Province I School for Deacons offers a two-year academic formation program with a quarterly pattern of two month-long courses culminating in a Formation Weekend retreat.  Each module includes reading assignments, written papers, online lectures and discussions.  The curriculum is designed to prepare students to fulfill ordination requirements in accordance with Canon III, Title 6 of the Episcopal Church Constitution and Canons 2018, calling for basic competence in five areas:

 

• Academic studies including, The Holy Scriptures, theology, and the tradition of the Church.

• Diakonia and the diaconate.

• Human awareness and understanding.

• Spiritual development and discipline.

• Practical training and experience.

 

Specific details for each area of study are identified in the Competencies for Deacons 2017 (First rev. 2018) developed and published by the Association for Episcopal Deacons and available on their website: https://www.episcopaldeacons.org/uploads/2/6/7/3/26739998/cmptnc17rv1-18.pdf

 

Enrollment in the Province I School for Deacons is by referral from a Diocesan Formation Director, Archdeacon or Commission on Ministry (COM).  Upon referral to The Rev. Dr. Lynda Tyson, Province I School for Deacons Dean (dean.deaconformation@province1.org), the prospective student will be contacted directly.  Incoming students may begin the program with any quarterly module and will graduate upon completion of all eight quarterly modules.​

 

Entering Aspirants/Nominees for Deacon Formation should have finished a period of vigorous discernment according to their respective diocesan processes.  They must have permission from their rector and vestry/Bishop’s Committee and their COM. Ideally participants , and ideally will have completed physical and psychological exams and and be at least postulants in their process.approval by their COM.

 

The 2019-2020 curriculum cycle will be (Year One):

• October – December: Hebrew Bible and Christian Testament with a retreat on The Prophetic Voice of the Deacon.

• January – March: Theology Parts I & II with a retreat on The Theology of the Diaconate.

• April – June: Church History and Anglican Tradition with a retreat on The Anglican Diaconate through History.

• July – September: Community Organizing with a retreat on The Deacon as Community Organizer.

 

The 2020-2021 curriculum cycle will be (Year Two):

• Liturgics Parts I & II with a retreat on The Deacon in the Liturgy.

• Ethics Parts I & II with a retreat on Integrating Ethics in the Diaconate.

• Homiletics Parts I & II with a retreat on Living The Life of a Deacon in the Pulpit, the Parish and the World.

• Spirituality and Self Care with a retreat on Maintaining a Vibrant Spiritual Life.

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The dates for 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 Formation Weekends are:

• December 6-8, 2019 at Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center in West Hartford, CT

• March 13-15, 2020 at Episcopal Conference Center in Pascoag, RI (via Zoom)

• June 5-7, 2020 at Episcopal Conference Center in Pascoag, RI  (via Zoom)

• September 18-20, 2020 at Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center in West Hartford, CT

• December 11-13, 2020 at Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center in West Hartford, CT

• March 19-21, 2021 at Episcopal Conference Center in Pascoag, RI

• June 4-6, 2021 at Episcopal Conference Center in Pascoag, RI (confirmation pending)

• September 17-19, 2021 at Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center in West Hartford, CT (confirmation pending)

• December 10-12, 2021 at Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center in West Hartford, CT (confirmation pending)

 

Student participants lead Daily Office worship during the retreats and offer a homily when officiating. The sermon at the Sunday service of Holy Eucharist is preached by a student. Ample guidance and feedback are provided for leading worship and preaching.  Evaluation of each segment of study concludes each Formation Weekend.

 

Each participating diocese oversees the aspects of deacon formation regarding Deacon Formation may also include field education in a parish or community setting, Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) or an alternative, mandated safe church training, cultural competency and anti-racism training, Title IV and mandated reporting training, and a capstone project/portfolio. as required by individual dioceses.

 

Dioceses collaborating in the Province I School for Deacons are Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Western Massachusetts.  Academic and administrative matters are under the supervision of theThe Rt. Rev. Laura J. Ahrens, Bishop Suffragan of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut.  The Rev. Dr. Lynda Tyson, Dean and Episcopal Priest, works in collaboration with The Ven. Janice Grinnell, Archdeacon of the Episcopal Church in Rhode Island and The Rev. Deacon S. Jane Griesbach, Deacon Formation Director for the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts.  Online faculty members are present and former seminary professors and scholars who participate in student assignment evaluations. Occasionally, guest speakers are part of the Formation Weekends. The Bishops and diocesan representatives with Diaconate Formation oversight might attend a portion of some weekends to lend their support and to cast their vision of the Diaconate.

 

Student tuition is $2,000/year, and in some dioceses is shared in thirds by the student, the sponsoring parish or worshipping community and the diocese. The remainder of the costs are shared by the participating dioceses through a cost sharing model.

 

For questions or more information, please contact Lynda Tyson: dean.deaconformation@province1.org