g n in f ia at o st br rs ri le ea Ch p3 Ce y g s 45 pin der p a ui Le
Eq
SUMMER 2013
5
Biblical perspectives on calls to ministry
7
Commissioning & Convocation 2013
President’s Message
The Mysterious Call It was the story about his aunt that stood out to me...
by Rev. Dr. Harry Gardner ’77 Harry Gardner is the President, Dean of Theology, and the Abner J. Langley and Harold L. Mitton Professor of Church Leadership.
In Luke 10:2, Jesus told his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” 2 ADC TODAY
On May 31, my wife, Gail, and I attended the memorial service for the Rev. Dr. Keith Hobson held at Grand Bay Baptist Church, New Brunswick. We knew Keith and his wife, Daisy, in their retirement years, and knew of their demonstrated love and commitment to Christ and His church. There were wonderful things recounted about Keith, about his early years in England and his pastoral leadership in Atlantic Canada before becoming the Executive Minister of the Convention of Atlantic Baptist Churches. I also recalled he was the first Chair of the Board for Acadia Divinity College. But there was one story that involved a comment made by Keith’s aunt when he was only twelve that spoke volumes to me. His aunt had been a missionary to China and looked straight at him and said, “You belong to Jesus.” From that moment, Keith had a sense that his life was not his own. He later experienced God’s call upon him to offer his life in ministry and by his late teens he was preaching regularly. His own inner sense of call was affirmed not only by his aunt but also by many others throughout his lifetime. Why did this story stand out to me? Only a few days earlier I had met with a student who shared how God seemed to be calling him to serve Him. The student had a particular view about what God’s call would look like. Although there had been many affirmations by others, there was a struggle as the student waited for inner confirmation. I have no doubt that there needs to be a combination of a personal compulsion to follow the Lord and the encouragement and blessing from the Body of Christ. My question is why do we sometimes get the impression that God has a ‘cookie-cutter call to ministry’ and it must look the same for everyone? For many years I have served on the Convention’s Board of Ministerial Standards and Education that meets with those who are preparing for ministry. I always enjoy reading the life stories of these people, their Christian experience as well as how their sense of God’s call is developing. When we interview the person we ask them to describe how the Lord is directing their lives towards ministry. Before coming to the Board an individual must first receive a church license to minister and, at the end of the process, it’s not the Convention that ordains them, but a local church. I have often heard it said (and I have said it many times myself) “The process towards ordination begins and ends with the local church.” And here is where I think we sometimes can be guilty of using
a cookie-cutter approach when dealing with this mysterious call of God. I expect that God’s call is unique in each person’s life. I also expect that there will be components of the call that could be the same since it is God’s Spirit that is at work. But perhaps we would do well to remind ourselves of what God said to Moses from the burning bush … to remove his sandals since where he was standing was holy ground. Or perhaps we need a sign that says, “Caution - God at work here”. If a student comes to discuss their discernment process with me about God’s call on their life and everything they say relates to what others are telling them, I will ask them to tell me about their personal experience with God. Perhaps a Scripture has been important or they have an inner constraint to serve the Lord. At other times, an individual may come and everything they say relates to their personal experience of what they believe God is saying to them. In those cases, I ask them to tell me about how others have affirmed their call. Perhaps they have been invited to lead a group in their church or they have been encouraged by a Pastor or church leader. Perhaps their sense of God’s call started when an aunt looked them straight in the eye and told them, “You belong to Jesus.” In some cultures, there is a lot of emphasis placed on the personal experience; that inner sense that the Spirit is at work. Sometimes this involves dreams and even a vision. In other cultures, it is the Body of Christ that is discerning that the person has gifts for ministry and others know God’s call on a person’s life before they do. Because we know that it is the Spirit who gives the gifts to be exercised in the Body of Christ, we need to be watchful and encouraging towards those God is calling to serve and lead. Let’s not quickly dismiss either the person who says they know they are called because they have been told by others or the person who has that inner conviction of God’s call but has not yet had the affirmation that comes by testing that call in serving others. God’s call is mysterious and wonderful. It seems we would be wise to pay attention to wise aunts and uncles, deacons and Sunday School teachers, youth leaders and colleagues who bring their encouragement to bear. And we would be wise to listen to the inner voice of the Spirit. God’s call is not one way or the other but both of these things. We can start with the mystery of prayer about all of this. n
Acadia University was founded by the Baptist denomination in 1838 and the preparation for ministry was carried on under various formats. After Acadia University was reorganized in 1966 by the Nova Scotia Government, the Baptists of Atlantic Canada began to operate the School of Theology under the name Acadia Divinity College (ADC), and on June 1, 1968, the College was established by an act of the Nova Scotia Legislature. Today, ADC exists as the official seminary of the Convention of Atlantic Baptist Churches, although the student body represents over 20 denominations, and continues as the Faculty of Theology of Acadia University. The University continues to grant the degrees. From the beginning, with Millard Cherry, the first Principal of ADC, and the newly appointed Abner Langley as an Associate Principal, the College was creative in delivering quality ministerial education. Building a new faculty, they brought together scholars and practical theologians to
offer what was then a typical Bachelor of Divinity (later called a Master of Divinity). Very soon, however, new emphases began with Charlie Taylor pioneering Clinical Pastoral Education in Canada with opportunities for students in prison ministry. Jerry Zeman’s love of and work in Baptist History made the Acadia Archives the second most used in Canada and initiated an Atlantic Baptist Heritage Series which now has 17 volumes. All of the faculty were active in their local churches and in the broader church ministries and that tradition continues. Under the leadership of Harold Mitton and Andrew MacRae, the College became national in scope as it drew students from all across Canada. The Faculté de Théologie Évangélique in Montréal became affiliated and its students received Acadia degrees. At one time the Executive Ministers of all the English-speaking Conventions or Unions of the Canadian Baptist Federation were ADC grads. Innovation continued with the first Chair in Evangelism in a Canadian seminary, rural and urban church courses and conferences, and new continuing education opportunities with the Simpson Lectures added to the traditional Hayward Lectures. As part of the growth, the College gained accreditation by the Association of Theological Schools which opened new doors of influence and provided an academic and ministry accountability which strengthened the offerings of the College.
