Jason Poling
I believe very strongly that when clergy "do solemnly engage to conform to the doctrine, discipline and worship of The Episcopal Church" they should know what they're getting into. That is what theological education is about: preparing our students for the work of ministry as priests in our Church by giving them a sense of what that work is and equipping them to do it. The GOEs are a means of determining whether that preparation has been done, and in making that determination they serve both postulants and our Church. I have received theological education (M.Div., M.A.T (Biblical Studies), D.Min.) in both ecumenical and denominational seminaries, and I earned my S.T.M. in Anglican Studies at General Theological Seminary during the eventful 2014-2015 academic year. In addition to serving as Priest-in-Charge at a parish in the Diocese of Maryland, I currently have the privilege of serving as the founding Director of the D.Min. program at St. Mary's Ecumenical Institute in Baltimore.