By DAVID EPPS
Pastor

The beginning was less than auspicious as 17 students gathered in a rented room on the campus of Robert Morris College, near Pittsburgh, on a cool morning in Sept. 1976 to form the first class of a new Episcopal seminary. The support for a new Episcopal seminary was practically non-existent.

Although the new school's founder, Alfred Stanway, was a retired Australian bishop, no other bishops bothered to attend the opening ceremonies. The Rev. Peter Moore, who was then chairman of the board, spoke with optimism and said that, if the new school spoke "God's truth with love," the church and the world would listen to Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry (or TESM, pronounced "teh-sum").

Suspecting significant opposition, the steering committee sought the blessing of the Episcopal Presiding Bishop, the President of the House of Deputies, and the local bishop in the area where the school would be located. Although all were cautious, none was discouraging to the point that the early leaders felt the task would be a hopeless one.

It took a great deal of courage for seventeen students, none of whom had a sponsoring bishop, to attend a seminary that, at that time, was unaccredited, had no campus of its own, and was held in contempt by much of the American Episcopal Church. It took no less courage for those early faculty members, including John Rodgers (now a bishop), Steve Noll (currently serving in Uganda), Steve Smith and Les Fairfield (who both are still with TESM) to leave positions of security to cast their lot with the new endeavor.

TESM was formed out of the renewal movement of the 1960s and 1970s. In the years to come, the school was to become a haven for students who sought biblical, orthodox, and traditional studies as other seminaries in the Episcopal Church were perceived to be departing from the historic faith, and were plunging headlong into liberalism and political correctness. TESM would provide a clear alternative for those who sought training in an institution that would provide for traditional, orthodox, evangelical, or charismatic expressions.

Bishop Stanway set forth four principles that would guide the fledging seminary: 1) Start small, while intending great things; 2) Follow God's Leading; 3) Put money in a secondary place (Stanway believed that "money follows ministry." If a venture is God's will, He would provide the funds); 4) Remember that, under God, everything depends on the quality of the people chosen.

In 1978, the seminary moved to Ambridge, PA where it secured an empty Presbyterian Church and a vacant supermarket across the street. These two buildings were converted into the campus. The first class graduated in 1979 and TESM was accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in 1985.

What a difference two decades and a half can make! As of Fall 2001, over 350 ordained graduates served parishes in 73 dioceses of the Episcopal Church and in more than 20 overseas dioceses and missions. An equal number of lay graduates serve in full-time Christian ministries or work to bring the gospel to secular occupations. Currently there are over 175 students, a faculty of twelve, and an adjunct faculty of over three dozen experienced missionaries, theologians, historians, musicians, and church leaders.

In 1996, The Rev. Dr. Peter Moore became dean of the school and, since that time, new buildings have been added, a popular Bible curriculum has been developed, and a new Doctor of Ministry degree has been added to the program (the seminary also offers the Master of Divinity, the Master of Arts in Religion, the Master of Arts in Mission and Evangelism, diploma programs in Christian studies, youth ministry, Anglican studies, mission and evangelism, and certificate programs in youth ministry and Christian studies, and other programs specifically designed for laity). This D.Min. degree has attracted over 50 students from a wide variety of denominations. God willing, and if the doctoral committee is merciful, I will graduate from the D.Min. program at Trinity next May.

This past Spring, The Most Reverend and Right Honorable George L. Carey, The Archbishop of Canterbury (it doesn't get any higher than this in Anglican/Episcopal circles), traveled to Ambridge from England to help the school celebrate its 25th anniversary. He preached a powerful message and stood solidly behind the vision and ministry of TESM.

No longer a school to be disdained and swept aside, TESM, as Peter Moore predicted in 1976, is having a significant impact on Anglicanism and on the world; all the while, maintaining its orthodox, evangelical, and charismatic foundations. The school serves as an example that, from small beginnings, great things can come. As Trinity's catalog says, "We have not waited until we had everything we thought we would need for success. We believe that God will give the increase; and, unfailingly, He has."

[The Reverend Canon David Epps is rector of Christ the King Charismatic Episcopal Church in the Coweta/Fayette County area of south metro Atlanta He may be contacted at FatherDavidEpps@aol.com or at www.ctkcec.org. The web site for Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry is www.tesm.edu.]

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