Saint Bede's Anglican Catholic Theological College is a 'virtual college', established in 2001 to serve the needs of the Anglican Catholic Church of Canada in the academic and pastoral training of men for the ordained ministry; to provide ongoing post-ordination training and programs for those already ordained; and to offer theological education to lay persons who are members of the Anglican Catholic Church of Canada but not candidates for ordination. All candidates for ordination in the Diocese of Canada are required by the Diocesan Bishop to undertake their theological studies and spiritual formation through St. Bede's. The College is a registered charity and not-for-profit post-secondary theological institution incorporated under the laws of the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada.
Saint Bede's provides candidates for ordination the necessary theological study, spiritual formation and pastoral training for ordination to the Sacred Orders of Deacon and Priest in the Church of God. The preparation and training for ordination is divided into three components: spiritual formation, academic study, and ministry training. In this way, the candidate for ordination is exposed not only to the study of theology, but also to the spiritual, liturgical, and pastoral dimensions of the ordained ministry. This preparation enables the candidate to discern God's will for his life and to undertake an intensive period of study and spiritual examination. A vocation to the ministerial priesthood is neither a job nor a career path, but a calling to a life of service through the indelible sacrament of Holy Orders. It is also a vocation unmatched by any other this world affords; one which draws the person into the very vocation of God's own Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the great High Priest and Shepherd of our souls.
As a 'virtual' theological college, St. Bede's offers its program of theological studies and spiritual formation by means of resident tutorials, lectures, directed readings and distance education programs, utilizing computer technology and electronic communications. Candidates for ordination as well as lay persons may undertake their studies on either a full-time or part-time basis. Upon successful completion of the prescribed program of theological studies and ministry preparation, the candidate for ordination is granted either a Licentiate in Theology (L.Th.) or a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) by the Board of Regents and is recommended for ordination to the Diocesan Bishop. Upon successful completion of the prescribed program of theological studies the lay student is granted either a Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.) or a Diploma in Christian Studies (Dip. C.St.) depending upon the theological program undertaken. Under certain circumstances, and with the permission of the Board of Regents, a lay student may transfer to either the Licentiate in Theology or the Master of Divinity program upon admission as a candidate for ordination in the Diocese.
The Venerable Bede, or Baeda, lived from approximately 672 to 735, doing most of his work in Jarrow, England. The most famous of his works is the "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum", a history of the Christian Church in England from the beginning up to his days. However, he was a prolific scholar who wrote on many topics including history, theology, science, and geography.
His feast is celebrated on May 27.
A lengthier biography of St. Bede may be found at NewAdvent.org.
Last Updated August 17, 2006