Gordon-Conwell Seminary Named ACNA Affiliated Ministry

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary has been welcomed as an Affiliated Ministry of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). The seminary describes the step as deepening a longstanding relationship between Gordon-Conwell and the Anglican community, and as strengthening its work to prepare students across denominations for ordained ministry.

Earlier last summer, the ACNA approved Gordon-Conwell’s application for Affiliated Ministry status. By the end of the summer, the relationship had been formalized through an Affiliated Ministry Agreement. The ACNA described the collaboration as an “enhanced relationship” intended to strengthen the province’s partnership with ministry organizations.

The affiliation builds on Gordon-Conwell’s existing connection to the ACNA through its Anglican Formation Program. The ACNA has approved four seminary Anglican tracks for the formation of priests and deacons, and Gordon-Conwell is the only one of the four that has also received Affiliated Ministry status. Preparing students for ordained ministry is, in this program, a form of calling carried out through formal training (Colossians 3:23).

The program is led by the Rev. Dr. David Currie, dean of the seminary’s Doctor of Ministry program and professor of pastoral theology. He and his wife, the Rev. Dr. Susan Porterfield Currie, also serve as assisting clergy at the Church of the Cross (ACNA) in Boston. Speaking about the affiliation, Dr. Currie said, “Strengthening ties between Gordon-Conwell and the ACNA reflects our shared commitment to historic orthodoxy and global engagement.” He added that he had valued his interactions with the other approved tracks and Anglican seminaries over the years, and was pleased to share a formal relationship with other Affiliate Ministries that have shaped the Anglican Formation Program, including the Matthew 25 Initiative and the New Wineskins Missions Network.

The source distinguishes between the two designations. The approved-track status applies to the seminary’s in-house theological and ministerial formation, enabling students preparing for Anglican ministry to study within the seminary’s broader evangelical and multidenominational community. Affiliated Ministry status is a newer category covering a wider range of organizations in relationship with the ACNA, including seminaries, mission agencies, ministry organizations, religious societies, and sodalities.

Under the affiliation agreement, Gordon-Conwell subscribes to the shared commitment described in the ACNA’s Fundamental Declarations, which include the church’s mission to reach North America with the gospel. The seminary has committed to working collaboratively with the province and other Affiliated Ministries to advance that mission.

The affiliation comes as Gordon-Conwell prepares for a new season of recruiting for its Anglican partnerships. The seminary is also exploring relationships with additional dioceses and with other denominations. Together with its existing approved formation track, the new status gives prospective Anglican students another indication of the seminary’s relationship with the ACNA, in keeping with its mission to equip Christian leaders to “think theologically, engage globally, and live biblically.”

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