The Call within the Call
A
call to give leadership in the Church of Christ is invariably accompanied by a call to prepare. When Jesus was building his ministry team to establish the church, He invited the disciples to come follow Him. After three years of learning from the Master, He commissioned them to go make disciples. For 45 years, Acadia Divinity College has been helping women and men answer that call and equipping them to offer their best to God.
45 Years of Equipping Christian Leaders
ADC student body of 1968/69 - Back Row, L-R, Wallace Jordan, Bob Childs, John Kaulback, Fred Crouse, Allan Jorgenson, David Allen, Edward Colquhoun Second to Back, L-R, Glen Lidstone, Jim Tanner, Roger Prentice, Harold Price, Stewart McLearn, John Boyd Third to Back, L-R, Jack Willett, Harry Waugh, Selwyn Hopkins, George Allaby, Dick Coffin Front Row, L-R, Pricilla Schofield, Mary Miles, Leanne Oickle, Audrey Manuel, Gerald “Joe” Fisher
by Dr. Robert Wilson Robert Wilson is the Thomas James Armstrong Memorial Professor of Practical Theology and Church History at Acadia Divinity College.
continued on page 4
SUMMER 2013 3
The Call within the Call
continued from page 3
The new millennium was greeted at ADC with a Lily Grant that enabled the Acadia educational experience to include various aspects of technology with the introduction of laptop computers for each student and the inclusion of a technology segment in each course. With wireless technology in the College it transformed teaching and internal and external communication. The new century also saw a major emphasis by the faculty on scholarship. With the addition of two Distinguished Professors, Craig Evans and Bill Brackney, along with President Lee McDonald, a new era of publishing and outreach into the Christian academic and popular scholarship widened the impact of the College. The Acadia Academic Series by Baker took the materials around the world. Two other innovations have transformed the work of the College. The first is the Doctor of Ministry Program. Begun and nurtured by Andrew MacRae, under Bruce Fawcett it became the largest in Canada with students from over 20 denominations. It has become international with the relationship with the International Baptist Theological Seminary of the European Baptist Federation and allows ADC to have an impact in many new areas. The second key innovation was the curriculum revision under Harry Gardner. It not only changed the program and broadened the offerings, but it also changed the delivery system. This new delivery system makes it possible for more students to study while in ministry thereby avoiding uprooting families and decreasing the debt load at graduation.
ADC Friends & Alumni SUPPER KC Irving Garden Room
Help us celebrate 45 Years of Equipping Christian Leaders
Saturday August 10 AT 4:45 REGISTER • 1-902-585-2210 • adcevents@acadiau.ca 4 ADC TODAY
To make ADC the significant educational institution is has become, it has taken a visionary Board of Trustees, a dedicated faculty and staff, many of whom labour without a lot of recognition other than from their appreciative students, and faithful donors who believe in the mission of the College. When all this has been said, it is, in fact, the alumni of ADC who are the College’s most significant contribution as they give leadership to the Church around the world. They have founded colleges in Nigeria and Hong Kong and created development projects and agencies in many parts of the world like David Mensah in Ghana. They are key faculty members in Canadian and American seminaries and Christian colleges as well as in other schools around the world. They are missionaries under Canadian Baptist Ministries and many other agencies. They provide denominational leadership around the world. They are military, hospital, and prison chaplains. They are involved in camping ministries, city missions, and a multitude of other ministries. Perhaps most important in the light of the mission of the College, we have a large number of women and men serving in local churches, both large and small, who provide pastoral care and proclaim the good news of the Risen Christ every week to God’s people. For 45 years it has been Acadia Divinity College’s privilege to be involved with their “call within a call”. When they answered Christ’s call to come follow Him, the College has helped equip them to go. n
by Rev. Dr. Glenn Wooden ’86 Glenn Wooden is the Associate Professor of Old Testament Studies at Acadia Divinity College and ADC Librarian.
