Welcome to Agnus Dei Seminary

• INTRODUCTION     Training and study for Holy Orders was first mandated and established for the Church (The Evangelical Orthodox Catholic Church in America)  in  March of 1945 through legal  incorporation in the  State  of California.  In 2003, updating and re-organization of the Seminary program was established by official mandate under the patronage of our Lord Jesus Christ the Teacher.  On April 30, 2019, Christ the Teacher Seminary of Milwaukie, Oregon; Ave Maria Theological Seminary of Fayetteville, Georgia; and Saint Anthony House School of Biblical Theology of Nashua, Montana entered into a Corporate Agreement of merging all three Seminaries and Theological Schools into one entity, now officially named Agnus Dei Theological Seminary.  The program is designed to provide each student with the understanding of their role within the Minor and Major Holy Orders as upheld by The Evangelical Orthodox Catholic Church in America.  In the process, those accepted as candidates/postulants for the Major Holy Orders will be well prepared to lead in the ministry to which they have been called to by God.    Presently, the Seminary is open to any student that meets one of the following criteria:  1.  Those students who are seeking, or are in, Holy Orders within The Evangelical Orthodox Catholic   Church in America;  2.  Those  students  who  are  seeking,  or  are  in,  Holy  Orders  within  a  Jurisdiction  that  has  signed  an   Understanding  of  Full  Communion  or  Intercommunion  with  The  Evangelical  Orthodox  Catholic     Church in America;  3.  Those students who are seeking, or are in Holy Orders, but do not fit in either category 1 or 2 above,   whose Bishop has made a formal request in writing to the Seminary on behalf of the student.  The Seminary program is primarily one of correspondence.  Each student starts their program of study when it is appropriate for them.  They can move along within the program as fast or as slow as they need in order to learn the course material.  The only time limit set within the program is that a seminarian must complete at least one course every three months.  If the candidate finds it necessary to take longer than three months, the  Seminary  President,  Dean  of  Academic  Affairs,  and/or  the  Faculty  has  the  authority  to  approve extensions depending on the reason and the need of the candidate and their individual circumstances.   Within the Seminary program, one is prepared both intellectually through academic studies in various areas, and spiritually through the verbal instructions for the various levels of Holy Orders.  It is very important that one develops a spiritual level that is commensurate with their academic level within the Seminary program.  The Evangelical Orthodox Catholic Church in America and Agnus Dei Theological Seminary does not discriminate in regard to Holy Orders on the basis of gender or marital status.  Holy Orders are open to both male and female.   Agnus Dei Theological Seminary functions as both a correspondence (distance learning) and a resident program, depending upon the student’s or seminarian’s place of residence. Therefore, the application process, acceptance process, and the educational process is the same as it would be if one was to attend a larger college or university.  This means that we are very serious about our education and formation of 
• 7  seminarians who wish to serve in God’s vineyard as priests.  In this process, the application is long and extensive, thus giving the Seminary Faculty and Administration an understanding of who our prospective candidates are.  Further, the application requires one to write several essays to help discern the candidate’s call to serve the Lord. Also, a letter of recommendation from someone who has known the individual candidate for at least 5 years or more is needed and who is willing to attest to their (your) character.  This can be either a close friend or a former Pastor.    Along with this process, all prospective candidates will be asked to submit to a criminal and financial background check.  Those with criminal pasts may be denied entry into the Seminary Program based upon the severity of their offense(s).  Financial matters may be discussed with the Metropolitan Archbishop Primate, Metropolitan Archbishop, or Bishop and the Seminary President at the time of one's meeting.  Along with the aforementioned, the application process, criminal and financial background checks, each student (seminarian) will be required to have an interview with the Archbishop or Bishop of the jurisdiction and/or religious community that they are applying for.  All previous religious college courses are evaluated as to their acceptance toward one of our required courses.  Please know that just because you are accepted into the Seminary Program, does not mean you will be automatically ordained to any of the Minor or Major Holy  Orders. Only  the  Archbishop  or  Bishop  can  make  that  final  determination  based  upon  the recommendation of the Seminary Faculty and Staff, as well as the other Priests of the jurisdiction.  It is expected that the candidate will develop a close spiritual relationship with the Faculty and Staff and with their (one's) Archbishop and Bishop.  This is the only way that we will know of one's actual spiritual development.  Both the Faculty and Staff, and the Archbishop and Bishop are here to help one (you) to grow and be prepared to become a priest both spiritually and intellectually.      
