Type | Higher theological education, graduate and entry-level degrees |
---|---|
Established | 1964 |
Academic affiliation | University of Toronto |
Location | , , |
Campus | Urban |
Affiliations | University of Toronto |
Website | www |
The Toronto School of Theology (TST) is an ecumenical consortium of seven theological colleges and is affiliated with the University of Toronto. TST is the largest ecumenical consortium for theological education in Canada. Its seven member schools are Emmanuel College, Knox College, Regis College, St. Augustine's Seminary, University of St. Michael's College Faculty of Theology, Trinity College Faculty of Divinity, and Wycliffe College.
Each of TST's member colleges are fully accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada. Academic standards are consistent with those of the University of Toronto, which holds TST accountable through a highly developed process of quality assurance. [1]
The TST consortium offers a full range of professional and academic degrees, for different educational purposes. [2] Some are primarily professional in character, while others are oriented to general theological studies or research. All degree programs operate at the post-baccalaureate level, and degrees are conferred conjointly by the University of Toronto.
By bringing together established and junior scholars from a wide variety of Christian and non-Christian traditions, in the context of one of the world's preeminent research universities, TST offers students an exceptional opportunity to research and understand the Bible, Christian belief and discipleship, the history of Christianity and Church leadership, and to prepare for various forms of ministry in the contemporary world.[ editorializing ]
In 1944, the Toronto Graduate School of Theological Studies (TGSTS) was formed to promote collaboration in the Doctor of Theology and Master of Theology programs at Emmanuel, Knox, Trinity, and Wycliffe Colleges. In 1964, the TGSTS was incorporated and this year is considered the official year when the current Toronto School of Theology was established. In 1966, the Graduate Theological Division of St. Michael's College joined TGSTS.
During 1969-70, the success of this venture led to the foundation of the current Toronto School of Theology (TST). Regis College and St. Augustine's Seminary entered into the consortium as member schools, and collaboration began in two professional programs, the MDiv and the MRE, supplementing the cooperation that already existed in the ThD and ThM programs. TST was incorporated in April 1970, by an amendment to the Letters Patent of the TGSTS.
In 1978, TST and its member schools entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the University of Toronto, making possible the conjoint granting of degrees in theology by the University and the member schools of TST. TST committed itself to the University's academic standards, and began appointing the University's representatives to its Board of Trustees, its academic councils, and its faculty appointments committees. Finally, in 1979 a Memorandum of Agreement with the University of Toronto made it possible for the member schools to grant conjoint basic and advanced degrees in theology.
The Toronto School of Theology's Arms and Flag were registered with the Canadian Heraldic Authority on March 1, 2001. [3] The school's motto is the Greek word συνεργουντες (synergountes), which is taken from 2 Corinthians 6:1 and means "We work together with Him" (or more loosely translates to “Co-worker”). [3]
The Toronto School of Theology consists of seven member theological schools and is the largest ecumenical consortium for theological education in Canada.
Name | Founded | Denomination |
---|---|---|
Emmanuel College | 1928 | United Church of Canada |
St. Augustine's Seminary | 1913 | Roman Catholic, Diocesan |
Wycliffe College | 1877 | Anglican, Evangelical |
Regis College | 1930 | Roman Catholic, Jesuit |
Knox College | 1844 | Presbyterian Church in Canada |
University of St. Michael's College, Faculty of Theology | 1852 | Roman Catholic, Basilian |
Trinity College, Faculty of Divinity | 1851 | Anglican Church of Canada |
Name | Founded | Denomination | Parent Institution |
---|---|---|---|
Conrad Grebel University College | 1963 | Mennonite | University of Waterloo |
Institute for Christian Studies | 1967 | Christian Reformed | — |
NAIITS: An Indigenous Learning Community | 1999 | Evangelical | — |
The seven member colleges of the Toronto School of Theology (TST) offer several basic (entry-level) master's degrees in theology, which provide students with an introduction to theological study as well as preparation for professional ministry. Basic degree programs are first theological degrees taught at the post-baccalaureate level.
TST member colleges also offer a variety of academically focused advanced master's and doctoral degrees in accordance with the regulations of the Academic Council. As well, TST offers a Doctor of Ministry program offering advanced studies in the practice of professional ministry.
A majority of TST’s degrees are awarded conjointly by a TST member college and the University of Toronto, while a few degrees, certificates and diplomas are solely awarded by a TST college.
The following degrees are offered conjointly by the Toronto School of Theology (TST) member colleges and the University of Toronto. Not all TST Colleges offer all degrees. The degrees are listed below according to the categories of the Association for Theological Schools.
To prepare for specialized ministries:
The following certificates are offered conjointly by TST member colleges and the University of Toronto. Not all TST colleges offer all certificates.
The Toronto School of Theology (TST) has the largest graduate program in theology in Canada, with nearly 400 students registered in TST's graduate degree programs. TST offers two advanced master's degrees, the Master of Theology (ThM) and the Master of Arts in Theology (MA). Both degrees are granted conjointly by the University of Toronto and the TST member school in which the student is registered. TST's doctoral program leads towards the Doctor of Philosophy in Theological Studies (PhD), granted conjointly by the University of Toronto and the TST member school in which the student is registered. The Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program is a professional doctoral degree granted conjointly by the University of Toronto and the TST member school in which the student is registered.
