THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION
The Province of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan (ECS) has a four-tier plan for administering theological education:
- Bishop Gywnne University (Juba) offering degrees
- Five provincial level colleges – Bishop Allison Theological College (Arua), Bishop Gwynne College (Juba), Bishop Ngalamu College (Mundri), Renk Theological College, and Bishop Shokai College (Omdurman) – offering diplomas
- Diocesan clusters offering certificates
- Bible teaching centers in each diocese
The ECS also provides distance learning – a.k.a. Theological Education by Extension (TEE) – to reinforce classroom instruction and promote independent study. Students are encouraged to meet in groups on a weekly basis to review and discuss the materials.
Each of the five provincial colleges has a Board of Governors that is responsible to the ECS Theological Education Commission. The Commission provides oversight of college operations, curriculum, admission requirements, employment practices, and financial affairs. ECS is committed to the external accreditation by a recognized university for all five provincial colleges.
Renk Theological College supports a Visiting Teachers Program to offer short courses in the biblical languages, scripture, Anglicanism, and ministerial studies. Professors and graduate students from the Duke Divinity School and Virginia Theological Seminary travel to Renk twice yearly to deliver classroom instruction and train indigenous staff. The Commission hopes to extend this program to other colleges.
The Province aspires to establish its own university as a focal point for higher education and as the accrediting body for its five provincial colleges. The theological education working group is investigating requirements and options for founding Bishop Gwynne University in Juba.
For further information, please contact:
Bishop Hilary Garang Deng
Diocese of Malakal
Episcopal Church of Sudan
or
The Revd. Dr. Jo Bailey Wells
Associate Professor & Director of Anglican Studies
Duke Divinity School, North Carolina