|
|
A Note of Welcome
Greetings
and welcome to Laud Hall Seminary. The Board of Regents, the faculty, and staff are working to bring you a quality Christian
education by a state authorized and licensed institution, using a distance learning format, leading to degree programs that
will fit your needs, at an affordable price.
Background
Laud Hall Seminary was chartered in 1962 to serve the Anglican Church as a vehicle for training Clergy
and Laity. In the 1980s it was transferred to Texas in the Diocese of the Southwest of the Anglican Episcopal Church of North
America. It was moved to Florida when the former President of the Seminary placed it under the direction of the Traditional
Episcopal Church.
In 1996, the Seminary was restructured, a Board of Regents was added, the schools
and Faculty were expanded and the curriculum was completely revised, with the specific purpose of bringing the school into
the 21st Century, placing it online, and making it a full degree-granting institution. This move was accomplished in early
1998 when all the final documents were signed and the State of Florida authorization was conferred. Following the union
of the Traditional Episcopal Church with the Anglo-Catholic Church in the Americas, the Seminary came under the jurisdiction
of the United Anglican Church in 2001.
The main features of Laud Hall Seminary are:
Non-Residential mode for mature students
who are otherwise employed
Low Tuition Programs designed for the financially challenged
A Clergy Training Program leading to Holy Orders
"Salt & Light" Programs for the lay members of the church
A wide variety of courses in an assortment of disciplines
Well qualified Faculty and Staff
Master’s and Doctoral
Degrees available
Spiritual Direction from Advisors
User friendly lesson plans and examinations
WILLIAM LAUD (1573-1645)
William Laud was an Anglican, studied at Oxford,
received a BA Degree in 1594 and was ordained in 1601. He attacked Calvinism in the church and removed the pulpit from the
center of the front of the church and replaced the altar. He eventually became Chancellor of Oxford University, and raised
standards both academic and moral. He eventually (1633) became Archbishop of Canterbury.
He is considered to have pioneered Anglo-Catholic standards in the Church and taught that Roman Catholics were not the only
Church but that the Church of Rome and the Anglican Church were both branches of the one Holy Catholic Church. Unfortunately, Laud supported Charles I and his claim to the Divine Right of Kings, and supported Charles against
Parliament. He was beheaded in 1645 still protesting his loyalty to the Church of England. Laud was
a great scholar, a great "Catholic" Churchman and a sound Anglican. We are pleased to name our seminary in his memory
- Laud Hall Seminary.
ARCHBISHOP
LAUD’S PRAYER
O Gracious Father, we humbly beseech Thee for Thy Holy Catholic Church; that Thou wouldest be pleased
to fill it with all truth in all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in anything
it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, establish it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided and rent
asunder, make up the breaches of it, O Thou Holy One of Israel; for the sake of Him who died and rose again, and ever liveth
to make intercession for us, Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.
This prayer first appeared in 1667 in A Summarie of Devotions
drawn from a manuscript of Archbishop William Laud (d. 1645). It came into the American Prayer Book in 1928, but with not
a few recommendations of Laud’s own wording. The South African Book of 1944 contains it in more nearly its original
form. Many have regretted the substitution of the present ending (cf. Heb. vii.25) for Laud’s more vigorous ‘where
it is divided and rent asunder, make up the breaches of it, O thou Holy One of Israel" (Amos ix.11). The fine sense of
style in this prayer, with its antithetical balancing of phrase, should not divert attention from its faithful adherence to
Anglican doctrine concerning the ‘holiness’ and ‘catholicity’ of the Church.
The Church is ‘holy’
because it is called of God and set apart for His purposes, because it has received the gift of His Holy Spirit and has been
entrusted with holy things. It is true that its members have not yet achieved a pure and perfect state of life, and that there
is both error and sin in the Church; but the Church is holy in its promise, not in its attainment.
The term "Catholic"
is rightly applied to Christendom as a whole, as a potential unity and fellowship in common Faith, Ministry, and Sacraments.
In actuality this unity does not exist, for the Catholic Church is in schism -- ‘divided and rent asunder.’ No
single branch of the Catholic Church can rightly arrogate to itself the claim to be the sole and only possessor of God’s
truth and grace. (The Oxford American Prayer Book Commentary By Massey Hamilton
Shepherd, Jr.)
STATEMENT OF MISSION
The original Laud Hall Seminary had one purpose for being established - to
train clergy for the Church in North America. It was so set up, that a man, called to the priesthood in the Anglican Tradition,
could prepare for the ministry without leaving his home, employment, or local church.
That primary purpose still remains, with the extension to train both Anglicans and
other ministers in the USA and abroad, giving them the education and preparation for the ministry to which they are called.
To educate, try, examine, and otherwise prepare them for that ministry in the "external" or non-residential mode.
Many of tomorrow’s clergy are hearing the call in mid-life, or even later, and can not leave home, employment and family
to attend a full-time, residential seminary.
A second purpose is to provide quality Christian Education to
the Lay Members of the Church. With this in mind, the SALT & LIGHT Programs have been designed, as a course that will
teach the essentials of the faith.
ACCREDITATION
Laud Hall Seminary does not hold regional academic accreditation. Our programs and degrees are theological and ministerial,
not secular and academic. We wish to train ministers of the Gospel, which is our primary mission and task.
Laud Hall Seminary is affiliated and underwritten by The United
Anglican Church. The College of Bishops authorizes the Board of Regents to issue Theological Degrees and Licenses to those
students whom the Faculty and Chancellor have approved and recommended.
HONORARY DEGREE
The Seminary occasionally confers the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Divinity (DD) to outstanding
leaders in the Christian world community.
For further information contact the Chancellor of the Seminary
|
