St. Hildegard's Theological Seminary
Mission, Values, and Vision
OUR MISSION
St. Hildegard Theological Seminary is an academic institution rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ, which prepares students spiritually, pastorally, and intellectually for all who are called to ministry. Founded on Biblical truth and the traditions of the Church, we believe the call to ministry is inclusive of all members of the Body of Christ.
CORE VALUES
Study, Pray, Serve
Study, Pray, Serve
Our mission is rooted in our three core values: study, pray, serve. We believe that all of Christian Ministry and Catholic spirituality can be expressed in these 3 holy actions.
Study. Learning becomes an act of worship when the soul seeks to know the God who loves us. Education must be sought, not as a means of glorifying the ego, but as a process of deepening our awe for our Great God. St. Jerome writes that "ignorance of the scriptures is ignorance of Christ."
Pray. St. Paul tells us to "pray without ceasing." When our actions are done in complete submission to God our entire lives become one continuous prayer. Our acts of prayer lead us to a deeper, more personal conversation with God.
Serve. Jesus says to his disciples, "The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." We seek to model this directive by serving God and others in whatever capacity the Holy Spirit calls us.
Study. Learning becomes an act of worship when the soul seeks to know the God who loves us. Education must be sought, not as a means of glorifying the ego, but as a process of deepening our awe for our Great God. St. Jerome writes that "ignorance of the scriptures is ignorance of Christ."
Pray. St. Paul tells us to "pray without ceasing." When our actions are done in complete submission to God our entire lives become one continuous prayer. Our acts of prayer lead us to a deeper, more personal conversation with God.
Serve. Jesus says to his disciples, "The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." We seek to model this directive by serving God and others in whatever capacity the Holy Spirit calls us.
VISION
Our vision is to build up the Body of Christ through the preparation of all ministers in Our Lord's Royal Priesthood. We challenge all those wishing to expand their knowledge by seeking to grow in wisdom and faith. We prepare those seeking Holy Orders that they may serve Him well. We implore those with the spiritual gift of teaching to pass on what they know, for sharing knowledge does not diminish the teacher, but enriches all. In the words of St. Thomas Aquinas, "Love takes up where knowledge leaves off." God's love for all His people and a nurturing environment for learning affirms our goal of the betterment of those who love Him.
GOALS & OBJECTIVES
St. Hildegard's Theological Seminary is an educational institution under the administration of the American Apostolic Old Catholic Church. The AAOCC is an Independent Catholic Church which grow out of the Old Catholic Movement. We are theologically and liturgically conservative, yet fully inclusive: we offer all 7 sacraments to ALL people, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, or station in life.
Al sacred call from God to ministry must always be followed with solid educational formation promoting transformational leadership. We need to be prepared and informed disciples of Our Lord. A vocation is a life-changing experience for a disciple -- but it is the beginning of our journey, not the end.
St. Hildegard's fills two necessary roles in the educational process:
First, we offer Masters-level classes for clergy to obtain the education and formation they need to serve with distinction within the parishes, ministries, and chaplaincies f their own jurisdictions.
Second, all of our courses, retreats, and programs are open to lay people who either wish to obtain their own degree or who are interested in the subject matter of a specific course.
All of our professors hold accredited Doctoral and Masters Degrees and have extensive experience teaching. Student tuition only covers the cost of creating self-study courses and a modest pay for our professors. Our administrators are not salaried. This keeps our tuition extremely affordable for clergy serving small, poor communities.
We understand the life circumstances of our students, so we provide flexibility for second-career students with jobs, families, and ministries. Our courses are pre-recorded so that students can complete their degrees at their own pace.
Al sacred call from God to ministry must always be followed with solid educational formation promoting transformational leadership. We need to be prepared and informed disciples of Our Lord. A vocation is a life-changing experience for a disciple -- but it is the beginning of our journey, not the end.
St. Hildegard's fills two necessary roles in the educational process:
First, we offer Masters-level classes for clergy to obtain the education and formation they need to serve with distinction within the parishes, ministries, and chaplaincies f their own jurisdictions.
Second, all of our courses, retreats, and programs are open to lay people who either wish to obtain their own degree or who are interested in the subject matter of a specific course.
All of our professors hold accredited Doctoral and Masters Degrees and have extensive experience teaching. Student tuition only covers the cost of creating self-study courses and a modest pay for our professors. Our administrators are not salaried. This keeps our tuition extremely affordable for clergy serving small, poor communities.
We understand the life circumstances of our students, so we provide flexibility for second-career students with jobs, families, and ministries. Our courses are pre-recorded so that students can complete their degrees at their own pace.