Episcopal/Anglican Studies Track

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Pittsburgh Seminary is an approved seminary for the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh and seeks to partner with other dioceses.

The Episcopal/Anglican Concentration is open to PTS students pursuing the hybrid Master of Divinity or hybrid Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies degree, who desire a deeper knowledge in specific fields such as church history, doctrine, liturgy, and practical theology.

  • Students will participate in weekly spiritual formation through the Episcopal House of Studies and complete a year in a field education placement, typically an Episcopal or Anglican church.
  • The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh will invite students seeking ordination to participate in training opportunities for anti-racism and church discipline procedures. 
  • Students seeking ordination will also be invited to participate in the Diocese’s Love+Teach+Heal Leadership Academy, which brings clergy and lay leaders together for deeper theological conversations.

Candidates for ministry in the Episcopal Church must complete courses in the Episcopal/Anglican Concentration in Episcopal/Anglican Studies, which includes history, doctrine, and liturgy (Book of Common Prayer). The Seminary will work in cooperation with other accredited Episcopal seminaries to ensure regular and multiple opportunities for students to take the necessary courses. These may be offered on-site at PTS, on other seminary campuses as intensive courses, or through other seminaries online. To facilitate communication between students, the seminaries, and Episcopal students’ respective dioceses, the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh provides an on-site advisor at PTS.

Episcopal/Anglican Concentration (M.Div.)

The Canons of the Episcopal Church require satisfactory preparation in six subject areas for ordinands. The canonical areas are:

  • The Holy Scriptures
  • History of the Christian Church
  • Christian Theology
  • Christian Ethics and Moral Theology, including environmental ethics and theology
  • The Practice of Ministry in Contemporary Society, including leadership, evangelism, stewardship, ecumenism, interfaith relations, missional theology, environmental stewardship and care of creation, and the historical and contemporary experiences of racial and minority groups
  • Christian Worship according to the use of the Book of Common Prayer, the Hymnal, and authorized supplemental texts

The canons additionally require anti-racism training and instruction on the Title IV disciplinary procedures. Other courses might be especially recommended depending in part on the student’s particular area of interest. 

M.Div. Track Requirements

  • Fulfilling all requirements for the Seminary's hybrid M.Div., including two required units of field education (typically a placement within the context of a local Episcopal or Anglican congregation)
  • Within PTS's M.Div., completion of a required set of courses with an Episcopal/Anglican Studies emphasis
  • Daily participation in the worship life of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
  • Participation in the Episcopal/Anglican House of Studies at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
  • Completion of Diocesan Middler evaluation

Required Courses

In addition to field education, candidates for the Concentration in Episcopal/Anglican Studies will learn more about Episcopal/Anglican theology and context within these required courses:

  • Exploring Christian Worship, exploring the Episcopal/Anglican liturgical praxis within the context of wider catholic worship traditions and writing a final assignment on a text, practice, or artifact from within the Episcopal/Anglican tradition.
  • Spiritual Formation, studying Episcopal/Anglican spirituality within the context of wider catholic spiritual traditions and to developing a personal rule of life rooted in the Episcopal/Anglican tradition.
  • Ecclesial Formation, including a course on the Episcopal/ Anglican theological tradition and polity.
  • Required Electives 

Elective Courses

The M.Div. program has up to six slots for electives, or four slots should the candidate elect to pursue both Greek and Hebrew in fulfillment of the biblical language requirement.

  • Candidates for the Episcopal/Anglican Studies Concentration are expected to use their distribution of electives to take directed studies courses on periods, figures, and questions from within Episcopal/Anglican history and theology. 
  • Of the remaining elective slots, which are open electives, students will use one to take a course on liturgy and the Book of Common Prayer. 
  • Required electives can be completed via coursework at PTS or, with prior approval, via transfer credit at another ATS accredited seminary.

Episcopal/Anglican Studies Concentration (M.A.P.S.)

M.A.P.S. Track Requirements

  • Fulfilling all requirements for the Seminary's hybrid M.A.P.S., including two required units of field education (typically a placement within the context of a local Episcopal or Anglican congregation)
  • Within PTS's M.A.P.S., completion of a required number of electives with an Episcopal/Anglican Studies emphasis 
  • Daily participation in the worship life of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
  • Participation in the Episcopal/Anglican House of Studies at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
  • Completion of diocesan Middler evaluation

Required Courses

In addition to field education, candidates for the Concentration in Episcopal/Anglican Studies have the following opportunities to concentrate on Episcopal/Anglican theology and context within required courses:

  • Exploring Christian Worship, exploring the Episcopal/Anglican liturgical praxis within the context of wider catholic worship traditions and writing a final assignment on a text, practice, or artifact from within the Episcopal/Anglican tradition.
  • Spiritual Formation, studying Episcopal/Anglican spirituality within the context of wider catholic spiritual traditions and to developing a personal rule of life rooted in the Episcopal/Anglican tradition.
  • Ecclesial Formation, including a course on the Episcopal/Anglican theological tradition and polity.
  • M.A.P.S. Final Project Seminar, giving Episcopal/Anglican students a chance to complete a final project or paper related to an Episcopal/Anglican ministry context.
  • Required Electives

Elective Courses

The Seminary's M.A.P.S. program has three slots for open electives, and three slots for ministry electives. Candidates for the Concentration in Episcopal/Anglican Studies are expected to fulfill these electives in the following way:

  • Ecclesial Formation, which will include a course on the Episcopal/Anglican theological tradition.
  • One course or directed study on periods, figures, and questions from within Episcopal/Anglican history and theology.
  • One ministry elective focused on Episcopal/Anglican Liturgy and the Book of Common Prayer.
  • Required electives can be completed via coursework at PTS or, with prior approval, via transfer credit at another ATS accredited seminary.
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