The Diocese of Arkansas
Deacon Formation Program:
The Canonical Area of Holy Scripture
The Rev. Chuck Chapman,
Examining Chaplain
Curate, St. Mary's Episcopal Church, El Dorado
Episcopalians have a reputation, albeit an undeserved one, for not knowing Holy Scripture. I say "undeserved," because I think Episcopalians have a knowledge of Holy Scripture, but one that is different from their Protestant neighbors.
The average Episcopalian (unless they were reared Baptist or Church of Christ) probably does not have a great deal of Scripture committed to memory, and if quizzed, could neither look up John 3:16 nor give you the verse reference for the Lord's Prayer. However, I do not think this is all there is to "knowing Scripture." Indeed, one can know these things and actually know very little of Scripture.
Think about it -- the average Episcopalian attending church regularly for three years hears a full course of readings from the Old Testament, Psalms, New Testament and Gospels. This is by far more than the average Protestant hears. My concern for deacons of our diocese is not that you be able to outshine in Bible-handling someone who grew up in Sunday School memorizing Bible verses and the names of the books of the Bible. My concern is that you understand and appreciate the basics of where the Bible came from, helpful ways to go about interpreting the Bible, and what our distinctively Anglican view of the Bible is. The following books and writing assignments, gathered from a variety of sources, is designed to help you do this.
I know some of you may wonder what much of the following has to do with your present ministry. The answer to this is, you are seeking ordination as a deacon of the Church, not just a deacon of your present, specific ministry. You will become a member of the clergy of this Church, and as such you represent this Church to the community. Every priest is not a Bible scholar, nor is every deacon. But a basic understanding of biblical content is a reasonable expectation of the clergy of the Church.
How to proceed:
1. Read the required books with the questions below in mind. Be sure to read the books first before trying to do any of the written work.
2. Prepare your written responses and send them to me, either by email (rtf or "rich text format" preferred) or by snail mail.
3. Contact me to let me know that the material is on the way and to arrange a time to visit, either in person or over the phone (depending how far away you live and what your travelling plans are).
Upon completing your work and our discussing it, barring any difficulties, I will inform the Bishop of your competancy.
Call or e-mail me at any time during your reading that you have a question or want to discuss something. The only stupid questions are the ones you already know the answers to (to quote the Episcopal Bible teacher Verna Dozier).
The Rev. Chuck Chapman St. Mary's Episcopal Church 512 Chapmagnolle Rd. El Dorado, AR 71730
Home: 870-881-8783
Office: 870-863-7064
Reading List
Required:
Charpentier,
Etienne, How to Read the Bible, The Old and the New
Testaments (two volumes in one). Grammercy Books, 1981.
ISBN: 0-517-05590-2
Previous participants in the Deacon Formation Program have found
this volume interesting and helpful. It provides a sweeping overview
of Scripture, emphasizing literary genres, historical background,
and actual reading of the Bible.
Ferlo, Roger. Opening the Bible, The New Church's Teaching Series Vol. 2. Cowley Publications, 1997
John F. O'Grady, Disciples
and Leaders: The Origins of Christian Ministry in the New Testament.
Paulist Press; ISBN: 0809132699; (November 1991)
Although this is written from a Roman Catholic perspective, concluding
with a description of the authority of the Pope, it nevertheless
contains a good description of the development of ordained ministry
out of the ministry of Christ.
Optional:
Boadt, Lawrence. Reading the Old Testament, An Introduction.
Paulist Press, 1984.
Perkins, Pheme. Reading the New Testament. Paulist Press,
1988
These two volumes are great for people who like what they read
in Charpentier and want something to take them further.
Written Assignments
Essay Question -- Based on O'Grady's book, describe by what authority we attempt to do ministry in Jesus' name.
Short answer -- 1/2 to 1 page each:
1. What is the Apocrypha,
and is it different from the Deuterocanonical books?
2. What is Jesus trying to say in the Parable of the Unjust Steward
(Lk. 16. 1-13)?
3. Why don't we ever use The Living Bible in church? What translation
would you recommend?
4. Where in the Bible does it tell us to observe Lent? (This
question invites you to discuss the whole question of authority
for the teachings and practices of the Church and where Scripture
fits in that picture.)
Things to know:
1. Old Testament
personalities:
Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekkah, Jacob, Rachel, Leah, Joseph,
Moses, Aaron, Miriam, Joshua, Samson, Gideon, Deborah, Ruth and
Naomi, Saul, David, Bathsheba, Solomon, Elijah, Elisha, Ahab,
Jezebel, Nehemiah, Ezra, Esther.
2. New Testament personalities: Peter, Paul, Timothy,
Mary Magdelene, Lydia, Aquilla and Priscilla, the Essenes
3. Key events in Old Testament biblical history: God
makes covenant with Abraham, the Joseph saga, Moses and the exodus,
the covenant at Sinai, the fall of Samaria, the fall of Jerusalem
and the Babylonian captivity, the Macabbees.
4. Key events in New Testament history: the choosing
of Matthias, Paul's defence before King Agrippa, the fall of Jerusalem,
the persecutions of the Church under Nero and Domitian