A Descriptive Analysis of Evangelical Seminaries in Canada Based on and Comparing the Views of their Presidents and Deans and of the Canadian Leaders of Evangelical Denominations

<p>Problem</p> <p>Evangelical seminaries in Canada enroll more students than those of mainline denominations, yet they lack recognition and acceptance. This problem may be due to insufficient information, inaccurate understanding of evangelicals, or the fact that most of them were founded since 1970. No study has attempted to describe them or to analyse their distinctives and growth.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>One of the most recent studies of Canadian seminaries was by Robert T. Handy who compared Canadian and American members of ATS and reported his findings in the Spring 1982 issue of <em>Theological Education</em> which also included responses from five Canadian educators. The six articles, as they described Canadian institutions, were summarized and their findings listed and used as the basis for this study. three questionnaires were developed to solicit the views of the presidents and deans of evangelical seminaries and of Canadian leaders of evangelical denominations, pertaining to these findings, and to compare and analyze their responses.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Evangelical seminaries are similar to those Handy studied in size, closeness of relationship to their church traditions, curriculum, historical influences, and level of theological creativity, but differ in the types of associations they hold with other educational institutions and on their views concerning the relationship of graduate studies to ordination. Evangelical leaders support the maintenance of denominational distinctives, lack interest in interdenominational preparation of ministers, are satisfied with the current number and location of evangelical seminaries, and desire a Canadian approach to accreditation. The institutions are adjusting programs to better prepare students for ministry in Canada.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Evangelical seminaries in Canada are a diverse, growing, distinctive group which merits recognition and which needs dialogue with others in theological education. Their presidents and deans agree more closely with one another on the issues raised than they do with leaders of their supporting denominations.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Higher Education Administration PhD

Year

1985

Author dc:creator

• Oke, Edward Lawrence

Contributors dc:contributor

• Bernard M. Lall
• E. Stanley Chace
• Clifton A. Keller

• Higher Education
• Other Religion

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/612

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.andrews.edu:dissertations-1611