View source for Toronto School of Theology

{{Booster|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox university
| name = Toronto School of Theology
| image_name = TST Logo.jpeg
| type = Ecumenical consortium of [[theological colleges]]
| free_label = Purpose
| free = Higher theological education, graduate and entry-level degrees
| established = 1964
| academic_affiliation = [[University of Toronto]]
| city = [[Toronto]]
| province = [[Ontario]]
| country = Canada
| campus = [[Urban area|Urban]]
| website = {{url|https://www.tst.edu/}}
}}
The '''Toronto School of Theology''' ('''TST''') is an [[Ecumenism|ecumenical]] consortium of seven [[Seminary|theological colleges]]. It is affiliated with the [[University of Toronto]]. Its seven member schools are [[Emmanuel College, Toronto|Emmanuel College]], [[Knox College, Toronto|Knox College]], [[Regis College (Toronto)|Regis College]], [[St. Augustine's Seminary (Toronto)|St. Augustine's Seminary]], the [[University of St. Michael's College]], [[Trinity College, Toronto|Trinity College]] Faculty of Divinity, and [[Wycliffe College, Toronto|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. 

Academic standards are consistent with those of the [[University of Toronto]], which holds TST accountable through a highly developed process of quality assurance.<ref>{{cite web |title=Quality Assurance|url=https://www.vpacademic.utoronto.ca/quality-assurance/}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Programs {{!}} Toronto School of Theology|url=https://www.tst.edu/academic/programs}}</ref> 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==
[[File:Toronto School of Theology.JPG|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 [[Master of Divinity|MDiv]] and the [[Master of Religious Education|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 understanding|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.<ref name="archive.gg.ca">[http://reg.gg.ca/heraldry/pub-reg/project.asp?lang=e&ProjectID=207  Canadian Registry of Arms and Flags website]</ref> The school's motto is the Greek word {{Lang|grc|συνεργουντες}} ({{Transliteration|grc|synergountes}}), which is taken from [[2 Corinthians 6]]:1 and means "We work together with Him" (or more loosely translates to "Co-worker").<ref name="archive.gg.ca" />

==Member Institutions==
The Toronto School of Theology consists of seven member theological schools and is the largest ecumenical consortium for theological education in Canada.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Founded !! Denomination
|-
| [[Emmanuel College, Toronto|Emmanuel College]] || 1928 || [[United Church of Canada]]
|-
| [[St. Augustine's Seminary (Toronto)|St. Augustine's Seminary]] || 1913 || [[Roman Catholic]], [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto|Diocesan]]
|-
| [[Wycliffe College]] || 1877 || [[Anglican]], [[Evangelical Anglicanism|Evangelical]]
|-
| [[Regis College, Toronto|Regis College]] || 1930 || [[Roman Catholic]], [[Jesuit]]
|-
| [[Knox College, Toronto|Knox College]] || 1844 || [[Presbyterian Church in Canada]]
|-
| [[University of St. Michael's College]] || 1852 || [[Roman Catholic]], [[Congregation of St. Basil|Basilian]]
|-
| [[Trinity College, Toronto|Trinity College]], Faculty of Divinity || 1851 || [[Anglican Church of Canada]]
|}

===Affiliated Institutions===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Founded !! Denomination !! Parent Institution
|-
| [[Conrad Grebel University College]] || 1963 || [[Mennonite Church Canada|Mennonite]] || [[University of Waterloo]]
|-
| [[Institute for Christian Studies]] || 1967 || [[Christian Reformed Church in North America|Christian Reformed]] || {{N/A}}
|-
| [https://www.naiits.com/ NAIITS: An Indigenous Learning Community] || 1999 || Evangelical || {{N/A}}
|-
|}

==Academics==

=== Programs ===
The seven member colleges of the Toronto School of Theology (TST) offer basic degrees, master's degrees, and doctoral degrees in [[theology]].

The majority of TST's degrees are awarded conjointly by a TST member college and the [[University of Toronto]], while a few degrees, certificates and diplomas are solely awarded by a TST member college.

==== Basic Degrees ====
The following degrees are offered conjointly by the Toronto School of Theology (TST) member colleges and the [[University of Toronto]]. The degrees are listed below according to the categories of the Association for Theological Schools.

* [[Master of Divinity]]
* [[Master of Religious Education]]
* [[Master of Theological Studies]]
** Theology, Spirituality and the Arts
** Urban Community Development
* Master of [[Pastoral care|Psychospiritual Studies]]
** Spiritual Care stream and Certificate in Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy
** Spiritual Care focus
* Master of Arts in Ministry and Spirituality
* [[Master of Sacred Music]]

The following certificates are offered conjointly by TST member colleges and the University of Toronto. Not all TST member colleges offer all certificates.

* Certificate in Theological Studies (CTS)
* Certificate in Theology and Interreligious Engagement (CTIE)

==== Graduate Degrees ====
The Toronto School of Theology (TST) has the largest graduate program in theology in Canada. TST offers two advanced master's degrees, the [[Master of Theology]] (ThM) and the [[Master of Arts]] in Theology (MA). Both degrees are granted conjointly by the University of Toronto and the TST member school in which the student is registered. TST's doctoral program leads towards the [[Doctor of Philosophy]] in Theological Studies (PhD), granted conjointly by the University of Toronto and the TST member school in which the student is registered. The [[Doctor of Ministry]] (DMin) program is a professional doctoral degree granted conjointly by the University of Toronto and the TST member school in which the student is registered.

The following graduate degrees are awarded conjointly by a TST member college and the [[University of Toronto]]:

* Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Theological Studies
* Master of Arts (MA) in Theological Studies
* Master of Theology (ThM)
* Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

===Reputation and rankings===

In the 2021 [[QS World University Rankings]], the Toronto School of Theology/University of Toronto was ranked No. 1 in Canada and No. 11 in the world for Theology, Divinity & Religious Studies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/university-subject-rankings/2021/theology-divinity-religious-studies|title=QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021: Theology, Divinity & Religious Studies}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2012/11/ranking-theology-programs|title = A 2012 Ranking of Graduate Programs in Theology &#124; R. R. Reno| date=26 November 2012 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wycliffecollege.ca/about-us/toronto-school-theology|title=Toronto School of Theology|date=19 June 2015}}</ref>

==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.<ref>{{cite web
  | last = Association of Research Libraries
  | title = ARL Statistics 2004-05
  | url = http://www.arl.org/bm~doc/arlstat05.pdf#page=66
  | format = PDF
  | pages = 66–69
  | access-date = 2007-01-23
  | archive-date = 2008-12-16
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081216221106/http://www.arl.org/bm~doc/arlstat05.pdf#page=66
  | url-status = dead
  }}</ref><ref>
{{cite web
  | last = University of Toronto Libraries
  | title = Annual Statistics
  | url = http://content.library.utoronto.ca/general-information/news/annual-statistics
  | access-date = 2007-01-23}}</ref>

==Journals==
{{main|Toronto Journal of Theology}}
''[[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]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commonscat}}
*{{official|https://www.tst.edu/}}

{{Toronto School of Theology}}
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[[Category:Seminaries and theological colleges in Canada]]
[[Category:University of Toronto]]