Becoming a minister is getting easier for Bermudians as theology schools offer distance learning programmes.

?Atlantic School of Theology (AST) in Halifax, Nova Scotia, is only as far away as your computer these days. We are just a click away,? said president Canon Eric Beresford who just spent a week on the Island.

Canon Beresford was in Bermuda March 5 to March 12 and met with the three locals currently enrolled in the school?s distance programme. He also met with Methodist ministers.

Atlantic School of Theology, an ecumenical and fully accredited graduate school on the East Coast of Canada, offers a Master of Divinity degree in a convenient summer distance format. A Master?s degree is required by most Christian churches for ordination to ministry.

Bermudians who are volunteering as lay preachers and who plan to become ordained ministers in their church can take the Master of Divinity Degree via the Internet in the fall and spring, and visit Halifax for short intensive courses in the summer.

?Bermudians don?t have to give up their full time jobs or leave home to take this five- year Master?s Degree?, said Canon Beresford. ?We are very excited, at last, to be able to offer this programme to Christians in Bermuda who want to become ordained ministers in their church.?

Atlantic School of Theology serves three main-line churches in Atlantic Canada: Anglican, Roman Catholic and United Church of Canada which is affiliated with the Methodist Synod of Bermuda.

But at the same time, it has up to ten different denominations represented in its annual student body of 150. Currently, the school has Internet students in Ontario, throughout Atlantic Canada and even the Middle East.

Bermudians can also take the graduate certificate or courses in an Adult Education Certificate in Theological Studies, which do not require a Bachelor?s degree, via the Internet. Simply visit the AST website and explore the options at www.astheology.ns.ca