[Magdalen] Tuition Free, Housing Free, Meal Plan Free for All Made Possible with Expanded Financial Aid at Virginia Seminary - Episcopal News Service

[Grace Cangialosi]

Yes, and your system seems much more humane to me, Roger, especially in these days of shifting models of church and theological education.
Our model is still three years of full-time study at a seminary, with financial aid and/or a guarantee of employment varying widely from diocese to diocese.
I had to go to VTS, because they had the best financial aid package, but looking back, I’m not sure how I managed it. I did have to take out a loan my last year, but before that I cobbled together scholarships, jobs on campus and a small stipend for the summer internship between my second and third years. Because I was single, I was required to live on campus, so that took care of meals, and I had no house or car payments.
I used to say I was living proof that you could go to seminary with no money and that I owed a great deal to the kindness of strangers.

> On Apr 1, 2019, at 7:36 PM, Roger Stokes via Magdalen <magdalen at herberthouse.org> wrote:
> 
>> On 02/04/2019 00:16, Lynn Ronkainen wrote:
>> VTS , Episcopal seminary in Alexandria VA is thriving!
>> 
>> It's hard to figure why some other "TEC" seminaries are in such difficult shape financially and in attracting students (a problematic and possibly symbiotic combo I'm sure). Interesting.
>> Lynn
>> 
>> 
>> https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/pressreleases/tuition-free-housing-free-meal-plan-free-for-all-made-possible-with-expanded-financial-aid-at-virginia-seminary/
> 
> It makes sense to me. You have students embarking on a course where there is only one potential employer and no guarantee of a paid position at the end of three years training. They probably also have existing debts from their earlier secular studies. This side of the pond ordinands are sponsored by dioceses who are responsible for their maintenance during training, which may be either in a college or on a course where they can carry on with a secular job.
> 
> Roger
>