Bishop Kemper School for Ministry
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Program of Study: Certificate in Presbyteral Studies

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Students on the priest track take a total of 30 classes over three years in the areas of bible, theology, church history, ethics, liturgics and practical ministry. Presbyteral studies and diaconal studies students take a number of core classes together to encourage a team-ministry approach, while each track has classes specific to the nature of the work of ministry.

In the month leading up to the focus weekend, students complete all reading assignments and any pre-class writing assignments. Following the weekend, students spend another four weeks researching and writing papers or completing other projects.
In addition to the 10 hours of face-to-face instruction time each month, students attend 90-minute praxis sessions that focus on specific areas of practical ministry not covered in the program of study as well as 90-minute colloquium sessions that give students time to debrief and discuss matters related to their sense of call and ministry.

Required Courses

Bible
  • Introduction to Scripture
  • Old Testament I 
  • Old Testament II
  • Old Testament III
  • New Testament I: Gospels
  • New Testament II: Pauline Literature

History
  • Christian History I
  • Christian History II
  • Anglican History
  • History of the Episcopal Church

Theology
  • Tasks of Christian Theology
  • Doctrines of the First Person
  • Doctrines of the Second Person
  • Doctrines of the Third Person

Ethics
  • Forms of Christian Ethics                                              
  • Anglican Ethics                                                                          
  • Contemporary Ethics
  • Diversity, Justice & the Church's Mission

Liturgics
  • Sacramental Theology                             
  • The Practice of the Eucharist                                                                          
  • Preaching I 
  • Preaching II                                                          

Practice of Ministry
  • Anglican Spirituality
  • Christian Formation                                      
  • Christian Spirituality
  • Congregational Leadership
  • Environmental Mission
  • Evangelism 
  •                    Pastoral Theology
  • Polity & Canons

Praxis and Colloquium
Address:
Bishop Kemper School for Ministry
701 SW 8th Avenue
Topeka, KS 66603

Address for Tuition Payments/Donations:
The Rev, Fran Wheeler
14519 S. Kaw Dr.

Olathe, KS 66062


The Bishop Kemper School for Ministry is a collaborative venture of the Episcopal Dioceses of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, West Missouri, Nebraska and Western Kansas.
BKSM also partners with the Central States Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
BKSM offers classes and programs to educate people for church leadership in both lay and ordained vocations.