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 Apocrypha
The Decalogue (especially as formulated for worship by the ACNA at Texts for Common Worship [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 found at [4]
The ACNA Liturgy texts found on the ACNA Liturgy Resources page [5]
Contents
Holy Scripture
Content of Scripture
a. Books of the Bible & Category b. Major Biblical Figures c. Major Biblical Themes
Context of Scripture
a. Historical Context b. Canonical Context c. Literary Context d. Transmission / Translation
Interpretive Methods
a. Patristic Interpretive Methods b. Medieval Interpretive Methods c. Reformation Interpretive Methods d. Modern Interpretive Methods
Church History/Anglican Church History
a. Patristics & Early Church b. Medieval & Reformation Church c. Modern Church
Doctrine
a. Creeds - Apostles, Nicene & Athanasian b. Trinity: Christology c. Salvation d. Sin, Suffering & Reconciliation e. Sacramental Theology f. Anglican Theological Method g. Office of Instruction/Catechism h. Heresies i. 39 Articles j. BCP 1662 as standard k. Theology of Mission
Liturgics
Areas of Liturgics
- History of Christian worship
- Content and use of The Book of Common Prayer
- Sanctification of time: the church year and calendar of saints
- Sacramental theology
- Christian initiation: Baptism and confirmation
- Shape of the Holy Eucharist
- Other sacraments and pastoral services
- Daily Office
- Liturgy and mission
- Music in worship: history and theology
- Hymnal tradition and music selection in corporate worship
- Sanctification of space: vestments, furnishings, and architecture
Moral Theology & Ethics
a. Ability to identify morally relevant information in a situation b. Evaluate using 3 methods: consequences, rules, character/virtue c. Resources from scripture & tradition d. Lives of the saints - exemplars of Christian life e. Mandated Reporter f. Individual & corporate g. Pastoral implications h. Sacrament of confession i. Cure of Souls j. Contemporary Moral Issues
Ascetical Theology
a. Prayer life and spirituality of minister b. Understanding of Spiritual Disciplines c. Spiritual Direction d. Rule of Life e. Daily Office f. Monasticism & its role in the development of our liturgy g. Missional applications of ascetical theology h. Monasticism and mission i. Mystical & Contemplative Spirituality j. Tools for Prayer and Scripture Reading k. Vocation l. Discernment m. Gifts & Fruit of the Spirit n. Stewardship
Practical Theology
a. Office & work of the Episcopate, Presbyterate and Diaconate b. Conduct of Worship c. Principles of sermon composition & delivery d. Principles & methods of Christian education in the parish e. Constitutions and Canons of ACNA & Local Diocese f. Use of voice in reading & speaking in worship g. Healing Prayer h. Sacramental Theology i. Leadership Development j. Strategic Planning & Vision
Missionary Work of the Church
a. How gospel has been passed from one language, tribe, nation to another b. Basic principles of cross-cultural communication c. Mission Strategies d. Personal relational evangelism and apologetics e. Modern Missionary Movements f. Missionary connection with Monasticism g. Post-Christian America h. Re-engineering from the mission field backwards i. Missiology and ecclesiology j. Missional Implications of Technology k. Church Planting
