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Former names | Presbyterian Theological College |
|---|---|
| Established | 1912 |
Religious affiliation | United Church of Canada |
Academic affiliations | Saskatoon Theological Union Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada University of Saskatchewan |
| Principal | Richard Manley-Tannis |
| Location | 52°07′44″N106°38′31″W / 52.129°N 106.642°W /52.129; -106.642 |
| Website | standrews |
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St. Andrew’s College, formerly thePresbyterian Theological College, is a degree-granting, accredited theologically ecumenical seminary of theUnited Church of Canada.[1] It is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and was the second affiliated college of theUniversity of Saskatchewan.[2] Along with theCollege of Emmanuel and St. Chad (Anglican Church of Canada), and theLutheran Theological Seminary, Saskatoon (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada), it makes up theSaskatoon Theological Union (STU).[3]
The Presbyterian Theological College was founded in 1912 and confirmed by an Act of theSaskatchewan Legislature in 1913.[4][5][6] That same year,Edmund H. Oliver began his tenure as the first principal of the college, appointed by thePresbyterian General Assembly of Canada.[5] The college was initially founded to meet the needs of students "who had declared their intention of entering the ministry",[7] and in 1920 started training workers amongNew Canadians.[8]
In 1914, Presbyterian Theological College began the construction of a building on the University of Saskatchewan property but was disrupted by World War I after most of its student body enlisted.[9] The building that St. Andrew's currently occupies was developed in 1922. It had 28 students in 1921-22: ten from Canada, seven from Scotland, five from England, three from Ireland, and one each from France, Hungary, and the United States.[10]
In 1925, Presbyterian Theological College was renamed St. Andrew's College, following the formation of theUnited Church of Canada.[6]
St. Andrew's invested its first woman graduate in 1922,Lydia Emelie Gruchy, though it would take an additional 13 years for her ordination by the United Church of Canada.[11] The college had a number ofconscientious objectors inWorld War II and the government threatened to close the college in 1942 unless all eligible men would enlist.[12]
The concept of justice and equity were increasingly preoccupations of the college throughout the 1960s, cementing its reputation as a progressive and politically activist theological school. The 1970s saw a shift in student demographics as more women began enrolling and graduating. In 2009, St. Andrew’s began participating in the Affirming Ministries Program ofAffirm United, a further shift for inclusivity and equity among diverse sexual orientations and gender identities.[13]
St. Andrew’s offers a variety of programs, including Master of Divinity (MDiv), Master of Theological Studies (MTS), and Doctor of Ministry (DMin) degrees. A range of learning certificates are also available, including “Leadership in the Faith Community”, “Leadership in the World”, and “Spiritual Exploration.”[14] St. Andrew's is accredited through theAssociation of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada.[15]