Our Mission:

To inspire, equip and empower the churches and people

to live out the Baptismal covenant.

The School for Ministry

provides lay adult, diaconal, and priestly formation, education, and training to equip disciples for servant ministry.

In the fall of 2003 a School for Ministry was established in the Diocese of Upper South Carolina as an avenue for providing lay, diaconal, and priestly formation, education and training. Currently our student body is comprised from all three areas. The foundation for their development is participation in a core curriculum, which includes 12 courses over a two-year period.

The course work is offered on six Saturdays during a three-month session, with two courses per session, for a total of twelve courses in two years. This design of the coursework serves four purposes:

• It is a systematic offering of study for the laity.
• It is a collection of 12 individual courses for study that can be taken by anyone at anytime.
• It is a full core curriculum for preparation for those in the ordination process.
• It is a systematic offering of major content areas for those who may require instruction in some areas but not others.

It is important to note that completion of this curriculum is not in and of itself preparation for Ordination. Participants who are enrolled in the school meet with an advisory committee to assess other areas for spiritual growth and development. Through these assessments avenues for clinical pastoral education, field experience, servant ministry projects, assigned mentors, homiletics, and additional seminary coursework may be assigned. Additionally those involved as candidates for the diaconate participate in a one-year course geared specifically for diaconal formation.

Over the next few months The School for Ministry will begin to grow and expand in a variety of ways with new and exciting avenues for learning. Various seminars will be added as well as other diocesan certification programs such as pastoral care and youth ministry. Visit these web pages often to see what The School for Ministry may have for you in the way of formation, education and training!