The following graduate degrees are awarded conjointly by a TST member college and the University of Toronto:
In the 2021 QS World University Rankings, the Toronto School of Theology/University of Toronto was ranked #1 in Canada and #11 in the world for Theology, Divinity & Religious Studies. [4] The journal First Things , an organ of the Institute on Religion and Public Life in New York, ranked the Toronto School of Theology fourth among graduate programs in theology. [5] The Toronto School of Theology was also ranked #3 for the number of doctoral students that have graduated and gone on to positions in fellow member schools of the Association of Theological Schools. [6]
Students have access to the libraries of every member school, including Knox's Caven Library, St. Michael's Kelly Library, Trinity and Wycliffe's John W. Graham Library, and the libraries of Emmanuel College, Regis College, and St. Augustine's Seminary. Students, moreover, have access to the library system of the University of Toronto, including Robarts Library, Canada's largest library and the fourth largest academic library system in North America. [7] [8]
The Toronto Journal of Theology is published semi-annually. It promotes progressive publication of current opinion on the full range of scholarship represented by diverse Christian traditions through the analysis of issues in Biblical Studies, History of Christianity, Systematic and Pastoral Theology, and Christian Ethics and engagement of cross-cultural perspectives in discussing theological issues.
The Graduate Theological Union (GTU) is a consortium of eight private independent American theological schools and eleven centers and affiliates. Seven of the theological schools are located in Berkeley, California. The GTU was founded in 1962 and their students can take courses at the University of California, Berkeley. Additionally, some of the GTU consortial schools are part of other California universities such as Santa Clara University and California Lutheran University. Most of the GTU consortial schools are located in Berkeley area with the majority north of the campus in a neighborhood known as "Holy Hill" due to the cluster of GTU seminaries and centers located there.
Portland Seminary at George Fox University is a multi-denominational, university-based school that offers a variety of master's degree and postgraduate degree programs in theology and ministry, located in Portland, Oregon.
Knox College is a postgraduate theological college of the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded in 1844 as part of a schism movement in the Church of Scotland following the Disruption of 1843. Knox is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church in Canada and confers doctoral degrees as a member school of the Toronto School of Theology.
Tyndale University is a Canadian private interdenominational evangelical Christian university in Toronto, Ontario, which offers undergraduate and graduate programs. Tyndale students come from over 40 different Christian denominations.
The Australian College of Theology (ACT) is an Australian higher education provider based in Sydney, New South Wales. The college delivers awards in ministry and theology and was one of the first Australian non-university providers to offer an accredited bachelor's degree and a research doctorate. Over 22,000 people have graduated since the foundation of the college. It is a company limited by guarantee as of September 2007. On 7 October 2022 it was granted university college status by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency.
Church Divinity School of the Pacific (CDSP) is an Episcopal seminary in Berkeley, California. It one of nine seminaries U.S. Episcopal Church and a member of the Graduate Theological Union. The only Episcopal seminary located in the Far West, CDSP has, since 1911, been designated the official seminary of the Episcopal Church's Eighth Province, the Province west of the Rocky Mountains.
Wycliffe College is an evangelical graduate school of theology at the University of Toronto. Founded in 1877 as an evangelical seminary in the Anglican tradition, Wycliffe College today attracts students from many Christian denominations from around the world. As a founding member of the Toronto School of Theology, students can avail themselves of the wide range of courses from Canada's largest ecumenical consortium. Wycliffe College trains those pursuing ministry in the church and in the world, as well as those preparing for academic careers of scholarship and teaching.
Emmanuel College is the theological college of Victoria University in the University of Toronto. Affiliated with the United Church of Canada, it is also a member institution of the Toronto School of Theology. The college's principal is HyeRan Kim-Cragg.
Regis College is a postgraduate theological college of the University of Toronto. Founded in 1930, it is the Jesuit school of theology in Canada and a member institution of the Toronto School of Theology.
St. Augustine's Seminary is the archdiocesan seminary of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto, and is located by the shore of Lake Ontario in Scarborough. It is a member of the Toronto School of Theology.
McMaster Divinity College, also known as MDC, is a Baptist Christian seminary in Hamilton, Ontario affiliated with McMaster University and the Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec. The institution's mission is to develop effective evangelical Christian leaders for the church, academy, and society through university-level education, professional training, and ongoing support.
The Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) is a consortium of five predominantly African-American denominational Christian seminaries in Atlanta, Georgia, operating together as a professional graduate school of theology. It is the largest free-standing African-American theological school in the United States.
Providence University College and Theological Seminary is an interdenominational Evangelical Christian university college and theological seminary located approximately 50 kilometres south-east of Winnipeg in Otterburne, Manitoba.
The Methodist Theological School in Ohio (MTSO) is a graduate theological school and seminary in Delaware, Ohio. MTSO is one of the 13 official seminaries of The United Methodist Church.
The Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology (DSPT) is a Catholic graduate school in Berkeley, California. It is a member of the interfaith Graduate Theological Union (GTU) and an affiliate of the University of California Berkeley. DSPT is sponsored by the Dominican Order.
The Boston College School of Theology and Ministry (STM) is a Jesuit school of graduate theology at Boston College. It is an ecclesiastical faculty of theology that trains men and women, both lay and religious, for scholarship and service, especially within the Catholic Church.
Ashland Theological Seminary is a seminary in Ohio. It is located at 910 Center Street in Ashland, Ohio, with another site located in Cleveland, Ohio. The seminary has students and faculty representing over 30 denominations and over 4100 alumni. Founded in 1906 by the Brethren Church, Ashland Theological Seminary is a graduate division of Ashland University. The seminary is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program is accredited by The Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
The Heritage College & Seminary is a Baptist theological institute in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada. It is affiliated with the Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches in Canada.
Asian Theological Seminary (ATS) is a theological seminary in Quezon City, Philippines.
Taiwan Seminary or Taiwan Theological College and Seminary or Taiwan Graduate School of Theology, also known as 'Taishen' is a private Presbyterian educational institution in Taipei, Taiwan. It constitutes one of three seminaries of the Presbyterian Church of Taiwan, along with Tainan Theological College and Seminary and Yushan Theological Seminary in Hualien.