The Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) has recognized the Certificate of Anglican Studies offered by Beeson Divinity School at Samford University in Birmingham.
The decision makes Beeson one of two non-Anglican seminaries in the United States approved for training ACNA clergy.
“We are excited that one of the most rigorous seminary programs in the United States has a well-developed track for training clergy and laypeople in the Anglican way,” Beach said. “We look forward to a strong partnership with Beeson in the future.”
Beeson Divinity’s founding dean, Timothy George, hopes the partnership will deepen and flourish for years to come.
“In past years Beeson has attracted a growing number of Anglican students,” George said. “Our interdenominational divinity school is delighted to be able to train men and women for ministry in the growing worldwide Anglican Communion.”
Beeson established an Anglican Institute and the certificate in 2014 to foster biblical Anglicanism and to help students deepen their knowledge and practice of Anglican belief, worship, and spirituality. Beeson confers the certificate with a student’s successful completion of an MDiv degree. Four Anglican churches in the Birmingham area offer opportunities for Anglican internships that meet the certificate requirements.
“Our interdenominational faculty provides students with differing but orthodox perspectives. And with seven Anglican professors, we are able to give abundant personal attention to Anglican ordinands,” said Anglican Chair of Divinity Gerald McDermott, who also oversees the Anglican Institute. “Beeson aims to be a premier center for orthodox Anglican training.”
