Welcome to St Aidan's Christian College
& Theological Seminary
Please note: Saint Aidan’s Theological Seminary is not currently accepting new students, as we prepare to reopen. SACC and SATS will be reopening soon, and admissions information will be announced when enrollment resumes. In the meantime, SATS remains fully available to support the administrative and educational needs of current and former students. Please contact us for further information.
Those who wish to be notified when admissions reopen are warmly invited to join our reopening notification list by contacting us.
Welcome to Saint Aidan Christian College & Theological Seminary (SACCTS) Is affiliated with the Celtic Anglican Communion it operates as a non-denominational, independent Christian college and seminary offering a fully online learning environment with no residency requirements. Rooted in the Christian tradition and informed by Celtic spirituality, SATS exists to support theological education, ministry formation, and lifelong learning.
SACCTS offers programs leading to a Certificate in Celtic Christian Studies, Bachelor of Ministry, Master of Ministry, Master of Divinity, Doctor of Ministry, Doctor of Divinity, and Doctor of Theology. Saint Aidan's Christian College will be offering degres in educational programs that prepare students for religious vocations as ministers, professionals, or laypersons in the categories of ministry, counseling, theology, education, administration, music, fine arts, media communications, or social work.
In addition to academic degrees, SATS serves as a Clergy Formation Program and a Clergy Continuing Education resource for churches and clergy. Churches, ministries, and jurisdictions interested in incorporating SATS into their clergy formation or continuing education programs are invited to request additional information.
Please note: Saint Aidan’s Theological Seminary is not currently accepting new students, as we prepare to reopen. SACC and SATS will be reopening soon, and admissions information will be announced when enrollment resumes. In the meantime, SATS remains fully available to support the administrative and educational needs of current and former students. Please contact us for further information.
Those who wish to be notified when admissions reopen are warmly invited to join our reopening notification list by contacting us.
When admissions are open, applicants will complete the SATS Application. Upon preliminary approval, each applicant is paired with a faculty mentor who guides an individualized evaluation process. This assessment considers prior academic work, life experience, and ministry background to determine remaining requirements toward a certificate or degree, allowing applicants to make an informed decision before proceeding.
Completion of work through SACCTS does not commit any church or ministry to ordain graduates since clergy formation and ordination are two different processes.
At SACCTS we believe that each person should develop an understanding of theology from:
Scripture – the Holy Bible
Tradition – the two millennia history of the Christian Church
Reason – rational thinking and sensible interpretation
Experience – a Christian's personal and communal spiritual journey in Christ
SATS bases its educational model on Student Initiated Research which means that each student conducts research based on personal competency needs with the advice of his/her assigned mentor. The student collects information from books, online, and other media to assist in learning more about the topics of independent self-study. Many of these resources for personal research and study are free or very affordable.
The following is a description of the areas of competence that SATS feels each student should cover in the course of their preparation as they earn their certificate or degree. How these areas of competency are demonstrated and accomplished is left to the candidate and the mentor and the intensity is modified for each program.
Scripture refers to knowledge of the Bible and Bible study methods/resources.
Theology refers to knowledge of theological studies, both historical and contemporary, with the ability to articulate and discuss his/her own theology.
Church History refers to knowledge of the major events, themes, controversies and theological issues in the history of the Christian Church.
Ethics refers to knowledge of ethics and the religious issues involved, to have responses to the issues, and to have a practical understanding of the dynamics of social change.
Worship refers to knowledge of worship, preaching, and includes experience in conducting religious ceremonies, as well as the aesthetics of worship.
Pastoral Care refers to knowledge of visitation and general theories, techniques and issues related to pastoral counseling or the discernment to refer those in need to competent Christian counselors and other specialists.
Leadership refers to knowledge of such skills as working with committees and training, motivating, and sustaining volunteers, administration, management, group dynamics, and interpersonal communication skills.
World Religion refers to knowledge of other major world religions.
Internships are designed for those who do not have prior clergy experience of at least six months. Internships consist of a supervised internship of 40 hours that is approved by the faculty mentor. Supervision is to be provided by an approved ordained minister that the student selects. All interns should gain a basic understanding for ministry in the areas of pastoral care, teaching, leadership, and worship and receive a recommendation from the internship supervisor.
Upon completion of the Student Initiated Research and an Internship (if required), the student shall write a Statement of Competency, which consists of an essay of their ministry preparation and experience, and submit it to the faculty mentor. If approved, the faculty mentor will then recommend that the student be awarded the SATS certificate or degree for which they enrolled. The faculty mentor will offer guidance to the student throughout the process, which may take from three months to several years depending on the program.
SATS is named in memory of Saint Aidan who was Bishop of Scattery Island and Bishop of Lindisfarne, Scotland He was a fearless missionary and died on 31st August 651 CE at Bamburgh, Northumberland The Venerable Bede of the British Isles wrote of St. Aidan – “I am simply relating what was done by or through him, and commending such things as are praiseworthy in his actions and preserving the memory thereof, for the benefit of my readers: namely, his love of peace and charity; his chastity and humility; his mind superior to anger and avarice, and despising pride and vain glory; his industry in keeping and teaching the heavenly commandments; his diligence in reading and watching; his authority becoming a priest in reproving the haughty and powerful, and, at the same time, his tenderness in comforting the afflicted and relieving and defending the poor. To say all, in a few words, as near as I could be, informed by those who knew him, he took care to omit none of all those things which he found enjoined in the apostolic or prophetic writings, but to the utmost of his power endeavored to perform them all in his actions."
Request an SATS Application by contacting us on this website.