• 8    AGNUS DEI THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY OVERVIEW   What is the difference between a Theological Seminary and a Divinity School?  A  Theological  Seminary  educates students for leadership roles  in  Christian ministry,  such  as  pastors, missionaries, church planters, counselors, and other avenues of service to the Church.  Its curriculum places strong emphasis on study and understanding of the Bible and theology, spiritual formation, and practical tools for church ministry.  A Divinity School is usually affiliated with a university.  Like a law or medical school, a divinity school is essentially a theological division within a larger university.  Its students can take courses unrelated to theological education.  Some are more focused on the academic study of religion and Christianity, preparing students  to  serve  in  academic,  religious  and  non-sectarian  settings,  while  others  are  more  pastorally-focused.  At Agnus Dei Theological Seminary, we take pride in offering:   Church-Based Theological Seminary Education:  A relatively recent trend is the development of seminaries by churches.  Still rare in the U.S., these schools may offer both undergraduate and graduate degrees that prepare students to  understand and apply the Biblical understanding and theology in vocational ministry.  Typically, they are not accredited.  
• 9  One of the best-known church-based theological schools is Agnus Dei Theological Seminary developed by The Evangelical Orthodox Catholic Church in America through the merger of three outstanding and well established existing theological schools.  Agnus Dei Theological Seminary is the official Seminary of The Evangelical Orthodox (Old) Catholic Church in America, its archdioceses, dioceses, and religious communities, with the primary purpose of training, educating, and preparing candidates for ordination to Holy Orders as priests and deacons for service in the church.  Administrators and faculty of the Seminary are authorized by a mandate from the Metropolitan Archbishop Primate of The Evangelical Orthodox (Old) Catholic Church in America.  Main Features of Agnus Dei Theological Seminary:  ➢  Non-residential study for mature male and female, married or single, employed students; ➢  Clergy Training Program leading to Holy Orders; ➢  Well qualified Faculty and Staff; ➢  Associate, Bachelor, Master, and Doctorate degrees available; ➢  Spiritual Direction and Advisors.  Our Mission:  Angus Dei Theological Seminary has two purposes:  1.  to  train  and  educate  clergy  for  The  Evangelical  Orthodox  (Old)  Catholic  Church  in  America,  its archdiocese, dioceses, and religious communities;  2.  to oversee the formal educational portion of the Church's Formation Program for  ordination to the   diaconate or priesthood.  The Seminary program is set up so that a man or woman, married or single, called to the priesthood or permanent diaconate in the Orthodox Old Catholic heritage and tradition, may prepare for ministry without leaving his or her home, employment, or local church.  Our non-residential (distance learning) Seminary Program prepares those for ministry through a structured academic program as well as examination for service to the Lord in His Church.  Many are hearing the call in mid-life, or even later, and cannot leave home, employment, and family to attend a full-time, residential seminary.  This is why Angus Dei Theological Seminary is here.  Accreditation - Authorization  Agnus Dei Theological Seminary, as a Christian Orthodox Old Catholic Seminary, has elected not to pursue secular accreditation, which would force us to teach secular courses with secular guidelines.  Our vision and focus is MINISTRY ONLY!  The Church should not be under secular academic guidelines.  Therefore, a Christian Seminary that trains clergy for ministry in the Church should NOT be under these secular guidelines.  Secular accreditation has not been found in God's Will or in God's Word.  Consequently, at Agnus Dei Theological Seminary, we seek only the approval of God.   

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