The Toronto School of Theology (TST) is an ecumenical consortium of seven theological colleges affiliated with the University of Toronto. Its seven member schools are Emmanuel College, Knox College, Regis College, St. Augustine's Seminary, the University of St. Michael's College, Trinity College Faculty of Divinity, and Wycliffe College. Since 2022, Regis College and the University of St. Micheal's College have operated academically as the federated Regis-St. Michael's Faculty of Theology.
The Toronto School of Theology is the largest ecumenical consortium for theological education in Canada. The TST consortium offers professional and academic degrees, for different educational purposes. 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.
History
thumb|The administrative offices of the Toronto School of Theology
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. The school's motto is the Greek word (), which is taken from 2 Corinthians 6:1 and means "We work together with Him" (or more loosely translates to "Co-worker"). 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. The Toronto School of Theology was also ranked No. 3 for the number of doctoral students that have graduated and gone on to positions in member schools of the Association of Theological Schools.
Toronto School of Theology libraries
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.
Journals
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.
See also
- Higher education in Ontario