Licentiate in Theology
Encyclopedia
The Licentiate of Theology or the Licence in Theology (LTh is the usual abbreviation) is a theological qualification commonly awarded for ordinands and laymen studying theology
in the United Kingdom
, Malta
, Canada
, Australia
and New Zealand
. The academic rank varies from undergraduate degree to masters degree.
A qualification similar to the LTh is the two-year postgraduate Licentiate of Sacred Theology
(STL), available from many Roman Catholic schools of theology that possess the authority to grant Pontifical degrees.
LTh, introduced in 1940, was intended for graduate ordinands
, and was a one year full-time, or five years part-time, Degree. It is now awarded by the new University of Wales, Trinity Saint David. The University of St Andrews
offered the LTh (Licence in Theology), a three-year course open to non-graduates. A full time three-year LTh is available from the Universities of Glasgow and of Edinburgh
that were not associated with Universities offered programmes which led to the award of a Licentiate in Theology, abbreviated ThL. For many years the ThL was a prerequisite to ordination as an Anglican priest, however nowadays the ThL is a "non award" course: i.e., it is not recognised by other institutions for entry to higher degrees, and persons wishing to be ordained usually complete a Bachelor of Theology
at an accredited university, to enable them to later take an advanced degree if desired.
the LTh is offered by the Ecumenical Institute for Distance Theological Studies
and was the standard avenue to ordination
in the Anglican
Church; it remains the standard for part-time distance ordinands.
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. The academic rank varies from undergraduate degree to masters degree.
A qualification similar to the LTh is the two-year postgraduate Licentiate of Sacred Theology
Licentiate of Sacred Theology
Licentiate of Sacred Theology is the title of the second cycle of studies of a Faculty of Theology offered by a pontifical universities or ecclesiastical faculties of sacred theology. An Ecclesiastical Faculty offers three cycles of study: Baccalaureate or fundamentals, Licentiate or specialized,...
(STL), available from many Roman Catholic schools of theology that possess the authority to grant Pontifical degrees.
United Kingdom
The University of Wales, LampeterUniversity of Wales, Lampeter
University of Wales, Lampeter is a university in Lampeter, Wales. Founded in 1822 by royal charter, it is the oldest degree awarding institution in Wales and may be the third oldest in England and Wales after Oxford and Cambridge...
LTh, introduced in 1940, was intended for graduate ordinands
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
, and was a one year full-time, or five years part-time, Degree. It is now awarded by the new University of Wales, Trinity Saint David. The University of St Andrews
University of St Andrews
The University of St Andrews, informally referred to as "St Andrews", is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the English-speaking world after Oxford and Cambridge. The university is situated in the town of St Andrews, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. It was founded between...
offered the LTh (Licence in Theology), a three-year course open to non-graduates. A full time three-year LTh is available from the Universities of Glasgow and of Edinburgh
Canada
In Canada, a four-year LTh is offered by Emmanuel College, TorontoEmmanuel College, University of Toronto
Emmanuel College is a theological college of Victoria University at the University of Toronto. Affiliated with the United Church, it is a member institution of the Toronto School of Theology. The principal is the Rev. Dr Mark G. Toulouse...
Australia
In Australia in former years, theological collegesSeminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
that were not associated with Universities offered programmes which led to the award of a Licentiate in Theology, abbreviated ThL. For many years the ThL was a prerequisite to ordination as an Anglican priest, however nowadays the ThL is a "non award" course: i.e., it is not recognised by other institutions for entry to higher degrees, and persons wishing to be ordained usually complete a Bachelor of Theology
Bachelor of Theology
The Bachelor of Theology is a three to five year undergraduate degree in theological disciplines. Candidates for this degree typically must complete course work in Greek or Hebrew, as well as systematic theology, biblical theology, ethics, homiletics and Christian ministry...
at an accredited university, to enable them to later take an advanced degree if desired.
New Zealand
In New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
the LTh is offered by the Ecumenical Institute for Distance Theological Studies
Ecumenical Institute for Distance Theological Studies
The Ecumenical Institute for Distance Theological Studies is a New Zealand theological college.The Institute was established in 1993 to replace the former Joint Board of Theological Studies, which comprised five churches from 1968 to 1992, which in its turn had replaced the St John's Theological...
and was the standard avenue to ordination
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
in the Anglican
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
Church; it remains the standard for part-time distance ordinands.
See also
- Academic degreeAcademic degreeAn academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
- Doctor of Sacred TheologyDoctor of Sacred TheologyThe Doctor of Sacred Theology is the final theological degree in the pontifical university system of the Catholic Church....
- Pontifical universityPontifical universityA pontifical university is a Catholic University established by and directly under the authority of the Holy See. It is licensed to grant academic degrees in sacred faculties, the most important of which are Sacred Theology, Canon Law, Sacred Scripture and...