Tyndale University College and Seminary
Encyclopedia
Tyndale University College and Seminary is an accredited Christian
institution of higher education in the Protestant Evangelical
tradition located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Tyndale students come from over 40 different Christian denominations and more than 30 different ethnic groups. Tyndale offers undergraduate and graduate programs. A student residence is located on its main campus at 25 Ballyconner Court, Toronto.
, and then moved to the University of Toronto's Varsity Stadium
to accommodate crowds as large as 6,000.
In the 1940s, the school's president, John McNicol, steered a path between modernism
and ultra-fundamentalism
(specifically dispensationalism
)--both of which McNicol denounced as threats to the health of the church. This unique position gained TBC the support of evangelicals in a variety of mainline denominations.
In 1968, Toronto Bible College merged with the London College of Bible and Missions from London, Ontario
. LCBM began in 1935 as London Bible Institute, led by Dr. J. Wilmot Mahood. The newly merged institution was named Ontario Bible College (OBC). This merger brought more students to the Toronto-based institution from other evangelical denominations including the Associated Gospel Churches
, the Brethren
, and the Mennonite Brethren. In 1976 OBC relocated to a former Jesuit seminary (Regis College
) in Willowdale
, Toronto (formerly City of North York
), designed by modernist architect Peter Dickinson
. In the same year, the institution also established a graduate school named Ontario Theological Seminary (OTS). OBC/OTS was given degree granting powers by the Government of Ontario in 1986, and received full accreditation by the Association of Theological Schools in 1989.
By 1995, the institution had become insolvent and filed to make a proposal to creditors under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act in Canada. A new president, Brian Stiller
, and CFO, Winston Ling, were brought on and a new board was chosen. In 1998 the school was renamed Tyndale College and Seminary after William Tyndale
, a Reformation
theologian of the sixteenth century. The leadership intended the name change to indicate their vision to build "a world-class centre of Christian higher education in Canada."
In 2003, the Ontario Legislature authorized Tyndale to change its name to Tyndale University College & Seminary. Tyndale was also given the right to confer the Bachelor of Arts
degree in the humanities, social sciences and business, as well as undergraduate, graduate and doctoral level degrees in religion, theology, and divinity. On December 5, 2007, Tyndale was given ministerial consent by the Province of Ontario to offer a 12-month Bachelor of Education
program to prepare teachers for primary, junior, and intermediate grades.
In June 2006, Tyndale entered into an agreement to acquire a neighboring facility, St. Joseph's Morrow Park, from the Sisters of St. Joseph
of Toronto. A key reason for Vatican approval of the pending transfer of the campus from Catholic to Protestant hands was Tyndale's commitment to maintain the aesthetically significant chapel as "sacred space". The facility transfer will be implemented over a period of up to ten years.
In the 2009-10 academic year, Tyndale Seminary was the largest accredited seminary (by head-count) in Canada with more than 650 students and the University College received high rankings in the 2009 Maclean's
University issue's measure of student satisfaction (see below). In 2011, student satisfaction was amongst the highest of all Canadian universities. While students ranked the quality of teaching and classroom discussion above average, the Maclean's study also found the institution below average in some educational practices, including active and collaborative learning.
, Bachelor of Religious Education
, and Bachelor of Education
.
The four-year Bachelor of Arts offers an integrative Great Books program in its first year. Majors in business administration, English, history, philosophy, psychology, and religious studies receive a foundation of general knowledge before moving on to their areas of specialization. Tyndale offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in human services conjointly with Seneca College
, which allows a student to earn a BA degree from Tyndale plus a diploma in either early childhood education or social service work from Seneca. Graduates of the twelve-month BEd program are eligible for a Certificate of Qualification from the Ontario College of Teachers
. The Bachelor of Religious Education (BRE) is a three-year professional degree for students preparing for various forms of Christian ministry. Tyndale also offer a one-year Certificate in Christian Studies.
