses. In 1929 women were first admitted at PDS in small numbers to theological education programs designed for those preparing to teach religion in colleges.
ETS became the first Episcopal seminary to hire a woman, in 1941, to its full-time faculty.
In 1974, after the formation of EDS, 11 women were "irregularly" ordained to the priesthood of the Episcopal Church. Several EDS faculty members took part in the ordinarion and two of the new priests, Carter Heyward
Carter Heyward
Isabel Carter Heyward is a lesbian feminist theologian, teacher and priest in the Episcopal Church - the province of the worldwide Anglican Communion in the United States....
and Rev. Dr. Suzanne R. Hiatt, were employed as EDS faculty. The affiliation of EDS with this ordination would cause many Bishops to refuse to send their postulants for ordination to EDS to receive a theological education. EDS retained a reputation for controversy stemming from this incident even after the Episcopal Church as a whole voted to ordain women to the priesthood in 1976. EDS quickly became the first Episcopal seminary to have women teaching in all fields of study.
Civil Rights
In 1956, Bishop Henry Knox Sherrill, who graduated from ETS in 1914, spoke out at a press conference in favor of racial integration for the whole church, citing it as being "fundamental to the heart of the Gospel."In 1964, members of the ETS community marched in Boston to protest the racially-motivated Birmingham church bombings. In the following year, ETS students and faculty traveled to Alabama to take part in the Selma to Montgomery marches
Selma to Montgomery marches
The Selma to Montgomery marches were three marches in 1965 that marked the political and emotional peak of the American civil rights movement. They grew out of the voting rights movement in Selma, Alabama, launched by local African-Americans who formed the Dallas County Voters League...
. Several students sought to return to Alabama after the Selma marches to continue to work for racial integration in that state. Jonathan Myrick Daniels
Jonathan Myrick Daniels
Jonathan Myrick Daniels was an Episcopal seminarian, killed for his work in the American civil rights movement. His death helped galvanize support for the civil rights movement within the Episcopal church. He is regarded as a martyr in the Episcopal church...
, one of those students, was shot and killed outside a store in Hayneville, Alabama
Hayneville, Alabama
Hayneville is a town in Lowndes County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 1,177. The city is the county seat of Lowndes County. It is also part of the Montgomery Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
while trying to protect a young African-American woman, Ruby Sales
Ruby Sales
Ruby Sales is an African-American social activist.Growing up in Alabama during the tumultuous days of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, Sales participated in the Selma to Montgomery marches of 1965. She was arrested for her actions, and released after six days...
, from a gunman. Sales would go on to attend ETS herself and work for civil rights, founding an inner-city mission dedicated to Daniels. Daniels is remembered as a martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
of the Episcopal Church and is remembered regularly at EDS.
LGBT Rights
In the 1960s, ETS students who were suspected of being homosexual were dismissed, but as church and social opinion began to slowly turn in favor of tolerance of homosexuals, EDS would become a leading center of studies on LGBT issues within the Episcopal Church and the wider Anglican Communion. In 1974, Ethics professor William Hayden McCallum came out as a gay man to the school community. Associate professor and ordained priest Carter Heyward came out as a lesbian to the church in a nationwide publication in 1979. By the 1980s, EDS permitted same-sex couples to live in campus housing as it did heterosexual couples previously. In 1995, when St. John's Memorial Chapel was opened to marriage services by Dean William Rankin, both heterosexual marriages and same-sex unions were permitted, contrary to the trend in the Episcopal Church at the time. In 2009, the Very Rev. Dr. Katherine Hancock Ragsdale became the Dean of EDS, the first openly-lesbian woman to be dean of an Episcopal seminary.Theological Perspectives
In the late 1800s, ETS was the first Episcopal seminary to incorporate into its curriculum the principles and practice of historical analysis of the Holy Scriptures. This analytic tradition has continued to the present, where postmodern analysis forms a basis for many EDS course offerings.Notable people
Faculty
- Angus DunAngus DunAngus Dun was a noted United States clergyman and author, who served as the 4th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington in Washington, DC.-Early life:...
, dean (1940–1944), 4th Bishop of Washington - Katherine Hancock RagsdaleKatherine Hancock RagsdaleKatherine Hancock Ragsdale is an American Episcopal Priest based in Massachusetts and president and dean of Episcopal Divinity School. Before becoming dean she was director of Political Research Associates from May 2005 through June 2009....
