A story came across the email this morning about the state of the Episcopal Church’s seminaries. Unfortunately, this confirms everything that I’ve been thinking and gleaning from anecdotal evidence.

1. Standalone seminaries are become less and less viable from a financial standpoint
2. The reduction of funds means a reduction of full-time faculty which means:
1. Our best people are forced elsewhere because our seminaries can’t afford them
2. Adjunct faculty become a major fallback–and they are often less qualified than the people they are replacing (Of course, I say this as one adjuncting myself…)
3. Technology is never an answer–but it may open opportunities for creative thinking along the lines of the Disseminary
4. Distance learning can never and will never replace the formational importance of thrice daily corporate worship

I hope to graduate in May with the intent of (eventually) teaching in an Episcopal seminary. I’m starting to wonder about the long-term viability of that plan.