Since 1994 the Anglican Church in Southern Africa (ACSA) has emerged with fewer vocations, less theology and the purpose of ministry not clearly articulated. This is largely because the training of priests is being left largely to universities, Pentecostals and non-denominational Bible colleges. We ignore our Anglican spirituality and ethos at huge cost to ministry.

This is what the College of the Transfiguration rector, the Rev Professor Dr Barney Pityana, had to say at the most recent South African Synod of Bishops as he gave what was arguably one of the hardest hitting presentations to that forum in many years.  The good news is that his audience took notice: resolutions were passed; 2013 was declared “The Year of Theological Education and Ministerial Formation”; and, the Archbishop is actively championing the cause (see Laos to the People).

Established in 1993 as the only dedicated residential centre for theological education and ministerial formation, the new college was meant to represent a new beginning in theological education and, hopefully, a renewed sense of purpose in a period when theological education was in the doldrums.

Previously ACSA had been through phases in theological education. There were, what are now nostalgically referred to as “the Golden Years”. These were followed by the charismatic era, when theological education was downplayed. Instead faith and the Holy Spirit were emphasized. It was a radical time when new experiments in theological education were probably influenced  by the worker-priest movement in France which viewed residential education as elitist and disengaged.

No central focus

Dr Pityana explained that the college, usually referred to as COTT, struggled in an environment in which there was no central focus reflecting a common mind of the one church. Many bishops were, at best, lukewarm towards COTT and some were even hostile. He spoke of “an observable dearth of new or budding theologians, and an absence of emerging talent noticeable post 1995.”

His presentation decried the fact that the bulk of candidates for ministry receive their theological education at the interdenominational TEEC, which had about 1000 Anglicans at various stages of study registered this year. Allowing for a drop-out or lack of progress rate of some 40%, about 600 would complete either certificate, diploma or degree qualifications. A small minority would obtained theology degrees through universities  or at non-denominational evangelical Bible Colleges.

Addressing mission and evangelism from an Anglican perspective, COTT’s rector  remarked that he was yet to see the Roman Catholic Church entrusting the training of its priests to the Pentecostal  or evangelical churches. The Anglican Church, he warned, must take responsibility for the kind of clergy it wishes for itself.

He said discernment of a priestly vocation involved an examination of the inner self. This, in turn, involved  reading, reflection, learning to pray, discovery, critical engagement, curiosity, discipline. It also required an understanding of the church one is called to serve. Spiritual growth should take priority.

He added that it used to be said that the best preparation for seminary, was not studying theology but learning the discipline of prayer. That the best intellectual preparation was to study philosophy, Greek/Latin and social sciences, including history, politics, psychology, anthropology. Or better still, to read the classics in literature: Shakespeare, Dostoyevsky, Chinua Achebe.

“In other words, there must be a golden thread that binds and holds together all the various pieces to produce a logical and intelligent process of formation. For example, there has been some doubt at times as to whether the ordinands we receive at College have really been through a discernment process in the diocese!”

Doubtful rigour

Instead there was a mixture of theological traditions and less emphasis on essential Anglican theology, spirituality, liturgical traditions, and ethos. There was also a lack of rootedness in the faith and traditions of our church and even doubtful theological rigour in some instances. All this was affecting the nature of the church.

Anglican clergy were emerging from their studies and training (or lack of it) unprepared to minister to a modern, intelligent, questioning, enquiring society. Without leadership skills for a moral world or the essence of the transforming gospel of our Saviour, the church would ultimately be obsessed with pettiness, and power games in the face of socio-economic challenges of underdevelopment, poverty, and human degradation in God’s world. It would lose its sacred calling.

It was against this backdrop that COTT was drafting a new Constitution. The principal objective would be to nurture, develop and educate women and men, and to enhance their spiritual formation as part of a process of discernment for the ordained ministry of the church.

He commented, “In fact we receive ordinands with very little to go on. In most cases there is little direction about their needs, or their special gifts. There is no engagement between the College and the diocese about the candidate, as to how best that person’s formation could proceed. Bishops, he said, needed to set out their expectations in advance so these could be tested against those of the ordinand, and what is available at the College.

Dr Pityans warned that COTT cannot proceed as if it is not part of the church. This also means that those responsible for vocations, should have knowledge of the college.

“Visit the College, experience it for yourself, build a relationship with the staff, especially the Dean of Studies, make suggestions, contribute,” he urged.

He ended the presentation by saying, “I believe we have a window of about five years to fix things.” and suggested that his epitaph should be: “God knows, he tried…”

Forward planning

The comprehensive presentation generated a great deal of discussion, forward planning and commitment, according to a Provincial Standing Committee report. 

A timetable to register the college as an accredited place of further education will be followed in parallel with renewing and upgrading both the physical structures of the entire campus, its facilities and its courses, so that the college could be a more productive resource for ACSA and beyond.

The focus will be on training quality church leaders, rather than prioritising academic theology, which could be pursued elsewhere. It was hoped to have the plan fully in place by 2015, though this requires a major fund-raising initiative.