In 2008 Tyndale received the top score in the Canadian University Survey Consortium survey of students who agreed or strongly agreed that they are satisfied with the quality of teaching they have received; the results were subsequently published in the Maclean's
2009 University issue. Tyndale also ranked first overall in the number of students who strongly agreed that they are satisfied with their "decision to attend this university".
is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada
and approved to grant the following graduate degrees: Doctor of Ministry
, Master of Theology
, Master of Divinity
, and Master of Theological Studies
. In addition, Tyndale Seminary also offers graduate diploma programs in six areas of concentration: Christian studies, leadership, missions, pastoral and Chinese ministry foundations, spiritual formation
, and youth and family ministry. The seminary offers courses in the traditional day and evening format and online.
Tyndale Seminary offers all of the courses required by the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy for certification as a Registered Marriage and Family Therapist
. Graduates of this program can move toward credentialing in the Province of Ontario to offer psychotherapy
in agencies (secular or Christian) or in private practice.
In 2006, an agreement was reached with the Association of Canadian Chinese Theological Education to establish the Canadian Chinese School of Theology at Tyndale Seminary (CCSTTS) for the training of Mandarin-speaking students and pastors.
, has a mission to advance Chinese ministries in North America and around the world. The Tyndale Centre for Leadership is mandated to foster the development of Canadian Christian leaders in congregational contexts, Christian organizations, the marketplace and public sectors. The Tyndale Intercultural Ministries Centre's mandate is to link a vast network of local churches, denominations and mission organizations, in partnership with church and para-church organizations by offering training seminars and professional development workshops. The seminary is also home of the Tyndale Association of Spiritual Directors.
to award its graduate theological degrees. The University is also accredited with the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, as well as the Association for Biblical Higher Education. Tyndale is an affiliate of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities
and the Christian Higher Education Canada
(CHEC) association.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
institution of higher education in the Protestant Evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
tradition located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Tyndale students come from over 40 different Christian denominations and more than 30 different ethnic groups. Tyndale offers undergraduate and graduate programs. A student residence is located on its main campus at 25 Ballyconner Court, Toronto.
History
The Toronto Bible Training School was founded in 1894 and soon changed its name to Toronto Bible College. It became the first permanent Canadian Bible school and only the third in North America. The founders' vision of TBC was to train laypeople as "Sunday School teachers, Pastors' Assistants, and as City, Home and Foreign Missionaries." The institution's leadership was largely Baptist and Presbyterian, but also included Methodists and Anglicans. The TBC graduation service was always a significant Toronto event, held initially at Massey HallMassey Hall
Massey Hall is a venerable performing arts theatre in the Garden District of downtown Toronto. The theatre originally was designed to seat 3,500 patrons but, after extensive renovations in the 1940s, now seats up to 2,765....
, and then moved to the University of Toronto's Varsity Stadium
Varsity Stadium
Varsity Stadium is a collegiate football stadium that is home to the Varsity Blues, the athletic teams of the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. While the present structure was built in 2007, it is in fact the third major incarnation of the stadium that has occupied the same site...
to accommodate crowds as large as 6,000.
In the 1940s, the school's president, John McNicol, steered a path between modernism
Modernism (Roman Catholicism)
Modernism refers to theological opinions expressed during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but with influence reaching into the 21st century, which are characterized by a break with the past. Catholic modernists form an amorphous group. The term "modernist" appears in Pope Pius X's 1907...
and ultra-fundamentalism
Fundamentalism
Fundamentalism is strict adherence to specific theological doctrines usually understood as a reaction against Modernist theology. The term "fundamentalism" was originally coined by its supporters to describe a specific package of theological beliefs that developed into a movement within the...
(specifically dispensationalism
Dispensationalism
Dispensationalism is a nineteenth-century evangelical development based on a futurist biblical hermeneutic that sees a series of chronologically successive "dispensations" or periods in history in which God relates to human beings in different ways under different Biblical covenants.As a system,...
