ANGLICAN FOUNDATIONS PROGRAM

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, DEEPENED CONNECTIONS
C4SO Anglican Foundations Program Logo

The Anglican Foundations Program is a practical, applicable orientation to C4SO’s expression of missional Anglicanism. Our goal is for participants to build a uniquely missional and innovative approach to our common history, theology, liturgy and Sacrament. As we grow as a diocese, we want people to live out of a shared understanding of our rich and beautiful tradition.

Each of the four 10-week courses includes an interactive, guided small group experience with several other participants and a facilitator. Participants can complete the four courses consecutively or out of order—we’ve designed a flexible program allowing for busy lives.* Participants will also have opportunities to interact with Bishop Todd and Bishop Brian, C4SO’s Canon Theologians and other key leaders.

*This program is not a replacement for a master’s degree.

Apply to the Program
Apply to the Program
Loading...

COURSES

COURSE 04

Our Practical and Ethical Church
(ecclesiology and polity)

We will explore how our churches live out the reality of a centuries-old episcopacy, the roles of a Rector and Vestry, the canons and doctrines of the Church—and what happens when life and church conflict with any of these structures.

Nov 6, 2024 – Registration Opens
January 6, 2025 – Registration Closes
January 20, 2025 – Course Begins

COURSE 01

Our Historical and Theological Tradition

From the beginning, our diverse, global community of leaders has clung to ancient faith and sought to contextualize it. We will examine source documents to explore some key events and movements that have shaped Anglicans for the last 500 years.

March 5, 2025 – Registration Opens
May 5, 2025 – Registration Closes
May 19, 2025 – Course Begins

COURSE 02

Our Liturgical Tradition

Like thousands of Anglican churches around the globe, C4SO churches pattern their liturgy and sacrament after The Book of Common Prayer (2019). Course participants will be deeply formed by the rhythms of the prayer book and learn how to create prayer book services with missional, contextual flexibility. Participants will also engage in historic spiritual practices critical to supporting and sustaining a life of ministry in God’s Church.

July 1, 2025 – Registration Opens
Sept 1, 2025 – Registration Closes
Sept 15, 2025 – Course Begins

COURSE 03

Our Sacramental Life

Participants will go deeper into creating prayer book services with missional, contextual flexibility and practices to support and sustain a life of ministry in God’s Church.

TBD: 2026

RETREAT

During the course of their enrollment, participants in the ordination process will attend one overnight retreat in Austin, TX, led by Bishop Todd and Bishop Brian, where they can interact with other participants, ask their most pressing questions, and get acquainted with C4SO as a whole. We will offer this retreat several times a year to accommodate participants’ schedules.

C4SO Bishop Brian Headshot

Bishop Brian Wallace

Retreat Facilitator

Bishop Todd Hunter

Retreat Facilitator

COST
COST

Each course costs $300—or $1,200 for all four courses, plus the purchase of a flight to Austin for the overnight retreat. Scholarships are available, and we encourage local churches to financially assist anyone from their congregation who is participating in the Anglican Foundations Program.

Apply to the Program
Apply Now
C4SO Anglican Foundations Program Image

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The Anglican Formations Program might be right for you if…

  • You’re a clergy person looking to transfer into Anglicanism / C4SO from another tradition.
  • You’re on the Path of Discernment to Holy Orders.
  • You’re trying to decide if you might be Anglican.
  • You’re a parishioner of a C4SO church who wants to function more fully as a lay leader, vestry member or volunteer.
  • You’re a clergy person looking to expand your expertise in a certain area of Anglicanism or C4SO culture.

We want to ensure that you are in a place to receive maximum benefit from the Anglican Foundations Program. Since we have limited space in the program, an application helps us know how to prioritize people who are in the ordination process or considering a move into Anglicanism from another tradition. For people in the ordination process, the application also helps us create synergy between the Anglican Foundations Program and the Local Process of your Path of Discernment to Holy Orders.

Yes. As of February 2024, this program is required for those who wish to be ordained in C4SO. We’ve designed it to orient people to both Anglicanism and our diocese, hoping each participant builds a uniquely missional and innovative approach to our common history, theology, liturgy and Sacrament. As we grow as a diocese, we want people to live out of a shared understanding of our rich and beautiful tradition.

