Vancouver School of Theology
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| Vancouver School of Theology | |
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| Established: | 1971 |
| Type: | Private |
| President: | Rev. Dr. Wendy Fletcher |
| Principal: | Rev. Dr. Wendy Fletcher |
| Students: | approx. 200 |
| Location: | University Endowment Lands, British Columbia, Canada |
| Affiliations: | ATS |
The Vancouver School of Theology (or VST) is a theological graduate school located on the campus of the University of British Columbia (UBC) in the University Endowment Lands, west of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
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[edit] History
The Vancouver School of Theology was established in 1971, as an amalgamation of the Anglican Theological College (ATC) and Union College of British Columbia (UCBC), affiliated with the United Church of Canada. The two colleges had existed side-by-side for a number of years prior to the amalgamation.
ATC, established in the early twentieth century, moved into the Chancellor Building at UBC in 1927.
Westminster Hall (formerly Presbyterian), was the first formal theological college in Vancouver, and classes started in 1908, first at McGill University Vancouver (1907-1915) Campus, then in their own building at 1600 Barclay Street from the fall of 1908 until 1927, when the first part of UCBC (west wing of the Iona Building at UBC) was ready for use. Ryerson College formerly Methodist, and named after educator Egerton Ryerson, was meeting in Westminster Hall since classes began in 1923. It was an extension of the Columbian College started in New Westminster in 1892. There is little available data on the Congregational College of British Columbia, as according to the United Church of Canada's First General Council's Minutes, in 1925, the College was incorporated, but never held any classes.
The tower section of the Iona Building was completed during the 1930s.
From initial discussions with Anglican and the then separate Methodist and Presbyterian groups in 1922, there has been open discussion on joint studies, and was a reason Ryerson Hall never constructed a separate building. Throughout the 1960s, the two colleges cooperated in offering courses and access to materials, and discussions started regarding the creation of a new theological school to serve the area. The current-day Vancouver School of Theology was formed in 1971.The creation of VST occurred in a climate in which full communion between the Anglican Church of Canada and United Church was under serious consideration, although this union did not take place.
Saint Andrew's Hall, a residence established by the Presbyterian Church in Canada during the 1950s, officially became affiliated with the VST. The school has also been recognized by the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the United Methodist Church, both of the United States, as a good training institution for their clergy.[1]
[edit] VST today
The college today attracts a wide spectrum of students, mostly from the Anglican and mainline Protestant denominations. Some denominations — notably the Anglican Church of Canada, United Church of Canada, Presbyterian Church in Canada, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada have accredited VST as an institution for the education of their candidates for ordination. Students from foreign denominations, notably the Presbyterian Church (USA) and United Methodist Church of the United States, may also receive their pre-ordination training at VST. Other students pursue education in preparation for careers in pastoral care and counselling, non-ordained ministry with special groups (such as children or youth), academic research and teaching, or for general interest.
The college perceives a mandate to the wider community, and offers or sponsors a number of programmes of general and special interest. These include public forums and lectures (such as the Peter Kaye Lectures), and a summer school. VST also administers an active Native Ministries Program for the education of First Nations peoples for ministry, both by distance and residentially.
Since 2000, VST and its property have been under substantial renovation and development. As a means to enhance revenue to support the operation of the college, residences have been demolished reducing housing for UBC students while increasing the number of condominiums constructed for sale. The Iona building has been extensively renovated.
In July 2006 the Chancellor building was demolished to prepare for building more housing, and all operations are now in the Iona building.
[edit] Geography
The campus itself is located at the northeast corner of the University of British Columbia's campus, in an area known as Chancellor Place [1]. Despite the school's name, the Vancouver School of Theology does not lie within Vancouver's city limits but rather in the University Endowment Lands, an unincorporated area immediately west of Vancouver itself. (However, the UEL is commonly referred to as part of Vancouver.)
[edit] Certifications awarded
The Vancouver School of Theology currently offers the following degrees and certifications[2]:
- Diploma in Christian Studies
- Diploma in Denominational Studies
- Graduate Diploma in Spiritual Direction
- Master of Divinity
- Master of Divinity Ordination
- Master of Divinity by Extension
- Master of Arts in Religious Education (preliminary)
- Master of Arts in Theological Studies
- Master of Theology
- Doctor of Philosophy
The following degree has been discontinued by the VST:
[edit] Gallery
 Chancellor Place and the Iona Building of the Vancouver School of Theology. |
 The Iona Building of the VST. |
 Vancouver School of Theology, with the North Shore Mountains as a backdrop. |
[edit] History
- William S. Taylor 'Step by Step by Step: An Anecdotal History of the Growth of Union College, 1948-1971 Vancouver School of Theology and University Hill United Church' (Vancouver: 1993)
- Ralph C. Pybus, 'The Story of Union College' (Vancouver: Board of Governors, Union College of British Columbia, 1971 Pamphlet)
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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