)--both of which McNicol denounced as threats to the health of the church. This unique position gained TBC the support of evangelicals in a variety of mainline denominations.
In 1968, Toronto Bible College merged with the London College of Bible and Missions from London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
. LCBM began in 1935 as London Bible Institute, led by Dr. J. Wilmot Mahood. The newly merged institution was named Ontario Bible College (OBC). This merger brought more students to the Toronto-based institution from other evangelical denominations including the Associated Gospel Churches
Associated Gospel Churches
The Associated Gospel Churches of Canada, commonly known as AGC, is a Canadian evangelical Christian denomination.- Background :The Associated Gospel Churches of Canada can trace its origins to the 1890s, when the AGC began a group of independent churches, in Ontario, Canada, that was joined...
, the Brethren
Brethren
Brethren is a name adopted by several Protestant Christian bodies which do not necessarily share historical roots. As classified in The Pilgrim Church by EH Broadbent, the earliest primitive churches to Paulician Brethren, to Bogomil Brethren, to Anabaptist and to Moravian Brethren were historical...
, and the Mennonite Brethren. In 1976 OBC relocated to a former Jesuit seminary (Regis College
Regis College, University of Toronto
Regis College is a theological college of the University of Toronto, founded in 1930 and affiliated with the Society of Jesus. It is an entirely postgraduate college and a member institution of the Toronto School of Theology.-History:...
) in Willowdale
Willowdale, Toronto
Willowdale is an established, affluent community in the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, located in the district of North York. It was originally called Lansing, which is now the name of a nearby neighbourhood....
, Toronto (formerly City of North York
North York, Ontario
North York is a dissolved municipality within the current city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it comprises the central part of the northern section of Toronto. As of the 2006 Census, it has a population of 635,370. The official 2001 census count was 608,288...
), designed by modernist architect Peter Dickinson
Peter Dickinson (architect)
Peter Allgood Rastall Dickinson, , was a British-born architect responsible for many modernist buildings in Toronto....
. In the same year, the institution also established a graduate school named Ontario Theological Seminary (OTS). OBC/OTS was given degree granting powers by the Government of Ontario in 1986, and received full accreditation by the Association of Theological Schools in 1989.
By 1995, the institution had become insolvent and filed to make a proposal to creditors under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act in Canada. A new president, Brian Stiller
Brian Stiller
Brian C Stiller is president of the Tyndale Foundation, of the Tyndale University College & Seminary in Toronto, Canada.Stiller was raised in a Pentecostal minister’s home on the prairies. Educated at the University of Toronto , Wycliffe College Brian C Stiller (born 1942) is president of the...
, and CFO, Winston Ling, were brought on and a new board was chosen. In 1998 the school was renamed Tyndale College and Seminary after William Tyndale
William Tyndale
William Tyndale was an English scholar and translator who became a leading figure in Protestant reformism towards the end of his life. He was influenced by the work of Desiderius Erasmus, who made the Greek New Testament available in Europe, and by Martin Luther...
, a Reformation
English Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
theologian of the sixteenth century. The leadership intended the name change to indicate their vision to build "a world-class centre of Christian higher education in Canada."
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in the humanities, social sciences and business, as well as undergraduate, graduate and doctoral level degrees in religion, theology, and divinity. On December 5, 2007, Tyndale was given ministerial consent by the Province of Ontario to offer a 12-month Bachelor of Education
Bachelor of Education
A Bachelor of Education is an undergraduate academic degree which qualifies the graduate as a teacher in schools.-North America:...
program to prepare teachers for primary, junior, and intermediate grades.
In June 2006, Tyndale entered into an agreement to acquire a neighboring facility, St. Joseph's Morrow Park, from the Sisters of St. Joseph
Sisters of St. Joseph
The title Sisters of St. Joseph applies to several Roman Catholic religious congregations of women. The largest and oldest of these was founded in Le Puy-en-Velay, France...
of Toronto. A key reason for Vatican approval of the pending transfer of the campus from Catholic to Protestant hands was Tyndale's commitment to maintain the aesthetically significant chapel as "sacred space". The facility transfer will be implemented over a period of up to ten years.
