Canonical Areas

The ACNA Canons require that people being ordained as presbyters be tested in 8 areas of study. The Dioceses of ACNA West want to ensure that candidates for ordination are well prepared and not surprised by the matter covered in the exams. This wiki details the areas of study that training should cover. Additionally the pages of this wiki are in fact study guides that we hope assist people to prepare for ordained ministry, the ordination exams, and short online content quizzes that are part of the ordination process. All exams and quizzes may be taken at any time in an ordination process. Needless to say, someone studying the Old Testament might want to take the online content quizzes as they finish their course rather than three years later.

Here is a list of the basic primary resources with which all candidates will need to be familiar:

The Holy Scriptures, including the Deutero-Canon

The Decalogue (especially as formulated for worship in the Book of Common Prayer 2019 [1])

The Apostle’s Creed

The Nicene Creed

The Athanasian Creed

Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion found at the ACNA Liturgy Resources page [2]

The Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral

Jerusalem Declaration

Theological Statement of the ACNA found at the ACNA Theology page [3]

To Be A Christian: An Anglican Catechism [4]

The Book of Common Prayer 2019 [5]

For Deacons Deacons taking Canonical Exams in the six ACNA West Dioceses are encouraged to consult the Canonical Exam Study Guide by clicking the For Deacons link. Deacons are examined in the same Canonical Areas as Presbyters. However, the scope and focus of the Canonical Exams reflect the unique ministry of Deacons.

Holy Scripture

1. Content of Scripture
   1. Books of the Bible & Category
   2. Major Biblical Figures
   3. Major Biblical Themes
2. Context of Scripture
   1. Historical Context
   2. Canonical Context
   3. Literary Context
   4. Transmission / Translation
3. Interpretive Methods
   1. Patristic Interpretive Methods
   2. Medieval Interpretive Methods
   3. Reformation Interpretive Methods
   4. Modern Interpretive Methods

Church History/Anglican Church History

1. Patristics & Early Church
2. Medieval & Reformation Church
3. Modern Church

Doctrine

1. Introduction to Christian Theology
   1. Creeds
   2. Heresies
2. Doctrine of God
   1. Trinity
   2. Christology
3. Doctrine of Salvation
   1. Sin and Suffering
   2. Incarnation and Atonement
   3. Life in Christ
4. Doctrine of the Church
   1. Ecclesiology
   2. Sacramental Theology
   3. Theology of Mission
5. Anglican Doctrine
   1. Anglican Theological Method
   2. Thirty-Nine Articles

Liturgics

1. History of Christian Worship
2. Content and use of The Book of Common Prayer
3. Daily Office
4. Corporate and Private Prayer
5. Sacramental Theology
6. The Holy Eucharist
7. Baptism and Confirmation
8. Marriage and Children
9. Rites of Healing
10. Death and Burial
11. Sanctification of Time
12. Sanctification of Space
13. Liturgy and Music
14. Liturgy and Mission

Moral Theology & Ethics

1. Ability to identify morally relevant information in a situation
2. Evaluate using 3 methods: consequences, rules, character/virtue
3. Resources from scripture & tradition
4. Lives of the saints - exemplars of Christian life
5. Mandated Reporter
6. Individual & corporate
7. Pastoral implications
8. Sacrament of confession
9. Cure of Souls
10. Contemporary Moral Issues

Ascetical Theology

1. Prayer life and spirituality of minister
2. Understanding of Spiritual Disciplines
3. Spiritual Direction
4. Rule of Life
5. Daily Office
6. Monasticism & its role in the development of our liturgy
7. Missional applications of ascetical theology
8. Monasticism and mission
9. Mystical & Contemplative Spirituality
10. Tools for Prayer and Scripture Reading
11. Vocation
12. Discernment
13. Gifts & Fruit of the Spirit
14. Stewardship

Practical Theology

1. Evangelism
2. Discipleship/Spiritual Formation
   1. Christian Education
   2. Instruction in Catechism
3. Homiletics
4. Pastoral Care
   1. Pastoral Counseling
   2. Clinical Pastoral Training
   3. Healing Ministry
5. Leadership Development
6. Church Administration
7. Constitution & Canons of the ACNA & Diocese of the Candidate
8. Worship Leadership

Missionary Work of the Church

1. History of Christian Mission
2. Paradigms for Mission
   1. Missiology and ecclesiology
   2. Mission Strategies
3. The Practices of Mission
   1. Evangelism and Apologetics
   2. Cross-cultural communication
   3. Contextualization
   4. Church Planting
4. Mission in 21st Century North America
   1. Missional Implications of Technology
   2. Post-Christian North America