About Us
Welcome to the Toronto School of Theology

The Toronto School of Theology and its member schools represent an unparalleled undertaking in ecumenical theological education. Together, they make up the largest ecumenical centre for theological education in Canada.

Bringing together a wide variety of Christian traditions in dialogue with each other, with other religions, and with the world of the secular university, this federation offers an exceptional opportunity to study and understand the complexity of the Christian religious experience, and to prepare for various forms of ministry in the contemporary world.

TST maintains a number of Advanced Degree Programs, administering them centrally, but making use of the resources of the member schools. The ThM, ThD and DMin degrees are awarded conjointly by the University and the student’s home college. The MA and PhD degrees are conferred by the University of St. Michael’s College.

It coordinates the Basic Degree Programs of the various schools, which lead to conjoint MDiv, MRel, MRE, MAMS, MPS, and MTS degrees, maintaining structures that facilitate the wide sharing of resources and common parameters within which these programs are to function.

A Message from the Director

I'm very glad that you're consulting the website of the Toronto School of Theology, one of the world's largest and most diverse consortia of theological schools.

Whether you're a prospective student thinking about applying for studies here, a current student making program decisions, a colleague in another academic community seeking information about our curriculum or faculty, a member of the public satisfying a curiosity about how a theological school works, or simply someone who has surfed here by accident (or are there any accidents?), I hope that you'll find what you're looking for.  If you don't, please write me at: alan.hayes @ utoronto.ca.

Dozens of Christian denominations are represented in the faculty and the student body of the TST.  We also have associations with Jewish and Buddhist programs.  Our classes are equally open to those who profess no religious adherence at all.

Some of our students are preparing for ordained or professional ministries in a church; others, without specific career goals in mind, have come to enlarge their understanding or deepen their faith; still others are involved in specialized advanced research, often with the hope of becoming university or seminary professors.  

We have students as young as 20 years and as old as 81, and they come from Canada, the United States, and over sixty other countries.  We work closely with the University of Toronto, and our students have privileges in its marvelous research library system — the fourth largest in North America.  This is a great place for "faith seeking understanding"!  If what we offer might be helpful to you, I look forward to getting to know you better. 

Alan L. Hayes

Director

On behalf of

Emmanuel College – United Church of Canada
Knox College – Presbyterian Church in Canada
Regis College – Roman Catholic, Jesuit
St. Augustine’s College – Roman Catholic, Diocesan
St. Michael’s College – Roman Catholic, Basilian
Trinity College – Anglican Church of Canada
Wycliffe College – Anglican Church of Canada, Evangelical

Conrad Grebel University College– Mennonite
Institute for Christian Studies – Christian Reformed
Waterloo Lutheran Seminary – Evangelical Lutheran

Jewish Studies Program of St. Michael’s College
Nalanda School of Buddhist Studies
Toronto Institute for Pastoral Education
Toronto Mennonite Theological Centre

Our Mission

The Toronto School of Theology and its member schools share a strong commitment to critical reflection and scholarly research on the Christian faith and ministry, to an ecumenical environment for theological education, and to excellence in theological education and formation for various ministries in the Church and society.

TST offers a full range of professional and academic degrees, each designed for a special purpose within the framework of theological education. Its member schools award these degrees, some of them conjointly with the University of Toronto:

• The TST maintains a number of Advanced Degree Programs, administering them centrally, but making use of the resources of the member schools. The ThM, ThD and DMin are awarded conjointly by the University and a member school. The MA, and PhD are awarded by a member school.
  
• It coordinates the Basic Degree Programs of the various schools, which lead to conjoint MDiv, MRel, MRE, MAMS, MPS, and MTS degrees, maintaining structures that facilitate the wide sharing of resources and common parameters within which these programmes are to function.
• Go here to find out more about TST's degree programs

History

• In 1944, the Toronto Graduate School of Theological Studies (TGSTS) was formed to promote collaboration on the advanced degree level among theology schools affiliated with the University of Toronto.
• During 1969-1970, the success of this venture led to the foundation of the Toronto School of Theology. Other schools in the Toronto area entered into the federation and collaboration was extended to the basic degree level. Legal incorporation took place in April 1970.
• In 1979, the TST and its member schools entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the University of Toronto, making possible the conjoint granting of basic and advanced degrees in theology by the University and the member schools of the TST.

Structure and Background

From the outset, the TST has provided structures that are federated, collaborative, and consultative:

• TST is governed by a Board of Trustees made up of official representatives from the member schools, students, the University of Toronto and the wider community. (See our faculty and staff directory to see the current board's members.)
• The Basic Degree programs are regulated by the Basic Degree Council and, within parameters set by that Council, administered by the member schools. The Basic Degree Council includes school, faculty, student, field education and University representatives.
• The Advanced Degree programs are regulated and administered through the Advanced Degree Council, in collaboration with the TST Departments: Biblical, Historical, Pastoral, and Theological. The membership of that Council includes school, departmental, student and University representatives.
• The departments, as well as the Field Education Committee, determine and approve the curricular offerings needed to fulfil the requirements for the conjoint degree programs.

The proximity of the seven member schools in Toronto makes possible the effective sharing of their resources. With few exceptions, classes are held on the University of Toronto campus and employ a common timetable. This arrangement allows maximum flexibility for student program s and encourages individual students to take advantage of the vast array of resources available to them.

Today, TST is composed of seven member schools: Emmanuel College (United Church of Canada), Knox College (Presbyterian Church in Canada), Regis College (Roman Catholic: Jesuit), St. Augustine's Seminary (Roman Catholic: Diocesan), University of St. Michael's College (Roman Catholic: Basilian), University of Trinity College (Anglican), and Wycliffe College (Anglican).

The academic resources of the seven member schools in Toronto are strengthened by an affiliation with the Institute of Christian Studies (Christian Reformed) situated on the southern edge of the University of Toronto campus, Conrad Grebel College (Mennonite) at the University of Waterloo, and by courses offered at Waterloo Lutheran Seminary. Thus, the main currents of Anabaptist, Anglican, Protestant, Reformed and Roman Catholic traditions are represented. Collectively, these resources provide a rich environment for ecumenical education in a pluralistic age within the context of a major North American university complex.

• Go here to find out more about our member schools as well as affiliated institutions

TST students in any school have access to courses and facilities of other member schools and of the University of Toronto. They also have full access to Canada's largest university library system. Faculty members with few exceptions are drawn from the member schools and function in TST-wide departments. The vast majority teach on the Basic Degree level. Many of them function on the Advanced Degree level, having achieved a status recognized by the University of Toronto's School of Graduate Studies.

TST also functions in a number of ways as a service agency. It provides for the affiliation of institutions with closely related purposes, such as the Toronto Institute for Pastoral Education, with centres in hospitals and pastoral settings.

• Find out about other institutions and departments related to TST

TST and its member schools are fully accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada and make up the largest and leading ecumenical centre for theological education in Canada. In sum, the TST represents an unparalleled undertaking in ecumenical theological education. Bringing together a wide variety of Christian traditions in dialogue with each other, with other religions, and with the world of the secular university, this federation offers an exceptional opportunity to study and understand the complexity of the Christian religious experience, and to prepare for various forms of ministry in the contemporary world.