In the 2009-10 academic year, Tyndale Seminary was the largest accredited seminary (by head-count) in Canada with more than 650 students and the University College received high rankings in the 2009 Maclean's
Maclean's
Maclean's is a Canadian weekly news magazine, reporting on Canadian issues such as politics, pop culture, and current events.-History:Founded in 1905 by Toronto journalist/entrepreneur Lt.-Col. John Bayne Maclean, a 43-year-old trade magazine publisher who purchased an advertising agency's in-house...
University issue's measure of student satisfaction (see below). In 2011, student satisfaction was amongst the highest of all Canadian universities. While students ranked the quality of teaching and classroom discussion above average, the Maclean's study also found the institution below average in some educational practices, including active and collaborative learning.
Undergraduate
The university college offers the following degrees: Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
, Bachelor of Religious Education
Bachelor of Religious Education
The Bachelor of Religious Education, or BRE, or B.R.E. is an undergraduate degree. It offers a broad education in the areas of scripture and theology. It differs from a BA degree in that approximately three quarters of the program is invested in studies outside of the liberal arts...
, and Bachelor of Education
Bachelor of Education
A Bachelor of Education is an undergraduate academic degree which qualifies the graduate as a teacher in schools.-North America:...
.
The four-year Bachelor of Arts offers an integrative Great Books program in its first year. Majors in business administration, English, history, philosophy, psychology, and religious studies receive a foundation of general knowledge before moving on to their areas of specialization. Tyndale offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in human services conjointly with Seneca College
Seneca College
Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology is a Canadian public college in the greater Toronto area. Seneca College is currently Canada's largest college with approximately 108,000 students.-History:...
, which allows a student to earn a BA degree from Tyndale plus a diploma in either early childhood education or social service work from Seneca. Graduates of the twelve-month BEd program are eligible for a Certificate of Qualification from the Ontario College of Teachers
Ontario College of Teachers
The Ontario College of Teachers is the regulatory body for the teaching profession in Ontario. It was established in 1997. The college's mandate is to license, govern and regulate the practice of teaching. It is also responsible for developing standards of teaching practice, regulating on-going...
. The Bachelor of Religious Education (BRE) is a three-year professional degree for students preparing for various forms of Christian ministry. Tyndale also offer a one-year Certificate in Christian Studies.
In 2008 Tyndale received the top score in the Canadian University Survey Consortium survey of students who agreed or strongly agreed that they are satisfied with the quality of teaching they have received; the results were subsequently published in the Maclean's
Maclean's
Maclean's is a Canadian weekly news magazine, reporting on Canadian issues such as politics, pop culture, and current events.-History:Founded in 1905 by Toronto journalist/entrepreneur Lt.-Col. John Bayne Maclean, a 43-year-old trade magazine publisher who purchased an advertising agency's in-house...
2009 University issue. Tyndale also ranked first overall in the number of students who strongly agreed that they are satisfied with their "decision to attend this university".
Seminary
The seminarySeminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada
Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada
The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada is an organization of seminaries and other graduate schools of theology. ATS has its headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and has more than 250 member institutions...
and approved to grant the following graduate degrees: Doctor of Ministry
Doctor of Ministry
The Doctor of Ministry degree is, according to The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada , a doctoral level degree oriented toward ministerial leadership often in an area of applied theology, such as missions, evangelism, church leadership, pastoral psychology or the...
, Master of Theology
Master of Theology
A Master of Theology is an advanced theological research degree offered by universities, divinity schools, and seminaries.-North America:In North America, the Master of Theology is considered by the Association of Theological Schools to be the minimum educational credential for teaching...
