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Deacon Certificate

Listen to Bishop Audrey Scanlan discuss the ministry of a deacon

Listen to Archdeacon Jane Miron talk about the call to be a deacon

Read this article about preparing to be a Deacon in the Stevenson School for Ministry, click here.

For a comprehensive list of the competencies developed in our Deacon Track curriculum, click here.
Investigate the Association of Episcopal Deacons, an international organization that supports diaconal ministry here.

Curriculum – Deacon Track

Fulfilling all the requirements of the Stevenson School for a certificate does not guarantee your ordination. Your Bishop and your Commission on Ministry will make final determinations. However, our curriculum leading to a certificate is an ideal way to prepare you for this ministry.

To apply for this certification track, please send an email to either Dean Robyn Szoke-Coolidge or Associate Dean Michael Nailor indicating your interest. We will then send you an electronic application to be completed and returned to us.

Number of Courses Required

(Minimum of 13 Courses for Certificate)

The Holy Scriptures (2 courses)

Required: Introduction to Old Testament, Introduction to New Testament

History of the Christian Church (1 course)

Required: Church History II

Christian Theology (1 course)

Required: Theology I

Christian Ethics and Moral Theology (1 course)

Required: Ethics I

Christian Worship (1 course)

Required: Prayer Book Studies

The Practice of Ministry (6 courses)

Required: Anglican Approaches to Ministry, The Message of Mission, Homiletics, The Deacon’s Path, Deacons in Action, Field Education (involving a ministerial placement of 6-8 months)

Spirituality (1 course)

Required: Spiritual Practices for Today

Recommended Course of Study: Deacon Track

Semester Sessions

Weekend Orientation Session: currently via Zoom, traditionally in person, Friday through Saturday

Each Course: 10 weeks online work

Weekend Reorientation Session: currently via Zoom, traditionally in person, Friday through Saturday

Summer Sessions

One day Orientation Session: currently via Zoom, traditionally in person, Saturday 9am-3pm

Each Course: 10-week online work

Year One

Summer Term

Deacon’s Path
Becoming the Beloved Community

Fall Term

Introduction to Hebrew Scriptures
Anglican Approaches to Ministry

Winter Term

Theology 1

Anglican Prayer Book Studies

Spring Term

Introduction to New Testament

Anglican Church History

Year Two

Summer Term

Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)
Scripture Elective

Fall Term

Spiritual Practices
Deacons in Action with Internship
Canon Law (5-week course)

Winter Term

Homiletics 1
Scripture Elective

Spring Term

Ethics 1
The Message of Mission

Canonical Areas of Study for Ordination

The canons (III.6.5.f and III.8.5.g) require that preparation for ordination in all orders shall include training regarding:

prevention of sexual misconduct.
civil requirements for reporting and pastoral opportunities for responding to evidence of abuse
the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church, particularly Title IV thereof.
the Church’s teaching on racism

Additional Content covered in Orientation and Reorientation Sessions

Topics covered:

Discernment
Introduction to Theology and Theological Reflection
Issues in Pastoral Care
Spirituality
Spiritual Direction

SSFM

Theology 2

Professor: Joshua Davis

SSFM

Creating Worship that Works

Professor: Ellen Johnston

SSFM

Galatians: Rhetoric, Ethics, Christology, Social Consequences?

Professor: Deirdre Good

SSFM

Message of Mission

Professor: Richard Jorgensen

SSFM

Introduction to New Testament

Professor: Deirdre Good

SSFM

Ethics 1

Professor: Joshua Davis

The Robert Donald Carter Chair of the Teaching of Anglican Ethics

Ethics in the Anglican Tradition: Ethics 2

Professor: Joshua Davis

SSFM

History of the Episcopal Church: Church History 2

Professor: Mark Scheneman

SSFM

God and Social Justice in the Hebrew Prophets

Professor: Collin Cornell

About SSFM

The Stevenson School for Ministry is dedicated to the lifelong learning and discernment processes of all Episcopalians in the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania and beyond.

We seek to make theological education available to all, because we believe it to be essential to furthering the mission and ministry of the Church.