We also want people to get to know other leaders in the diocese beyond their local church. The Anglican Foundations Program will provide opportunities for participants to interact with Bishop Todd and Bishop Brian, C4SO’s Canon Theologians and other key leaders. It’s all part of helping build a solid and unified culture while our diocese continues to expand.

The Anglican Foundations Program is designed to be part of the discernment process for all future clergy in C4SO, and with few exceptions, participants will complete the courses prior to ordination. In special circumstances, an individual’s ordination may need to be expedited and occur before their completion of the Anglican Foundations Program. In that case, we ask the individual to finish the program within six to 12 months of their ordination to best serve their ministry and participation in the diocese long term.

Ideally, participants will complete these four courses consecutively, but we know life happens. Thus, you don’t have to take them in order—or even start with Course 1. Begin at any point in the rotation. If you need to take a break, you have 18 months to resume the courses you missed. We’ve designed a flexible program allowing for busy lives.

All participants in a 10-week course will attend an initial Zoom kick-off meeting. Then participants will attend a Zoom meeting with their small group every other week. In those five 90-minute meetings, participants will discuss the material they have read during the previous two weeks. An experienced C4SO clergy person will facilitate each small group discussion.

Since part of the initial meeting for each course will include introductions and an interactive time, it is most helpful if you are able to attend. However, if you are absolutely unable to make that work, we will record the first session for you to watch before your first small group meeting.

There is only one Cohort meeting (a “Cohort” consists of all participants in a given course.). This initial meeting will kick off the course, and then you will be placed in a small group of approximately four people. You and your fellow small group participants will work together to determine dates and times for the subsequent five small group meetings. Most people will find an evening or a weekend afternoon that works best for them.

No, the Anglican Foundations Program is not a master’s replacement. It is a four-course orientation to C4SO’s expression of missional Anglicanism. Individuals in the ordination process will still need to complete relevant education requirements and take their ordination exams.

The Anglican Foundations Program gives participants a chance to interact and build relationships with others in the diocese as we seek to contextualize our tradition for a given ministry setting. Our diverse churches and clergy support one another and work together to reach our communities. We want our clergy to understand how C4SO thinks about and expresses Anglicanism in all of its beautiful diversity, and to build relationships of love and trust beyond their local parish.

Each course costs $300—or $1,200 for all four courses, plus the purchase of a flight to Austin for the retreat. Scholarships are available, and we encourage local churches to financially assist anyone from their congregation who is participating in the Anglican Foundations Program. Participants who need assistance may complete this form.

Yes. If a parish is looking to offer financial assistance to participants AND has more than three individuals enrolled, the diocese is able to lower the cost of tuition. In this case, the Rector may contact Bishop Brian Wallace or Director of Administration Eric Vinson for more details.

We’ve designed all four courses in the Anglican Foundations Program to be completed online. However, participants will attend one retreat in Austin, TX, led by Bishop Todd and Bishop Brian, where they can interact with other participants, ask their most pressing questions, and get acquainted with C4SO as a whole. We will offer this retreat several times a year to accommodate participants’ schedules.

Assignments: Each week, assignments will entail approximately 50 pages of reading, and a brief written response to the readings. These assignments will not be graded, but they will be read and discussed either in small groups or in an online chat space. Every assignment is designed to be highly practical, answering the question, “How might this idea influence or affect the way I lead in my local context?”

Readings/Videos: Expect 500 pages of reading per course—so about 50 pages of reading per week, mostly excerpts from books and articles and often original source material. We estimate about two hours per week depending on how fast you read. Each course will also include video content—about 10 minutes per week—consisting of experienced leaders in the diocese reflecting on the ideas participants are discussing.

Plan on at least two hours per week to engage all reading and video material on your own. Each course will conclude with a final paper—approximately five pages—on how you will practically apply what you’re learning to your life and/or ministry, or on significant questions that the material has raised for you.

Our criteria is participation and engagement. If you participate in all the small group discussions and complete the final written assignment, you will most likely satisfy course requirements.

More questions? Contact us.