The History of the Seminary
St. Andrew’s Theological College and Seminary was established in 1971 by the Orthodox Anglican Church. On September 3, 1975 the school was incorporated in the State of North Carolina as a non-profit, religious, educational institution. The seminary provided denominationally-specific theological training and education for Orthodox Anglican clergy in a residential setting. In 1995, a distance education program was initiated to allow students, who were unable to enter the residential program, to prepare for the ministry by studying via correspondence while attending workshops and seminars scheduled at churches across the United States. St. Andrew’s also opened enrollment to students who were not members of the Orthodox Anglican Church. On April 13, 2003, St. Andrew’s was recognized by the government of the Republic of Italy as a juridical personality (legal corporation), authorized to act as a religious educational institution. In February 2009 the school was recognized as an Applicant for initial accreditation by the Association for Biblical Higher Education.
St. Andrew’s is thus the oldest continuously running school of its type in the United States, and now has an international role in training the next generation of Christian leadership. St. Andrew's conducts theological instruction online, by distance learning and from locations in North Carolina, Arizona, and Florence, Italy.
St. Andrew’s Theological College and Seminary admits students of any race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges and activities generally accorded or made available to all its students. SATCS does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, disability, national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational and admission policies and other college-administered programs.
The Mission of the Seminary
St. Andrew's Theological College and Seminary serves as an instrument to aid Bishops of the Church in fulfilling their divine commission to reach people for Christ, to teach and to disciple the People of God, by providing the:
Primary formation of godly men:
- For ordination to the sacred ministry; and,
- To plant, nurture, and grow churches.
Ongoing development of those in Holy Orders;
Training of laity for appropriate responsibilities in the local parish, and;
Body of Christ with orthodox biblical and theological training.
Institutional Goals
Completion of programs at St. Andrew's should enable students to:
Obtain a high quality education that is economical, flexible, and convenient.
Develop spiritual maturity and the conscious adoption of creedal Christianity and biblical morality.
explore the Catholic faith and biblical doctrine of the Book of Common Prayer in a supportive environment.
Nurture holiness and gain practical skills needed by clergy and laity through continuing educational opportunities.
Present themselves to the bishops of their church as candidates for the sacred ministry who:
- Are competent publicly to teach and preach the Word of God.
- Are skilled in the use of the 1928 Book of Common Prayer for the conduct of public worship and the administration of the sacraments.
- Demonstrate pastoral skills used in a variety of ministerial contexts.
- Exhibit the skills necessary to plant, nuture, and grow a church.
Ordination Attendance at or graduation from St. Andrew’s provides no expressed or implied guarantee that one will be ordained to the ministry. Students who seek ordination to the ministry are strongly advised to review the guidelines, and contact the vocational leaders of their respective churches. Ordination in the Orthodox Anglican Church is determined by ecclesiastical authority. Those who are interested in pursuing ordination in the Orthodox Anglican Church should contact the Director of Vocations.
Click here for information about ordination in The Orthodox Anglican Church and member churches of the Orthodox Anglican Communion
Download an Application for Admission
St. Andrew's Theological College and Seminary
14 W Main St
P.O. Box 1980
Thomasville, NC 27361-1980
Tel: 336-472-2341
Fax:
336-472-2351
