TRENTON – The nation’s first openly gay governor is headed back to school Tuesday – as a seminary student.

Jim McGreevey will begin full-time studies at General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church in Manhattan, seminary spokesman Bruce Parker confirmed. Mr. McGreevey switched his religious affiliation from Roman Catholic to Episcopalian earlier this year and expressed interest in pursuing a call to ministry.

As a student in the non-degree program at the seminary, Mr. McGreevey has up to a year to choose a course of study. In the meantime, he can choose a broad array of courses in theology, liturgy, ministry and related topics that are available to students who are unsure of their educational and vocational goals, Mr. Parker said.

Mr. McGreevey, 50, shocked the nation in 2004 by declaring his homosexuality in a nationally televised speech with his stunned wife and parents at his side. The former altar boy proclaimed himself “a gay American” to quash a blackmail threat by a former aide. He resigned as New Jersey’s governor three months later.

Mr. McGreevey’s staff said the governor had an extramarital affair with a male aide, who he had named homeland security adviser. The aide denied having an affair and claims he was sexually harassed by the then-governor.

Both Mr. McGreevey and his now-estranged wife, Dina Matos McGreevey, have since published books about his secret sexuality and appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show. They are embroiled in a bitter divorce that includes Mrs. Matos McGreevey’s claims of infidelity, fraud, and emotional distress.

Mrs. Matos McGreevey also claimed libel, arguing that her husband made public claims that she is homophobic, which she says he knew to be false.

The couple have one daughter, Jacqueline, 5.

Religion has become an issue is his contentious divorce proceedings. Mrs. Matos McGreevey, has demanded that their daughter not be allowed to receive communion in the Episcopal Church because she is being raised a Roman Catholic.

Growing up in Middlesex County, Mr. McGreevey served as an altar boy and attended Catholic schools. While in office, he continued to practice the religion, but differed from church teachings in several areas, including his support of abortion rights.

Mr. McGreevey and boyfriend Mark O’Donnell, an investment fund manager, now worship at St. Bartholomew’s Church in Manhattan. Neither returned messages for comment.