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Question: if you study theology at a public university are you authomatically ordained?

I am not sure that theology must be taught at universities, but I don't see why it should be abolished as an academic discipline where it does exist.

Those whom the Gods wish to destroy They first make mad. — Euripides

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Fri Sep 15th, 2006 at 05:41:57 AM EST
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Not in Germany. Your final exams are also taken by a group consisting of members of your regional church  (where you will later want to work) and university staff. You will then also have to have two more years of "Seminary, in job education" have a second exam now purely consisting of Churchy types, before they will consider your ordination.
But in order to be eligible for your first exam you have to have spend at least 2 years at a University (average! education of a German Theologian before first degree is 7  1/2 years)
You can also sit your universities exam, but then you will not be eligible  (or only under difficulties) to join the "Seminary" or in its propper word, Vikariat, which would lead you to the second exam.

Regionality is important as each region in Germany has its own little quircks (lutheran, calvinistic and so on tendencies) which means that a move from one town to the next can be very difficult, if this town is in a different "Landeskirche" You will always need a special dispensation from your Bishop (this has to do with your pension as well as with their tradition...)
This is of course different, if you are a Catholic.

by PeWi on Fri Sep 15th, 2006 at 06:06:08 AM EST
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Afaik, it is similar in UK universities. A Theology degree doesn't automatically qualify you for the orders.

I'm surprised (see this UCAS search result) to see how many courses in Theology are still offered in UK universities.

You can do Theology and Gaelic at Aberdeen, PeWi (Colman will envy you ;)). Or Theology in Welsh at Lampeter (perhaps ceebs would be interested...)

Oxford says in this booklet (pdf) that, of 80 Theology graduates in a year, about 6 "eventually" end up in the Church. Here's their chart of what Theology grads do:

Those who go into orders are probably in the first group or more likely "Other Study".

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Fri Sep 15th, 2006 at 08:37:37 AM EST
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