Latin for "to the sources." Clergy and lay leaders read the early church in its own words with Trinity faculty and a small cohort.
Each seminar reads primary texts with a Trinity faculty member.
Participants read Books III to V of Against Heresies, where the second-century bishop of Lyons answers Gnosticism with a scriptural case for the goodness of creation and the unity of salvation history. The seminar centers on his reading of Christ as the new Adam and what it shows about God's purpose for human beings.
Participants study a theological account of how Christians begin and grow in the faith, then read writings from the tradition to shape a plan for discipleship in their own churches.
Each seminar opens with a two-day in-person retreat, with lodging and meals included. The cohort then meets online for six to eight sessions of 90 minutes to talk through the readings in a tutorial style.
Participants are expected to have graduate theological training, such as an M.A. or M.Div. No earlier study of the seminar's subject is needed.
.avif)
Thomas holds a Ph.D. in theology and ethics from Baylor University and an M.Div. from Duke Divinity School, and wrote A Phenomenology of the Divine Image: Gregory of Nyssa and the Veil of the Flesh (Bloomsbury, 2026).
Associate Dean of Special Programs and Director of the Robert Webber Center. He wrote Making Disciples (Eerdmans, 2025).
Ad Fontes gives clergy and lay leaders time to read together and learn from one another without leaving their parishes for a full semester.
"Ad Fontes, a journey back to the sources, has been a joy. The readings challenge and reward, the fellowship with other clergy is rich, and the 'ancient' take is refreshingly timely. This is a tremendous opportunity for continuing education!"
Ad Fontes is for clergy and lay leaders with graduate training in theology or ministry, usually an M.A. or M.Div. You don't need to have studied the seminar's subject before.
The fee covers the seminar plus two nights of lodging and meals during the in-person retreat. Books and travel are not included.
Yes. Pay a deposit when you register and give a diocesan contact on the form. Trinity's accounting office then invoices your diocese for the balance.
Yes. Several dioceses fund Ad Fontes scholarships. Write to Dr. Thomas Breedlove at thomas.breedlove@tas.edu to ask about one.
Retreat dates and the online schedule for both seminars will be posted on this page soon.
Registration opens soon. Questions about the seminars or scholarships can go to Dr. Thomas Breedlove.
Trinity is to be an evangelical seminary in the Anglican tradition. To this end we develop Christian leaders who can plant, renew, and grow churches that make disciples of Jesus Christ.
Contact Us