, Master of Divinity
Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
, and Master of Theological Studies
Master of Theological Studies
A Master of Theological Studies is a general academic degree that gives students an introduction to advanced theological studies. The M.T.S usually requires two years of program study to complete. The Latin equivalent for M.T.S...
. In addition, Tyndale Seminary also offers graduate diploma programs in six areas of concentration: Christian studies, leadership, missions, pastoral and Chinese ministry foundations, spiritual formation
Spiritual formation
Spiritual formation is the growth and development of the whole person by an intentional focus on one’s* spiritual and interior life* interactions with others in ordinary life...
, and youth and family ministry. The seminary offers courses in the traditional day and evening format and online.
Tyndale Seminary offers all of the courses required by the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy for certification as a Registered Marriage and Family Therapist
Family therapy
Family therapy, also referred to as couple and family therapy, family systems therapy, and family counseling, is a branch of psychotherapy that works with families and couples in intimate relationships to nurture change and development. It tends to view change in terms of the systems of...
. Graduates of this program can move toward credentialing in the Province of Ontario to offer psychotherapy
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a general term referring to any form of therapeutic interaction or treatment contracted between a trained professional and a client or patient; family, couple or group...
in agencies (secular or Christian) or in private practice.
In 2006, an agreement was reached with the Association of Canadian Chinese Theological Education to establish the Canadian Chinese School of Theology at Tyndale Seminary (CCSTTS) for the training of Mandarin-speaking students and pastors.
Centres
Tyndale Seminary houses three centres: the Hudson Taylor Centre for Chinese Ministries, the Tyndale Centre for Leadership, and the Tyndale Intercultural Ministries Centre. The Hudson Taylor Centre for Chinese Ministries, named after Hudson TaylorHudson Taylor
James Hudson Taylor , was a British Protestant Christian missionary to China, and founder of the China Inland Mission . Taylor spent 51 years in China...
, has a mission to advance Chinese ministries in North America and around the world. The Tyndale Centre for Leadership is mandated to foster the development of Canadian Christian leaders in congregational contexts, Christian organizations, the marketplace and public sectors. The Tyndale Intercultural Ministries Centre's mandate is to link a vast network of local churches, denominations and mission organizations, in partnership with church and para-church organizations by offering training seminars and professional development workshops. The seminary is also home of the Tyndale Association of Spiritual Directors.
Accreditation
Tyndale University College and Seminary is fully accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and CanadaAssociation of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada
The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada is an organization of seminaries and other graduate schools of theology. ATS has its headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and has more than 250 member institutions...
to award its graduate theological degrees. The University is also accredited with the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, as well as the Association for Biblical Higher Education. Tyndale is an affiliate of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities
Council for Christian Colleges and Universities
The Council for Christian Colleges and Universities is an organization designed to help primarily Protestant and evangelical Christian institutions of higher education cooperate and communicate with one another...
and the Christian Higher Education Canada
Christian Higher Education Canada
Christian Higher Education Canada, Inc. is a unique umbrella charitable organization, based in Ancaster, Ontario, that improves the efficiency and effectiveness of distinct universities and colleges that are intentionally Christ-centred...
(CHEC) association.
Alumni
Tyndale University College and Seminary and its predecessor institutions have had more than 9,000 alumni. Notable alumni include:- Grove, Merlin (1929–1962), farmer, missionary, and martyr
- Smith, Oswald J.Oswald J. SmithOswald Jeffrey Smith was a Canadian pastor, author, and missions advocate. He founded The People's Church in Toronto in 1928. He was a leading force in * Fundamentalism in Canada....
(1889–1986), pastor, author and missions advocate - Zacharias, RaviRavi ZachariasFrederick Antony Ravi Kumar Zacharias is an Indian-born, Canadian-American evangelical Christian apologist. Zacharias is the author of numerous Christian books, including Gold Medallion Book Award winner Can Man Live Without God? and bestsellers Light in the Shadow of Jihad and The Grand Weaver...
(b. 1946), apologist and evangelist