Trinity School for Ministry: Standing on the Rock, Moving Forward in Mission

As we begin our new academic year, several people have asked me to answer a question: “Has Trinity changed?”  I have remained in touch with the School since I serve as an emeritus member of the Board and know a number of the faculty, so I feel qualified to give you an answer to that question. The answer is no – and yes. No, Trinity has not changed in its spiritual essentials, and yes, Trinity has changed in its resources, effectiveness and engagement with a changing society and changing ecclesiastical scene. Let me speak to both of those aspects.

Standing on the Rock

Trinity has remained solidly fixed on the Rock. At Trinity a joyful and committed trust in God’s salvation by grace alone, his call to walk in the Spirit and a focus upon God’s revelation given to us in Christ Jesus is omnipresent. We began that way and we continue that way. We can do this only because of God’s gift to us of the Holy Scriptures as his Word written and his gift of the Holy Spirit who opens our hearts and minds to the Gospel and his Word. There is a wonderment at the Lord’s grace and truth that infuses the Chapel, the classrooms and the community at Trinity, even in the midst of hard academic work and much busy staff endeavor. It is catching. I hope you will come to visit and see for yourself.

Trinity’s commitment to the Apostolic Faith is undimmed. The faculty and members of the Board reaffirm our commitment to Christ by an annual subscription to the Trinity Statement of Faith. And the faculty, students and staff make an annual commitment to the Trinity Covenant. We will print each of these in this issue so you can examine them yourselves. They are well worth reading. Naturally, we do this as an Anglican School for Ministry with a love for liturgical worship, a love for both Word and Sacrament, and a deep appreciation of godly learning and historic orders.

Also, as at the beginning, we remain open to the three streams of the Anglican way: the evangelical, the catholic, and the charismatic, asking each to make its contribution in our community in a gracious manner. In all of this we remain committed to being both biblical and effective in daily and pastoral ministry, whether as lay persons or ordained persons.  We continue to invite both men and women to prepare for ordained and lay ministry in our midst. We desire persons from all expressions of Anglicanism to come, including orthodox students from the Episcopal Church. We continue to have ecumenical students from other churches as well.

Our commitment to serious academic study is also unchanged. We can see this commitment to academic quality in the excellence of the faculty, which I would put along side of any faculty I have ever known, and we see it in the fruitfulness of the ministry of our graduates. The Word of the Lord does not return empty.  Indeed if anything, the commitment to biblical study and academic excellence have intensified since our early days, for now both Greek and Hebrew are required for graduation in the Master of Divinity program. As Martin Luther said,

In proportion then as we value the gospel, let us zealously hold to the languages. For it was not without purpose that God caused his Scriptures to be set down in these two languages alone – the Old Testament in Hebrew, the New in Greek. Now if God did not despise them but chose them above all others for his word, then we too ought to honor them above all others.¹

In spiritual essentials Trinity is solid, unchanged, because it stands, sits, and rests upon the Rock, who is the Lord.

Moving forward in Mission

Mission requires flexibility due to changing circumstances and a desire to become more and more effective. So, yes, Trinity has changed also. We are now far more accessible. There are January and June intensives, extension courses off site, online courses, overseas courses, as well as a variety of certificates, masters degrees, and a doctorate in ministry from which to choose. We are technologically up to date and “wired” in all the appropriate ways.  Physically we are improving.  Our campus is larger and more beautiful. We really are a fine place to be, with excellent facilities.  An Australian firm has purchased a very large section of Ambridge that borders on our property and will be bringing in all sorts of new things, from modern office buildings to upscale housing – there are even rumors of a small shopping mall.  Practically next door to us, the town of Ambridge is just completing a new high school.

This past spring, the Association of Theological Schools, our accrediting agency, gave us a clean bill of health and approved us without one notation for the next 10 years. But since we seek to serve the Lord and not just the ATS, we will keep on seeking to improve in every way we can. The national Church and the global Anglican scene have changed and are changing. We are in touch with all of the key orthodox leaders in the United States and in the global Communion. In fact, partly because of that and partly because of the generosity of you who support us, we have more overseas students studying with us than ever before. It is a special honor to be able to serve in this manner.

Our impact is being felt worldwide as well as in all of the different orthodox groups in Common Cause.  Part of the change, to which we must be sensitive, is the increasing secularism in North America with its atheistic assumptions and inability to educate people ethically. These people need help. Their number is legion.  It is said that there are 130 million unchurched English speaking people in the U.S. alone. We are mindful and committed to preparing leadership that will seek to help a renewed and growing orthodox Anglicanism reach out to the lost.

Conclusion

Let me conclude by noting that we need two things from you, dear reader.  We need you to have “vocational eyes.”  By that I mean that when you look at someone, please ask yourself, “Can I see that person in ordained ministry or full time lay ministry?” and then when you can, please ask that person the question, “Have you ever considered the ordained ministry, or full time lay ministry?” Let me offer you a test. Go and ask your rector or pastor how he or she came to seek ordination. I will wager that nine out of ten will say that people had first suggested the matter to him or her, and it grew within them to become an inner sense of call.  I truly believe we are all called to be God’s voice, raising this question to many. It is a crucial ministry for the Lord.

As a matter of fact, we at Trinity have an annual weekend set aside for people to explore the question of a call to ordination or full time lay ministry. Why not send the four or five or more persons to whom you will have spoken to that conference?  It will be held here at Trinity on March 13-15, 2008. We have room for more students at Trinity and we want to serve them. A revived and growing orthodox Anglicanism will need them. Please have a sense of urgency about this; please have “vocational eyes.”

Second, please keep in mind our financial needs. You will find no place that will yield a bigger result for your investment than in the preparation of persons for leadership in Christ-centered ministry and mission.  In these difficult times in the Church and in society we need to be more productive for the Kingdom, not less. To move ahead we need your continued help. Hold us in prayer and give generously. We will pinch every penny until it says “uncle,” and together we will move ahead in ministry and mission.

The Rt. Rev. Dr. John H. Rodgers, Jr. was Trinity’s second Dean and President from 1978 to 1990, and has come out of retirement to serve the School as Interim Dean and President for one year.  John is also a retired AMiA bishop.  He will be teaching a class this fall on the Thirty-Nine Articles.

John is married to Blanche and they have four grown children – two sons and two daughters – and eight grandchildren.  Their son, Paul, is a Trinity alumnus (MDiv 2003) and co-chair of the Trinity Alumni Association.

¹Excerpt from “To the Councilmen of All Cities in Germany That They Establish and Maintain Christian Schools” (1524).