At the Diocese of North Carolina's Annual Convention in 2002 Bishop Michael Curry asked for, and received, authorization to explore the establishment of a School of Ministry, and a task force to plan for such a school issued its report at the Annual Convention in 2003. After further deliberations, Bishop Curry named the Rev. Dr. Leon Spencer to be the School’s first Dean. He assumed his responsibilities in July 2004.

During the fall of 2004 the Bishop appointed a Board, and the Dean drafted a prospectus for the School, which was placed before the Bishops and the Board for discussion and revision. He reported on these initial developments to the Annual Convention in 2005. Those discussions continued into early 2005, when general agreement was reached about the direction and program of the School.

Essentially the program offers these features:

Doing theology together:
This is the over-arching rubric for all of the School’s programs, affirming our call to do rather than simply to study, and to do theology in community.

Under that rubric appear three themes:

Belonging: What does it mean to be a Christian?
While recognizing that the distinction between foundational and transformative education is not sharply defined and may ultimately be “in the eyes of the beholder,” this Belonging category marks an effort to embody foundational study.

It is likely to include Bible study, basics on the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion, etc.

These may principally be courses of 6-8 weeks in fall and spring, to be undertaken locally, with the School’s assisting in curriculum development and leadership training.


Transforming: How does the Church change me?
This Transforming category marks an effort to embody at least some of the subjects in the Doing theology together curriculum in the Prospectus.

It is likely to include issues in the mission of the Church, Biblical interpretation, contextualization, and the nature of communion.

These may usually be single day-long events in fall and spring, undertaken regionally, but some subjects may extend into local courses or may be in the form of diocesan retreats.


Equipping: How does the Church equip me to serve?
This Equipping category relates to the varied skills and insights that are helpful as people seek to live into their call and the tasks that express that call.

This category may not specifically address licensed ministries; indeed all categories may prove useful or appropriate for some features of licensed ministries.

A planned wardens’ retreat is an example.

These may be in varied forms, though they may likely be retreats and workshops at diocesan events.

Dean Spencer retired in January, 2009, and shortly thereafter, Ayliffe Mumford, Ed.D. was hired as the Interim Coordinator to continue to work of the School.  The Board of the School has currently been engaged in discerning the School's mission and vision, after five years.

For details about our scheduled programs, click on Calendar.