, dean and president - Charles BennisonCharles BennisonCharles Ellsworth Bennison, Jr. is 15th bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania.-Education and family:Bennison was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on November 30, 1943, and was baptized at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Hastings, Minnesota, on December 24, 1943. His father, Charles E...
, Bishop of Pennsylvania - John Everitt Booty, dean of School of Theology, University of the South
- Joseph FletcherJoseph FletcherJoseph Fletcher was an American professor who founded the theory of situational ethics in the 1960s, and was a pioneer in the field of bioethics. Fletcher was a leading academic involved in the topics of abortion, infanticide, euthanasia, eugenics, and cloning. Ordained as an Episcopal priest, he...
, founder of situational ethics - John Coburn, Bishop of Massachusetts
- Carter HeywardCarter HeywardIsabel Carter Heyward is a lesbian feminist theologian, teacher and priest in the Episcopal Church - the province of the worldwide Anglican Communion in the United States....
, lesbian feminist theologian - Elisabeth Schüssler FiorenzaElisabeth Schüssler FiorenzaElisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza is a feminist theologian. She received her Theologicum , Lic. Theol., University of Würzburg, Thoel.D. from the University of Munster, Germany. She identifies as Catholic and her work is generally in the context of Christianity, although much of her work has broader...
, leading feminist biblical scholar
Episcopal Theological School
- John M. Burgess, first African American diocesan bishop in the Episcopal Church
- Jonathan Myrick DanielsJonathan Myrick DanielsJonathan Myrick Daniels was an Episcopal seminarian, killed for his work in the American civil rights movement. His death helped galvanize support for the civil rights movement within the Episcopal church. He is regarded as a martyr in the Episcopal church...
, civil rights martyr (died before graduation) - Bob FrankeBob FrankeBob Franke is an American folk singer/songwriter.-Biography:He began his career in 1965, while a student at the University of Michigan, and performed at The Ark, a coffeehouse in Ann Arbor....
, singer-songwriter (left to pursue a musical career) - Arthur Lichtenburger, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church
- Henry Knox SherrillHenry Knox SherrillHenry Knox Sherrill was an Episcopal clergyman. He was the 20th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church from 1947 to 1958, having previously served as Bishop of Massachusetts .-Biography:...
, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church - Logan Herbert RootsLogan Herbert RootsLogan Herbert Roots was an American missionary to China.Roots was consecrated in Boston on November 14, 1904 as the second Bishop of Hankow. He succeeded James Addison Ingle. Roots was an associate of Frank N. D. Buchman and prominent leader of Moral Re-Armament. He was succeeded by Alfred A...
, second bishop of Hankow - Paul Van BurenPaul van BurenPaul Matthews van Buren was a Christian theologian and author. An ordained Episcopalian priest he was a Professor of religion at Temple University, Philadelphia for 22 years....
, "Death of God" theologian - Geralyn WolfGeralyn WolfGeralyn Wolf is the twelfth diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Rhode Island in the Episcopal Church. Wolf was consecrated as bishop on 17 February 1996....
, bishop of Rhode IslandEpiscopal Diocese of Rhode IslandThe Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island is a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, encompassing the state of Rhode Island. It is one of seven New England dioceses that make up Province 1....
Philadelphia Divinity School
- Wallace E. ConklingWallace E. ConklingWallace Edmonds Conkling was the seventh bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago and served from 1941 to 1953. He was born October 25, 1896, in Matteawan, now part of Beacon, New York...
, bishop of Chicago - William Chauncey EmhardtWilliam Chauncey EmhardtWilliam Chauncey Emhardt was secretary of the Episcopal Church's Advisory Commission on Ecclesiastical Relations, and a prominent figure in ecumenical relations between Anglicans and Orthodox Christians, as well as Anglicans and Old Catholics...
, priest and ecumenist
Resources
- A History of Episcopal Divinity School: In celebration of its 25th anniversary by Matthew Peter Cadwell, published by The Trustees of the Episcopal Divinity School, 2000
- Installation Address by Katherine Hancock Ragsdale, Dean and President of Episcopal Divinity School, October 23, 2009
- A Brief History of the Episcopal Church by David L. Holmes