Clergy without degrees not suitable as bishops or deans

Ed: Well, it's not the actual headline, or indeed the story, but it is the response of Anglican officialdom to new government proposals to charge full fees to students taking a second degree of the same or lower level than their first - which would indeed include a lot of trainee clergy. However, the 'case against' presented by the director of the Ministry Division overlooks the fact that the Church of England has been downgrading theological training from degree level for decades, encouraging people onto part-time courses and precisely the two year foundation degrees it now apparently says are not suitable for the "brightest and best". Just as a 'for instance', how many ordinands study Greek, let alone Hebrew, to any level of competence?

[...] Christopher Lowson, director of the Ministry Division of the Church of England, said that the withdrawal of university funding for students taking a second degree that was equivalent to or a lower qualification level than their first degree (known as ELQ degrees) would push up fees paid by students.

Those taking a second degree in theology pay tuition fees of £3,000 a year but these could rise to levels paid by overseas students of about £11,000 a year, he said.

As the Church pays the tuition fees for ordinands, it would have to meet the extra costs in full.

While the Church accepted that a less expensive two-year foundation degree might be acceptable for some ordinands, it would not be suitable for the brightest and best.

“Most people who become senior bishops or deans have studied theology at degree level. If you are going to lead the Church and negotiate with other faiths, you need a greater understanding of your own faith and how it has developed,” he said. Canon Martin Seeley, principal of Westcott House theological college, part of the Cambridge Theological Federation, gave warning that the move could lead to the closure of leading theological institutions.

“At a time when the social and public expectations of, and demands on, the clergy of any faith or tradition are increasing because of the social fabric, we need more than ever before to have people who are trained well,” he said. Read more
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