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 [email protected] or at www.ctkcec.org . The web site for

Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry is www.tesm.edu .]