Anglican Studies Course Catalog

Introduction to Anglican Studies (AS-101)
This course introduces students to the Anglican Communion as a worldwide spiritual community in more than 165 countries across the globe. One of the great Christian traditions, Anglicanism has a rich and diverse history that extends from its early formation through the English Reformation to its modern expression in such churches as The Episcopal Church, USA, among others. Special attention will be given to how The Episcopal Church is related in history and spirit to the other churches of the Anglican Communion, and what instruments of unity (such as the historic episcopate, The Book of Common Prayer, the creeds, the Lambeth Conference, and others) currently preserve or trouble those relationships.

Episcopal Church Polity and Culture (AS-102)
In this course, students will learn how The Episcopal Church, USA, is structured and governed. Special emphasis will be given to how The Episcopal Church makes important ecclesiastical decisions, the role and authority of bishops, the role and authority of the laity, the role and authority of the clergy, and the function of church councils (especially General Convention) and canons (ecclesiastical law) in the life of the church.

The Book of Common Prayer (AS-103)
Even though Episcopalians pray the words of The Book of Common Prayer each week, many do not know where these prayers come from, what they mean, or how they call us to live out our faith. This course walks students through the prayer book, exploring what each liturgy says and how it is typically used in our communities. The class explores the connections between the words of our prayers, our beliefs, and the daily practice of faith, exploring questions such as, “What does the burial liturgy have to teach us about what Episcopalians believe about death?”, or “How does the Daily Office teach us to integrate prayer into our daily lives?” More than merely a liturgical manual, The Book of Common Prayer is also a treasure chest full of devotional and teaching resources for individuals and congregations and the primary symbol of Anglican unity. This course will conclude by exploring the ways in which Anglicans are edified and unified by our prayer book.

Foundations of Episcopalian Identity: The Episcopal Church Welcomes You (AS/PFL-104)
What makes us Episcopalian? What connects our personal narrative to the narrative of the church? How does knowing our own story as Episcopalians help us to articulate what The Episcopal Church is all about to others? This course focuses on evangelism and church growth from the perspective of first knowing who we are and what we believe as Episcopalians. Cross-listed with Pastoral Formation and Leadership as PFL-104.

Episcopal Church History (AS/CH-105)
This course will introduce students to the history of the Episcopal Church, from its origins in the English Reformation to its global influence in the present day. Through a combination of lectures, discussions, and assigned readings in secondary historical survey texts, students will develop a general understanding of the spread and impact of Anglicanism, with a special focus placed upon the history of The Episcopal Church in the United States. Opportunities will be offered for a reflective engagement with selected primary source texts from the historical tradition, which will introduce students to key voices and critical movements in the history of The Episcopal Church. Cross-listed with Church History as CH-105.

Anglican and Episcopal Theology (AS/ST-202)
This seminar provides a survey of contemporary Anglican theology. The focus will be on theological issues that are currently sparking debate across the Anglican communion, e.g., different approaches to Scripture and Christology, the relationship of gender, spirituality and theology, and the nature of the global Anglican communion. Course readings will range across the Anglican tradition (Anglo-Catholic, liberal, and Reformed/ Evangelical), and will include thinkers such as Sarah Coakley, David Ford, Kathryn Tanner, Desmond Tutu, and Rowan Williams. Cross-listed with Theology as ST-202.

History of The Book of Common Prayer (AS/CH-203)
This fascinating look at the often-messy history of The Book of Common Prayer takes a rollicking journey through the tumultuous circumstances that formed the beginnings of the Church of England and of its central book of common worship. From Thomas Cranmer’s 1549 Book of Common Prayer to the reign of Elizabeth I and beyond, this course delves into the stories of conflict, sacrifice, dedication, and hope to understand the environment in which the Anglican expression of the Christian faith was born. Cross-listed with Church History as CH-203.

Glorious Companions: Spirituality in the Anglican World (AS/SP-204)
This course offers a look inside the hearts and minds of significant shapers of Anglican spirituality over the past five centuries — Thomas Cranmer, John Donne, George Herbert, John Wesley, Dorothy Sayers, C. S. Lewis, Madeleine L’Engle, and many more. Covering twenty-nine of the most influential Anglican figures from the sixteenth century to the present, the course will use Richard H. Schmidt’s book, Glorious Companions, which deftly chronicles the lives and work of these thinkers while capturing at the same time the deep personal faith that they have managed to communicate so powerfully to the rest of the world. Join us for an inspiring look at these icons of the Christian faith, which include not only bishops and scholars but also poets, novelists, and teachers. Cross-listed with Spirituality as SP-204.

Beyond Colonial Anglicanism: Seminar in Global Anglican Studies (AS-205)
During the past half-century, the Anglican Communion has undergone dramatic growth and demographic change. Churches that were originally founded as colonial and missionary outposts by Great Britain and the United States have now become autonomous Anglican provinces; and what used to be a predominantly white, Anglo-Saxon group of churches in the northern hemisphere has become a truly global community, most of whose members live in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Pacific. Drawing on a diverse and rich variety of contemporary voices across the globe, this seminar will explore what it means to live in the Anglican Communion in the twenty-first century.

Anglican Spiritual Practices for Christian Formation (AS/SP-206)
Students in this course will have the opportunity to go further in their study of Anglicanism by looking at the religious practices and practical pieties of Anglicans and Episcopalians over history. Different movements in Anglican history utilized different approaches to the spiritual life, and these can have a real impact on our own spiritual formation today. Opportunity will be given for students to learn more about these religious practices by experimenting with them and reflecting on them through journaling.

Research Seminar: History of Member Churches in the Anglican Communion (AS/CH-207)
This seminar offers students the opportunity to conduct research on the history of one of the member churches of the worldwide Anglican Communion (such as the Church of the Province of Central Africa, the Church in the Province of the West Indies, La Iglesia Anglicana de Mexico, the Anglican Church of Korea, the Church of Ireland, etc.). Students learn how to craft a research proposal, engage in research with primary and living sources, and present their findings in a pedagogical format that may be used in a church teaching setting (such as an adult education forum for a local parish or a retreat). Research proposals must be approved by the permission of the instructor. Cross-listed with Church History as CH-206.

Special Topics in Anglican Studies (AS-301, -302, and -303)
These courses explore specific topics of interest and importance and are offered periodically as electives. Examples may include but are not limited to: Critical Issues in Contemporary Anglicanism; Seminar on the Caroline Divines; and History of Anglicanism in the Caribbean. Courses may be cross-listed with other areas of study.