W
Biblical perspectives on calls to ministry
hen I came to Acadia Divinity College as a student in 1981, I came to a place where the call of God was emphasized. I still remember sitting in classes with Dr. Andrew MacRae as he talked about the importance of a call to ministry. Some struggled with this notion because they had not experienced anything spectacular. About six years earlier, shortly after I became a Christian, I heard a voice, in the dead of the night, “Become a minister!” Among many Christians there is the strong belief that those aspiring to ministries among the people of God must experience such a “call of God”. The call of God to ministry is often understood as a strong or overwhelming compulsion. Sometimes it is experienced as a literal call; among others it is recognition of giftedness, arising out of the need to find leadership from within the congregation. What does the Bible have to say about this topic? As the result of my own experience, the teaching I received at ADC, and my own study of the Biblical text I will provide an overview of three kinds of calls in the Bible, and I will also consider the scriptural mandate to exercise both personal and corporate scrutiny of such calls.
Biblical models of calls to ministry Internal Calls The internal call is the one that most of us think of when we think of a call: the supernatural voice in the night, or vision; the “tap on the shoulder”. The call of Moses is possibly the most famous, Exodus 3:4-10: … God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”.... Then the Lord said, “... The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. So come, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.” The nature of these calls seems to be aural, something heard with the ears. But these are more likely internal calls: something produced by God for the individuals. Consider 1 Samuel 16 where Yahweh and the prophet Samuel have a conversation in the company of Jesse and his sons, and presumably other on-lookers. There is no indication in the text that Jesse and the others hear this conversation. See also Amos 7:15 and Ezekiel 8-11. A slightly different account is found in John 12:29, or Paul’s recollection of his call on the road to Damascus in Acts 22:9. There is an important note that I believe I must add. In the Bible, the people who received this kind of call did so in extraordinary circumstances. These people are what I like to call “God’s crisis managers”. Are pastors, missionaries, and
A
mong many Christians there is the strong belief that those aspiring to ministries among the people the people of God must experience such a “call of God”.
continued on page 10
SUMMER 2013 5
Annual Fund UPDATE by Rev. Dr. David Watt ’99 David Watt is the Director of Development of Acadia Divinity College.
“I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deacon in the church in Cenchrea. Welcome her in the Lord as one who is worthy of honoUr among God’s people. Help her in whatever she needs, for she has been helpful to many, and especially to me.” (Romans 16:1-2)
I
T h e Fro n t L i n e or t h e S u p p ly L i n e
have a vivid memory of meeting one of my brother’s friends while I was serving as a Canadian Baptist missionary. This man told me that his sister often travelled to Haiti to do missionary work and he added, “I would never be able to do what she does.” My response to this comment was, “Do you ever support her?” “Yes,” he replied, “I always help her financially.” I then affirmed him by saying that in order to go you need to be sent and you need the support of others. God calls some of us to the “front line” and others to the “supply line”.
Are you aware of your special divine calling? Both callings – being sent or helping to send - are vital to building the Kingdom of God. It was the famous missionary William Carey who asked his home team to “hold the ropes” as he ventured to India and a lifetime of service for Christ. Acadia Divinity College equips men and women to serve in some of the challenging and difficult areas of our world. They work daily on the front lines of mission. At the same time I’m very aware, as Director of Development, of the many loyal friends of the college who give faithfully and sacrificially to make this equipping and education for mission possible. One of our students at a recent Alumni banquet reminded us all of the great value he placed on the “supply line”. He said with passion, “If it were not for your support I would not be able to be at ADC.” In the final chapter of his letter to the Romans, Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the women and men who faithfully and
sacrificially supported his missionary work. It is a powerful passage on the value of teamwork. Like our ADC student, Paul is saying to the “supply line”, “If it were not for your help the work would not be done.” We are excited to be a link in God’s chain of mission to bring the world to Jesus, “the way, the truth, and the life”. We are thrilled to welcome and equip women and men God has uniquely called to serve on the front line of ministry today and to facilitate the resources of women and men God has uniquely called to serve on the supply line. It is a year filled with great promise as we look forward to renewed partnership with our many ADC friends.
Ways to Give
G
iving is as easy as writing a cheque, dropping off a cash gift, calling us with your credit card number or donating online at www.AcadiaDiv.ca/give.
A quick and easy way to make a regular monthly donation to ADC is to complete the Pre-Authorized Monthly Donation form. This form is available on our website. The designated amount will be taken from your bank account or credit card on the 8th day of every month. No hassles, no reminders, and no fuss. To discuss any of these options, please contact the Development Office at 902-585-2217 or email trisha.urquhart@acadiau.ca. We would be happy to discuss any number of options with you. n
$59,774
Our Annual Fund Goal is $410,000
as of June 25, 2013
$100,000
6 ADC TODAY
$200,000
$300,000
$400,000
COMMISSIONING & Convocation 2013 A n nA
Faculty and graduates following Convocation 2013.
nB Students and Faculty gather
after Commissioning Service on May 10.
nC
B n
C n
D n
Dr. Carol Anne Janzen, Dean of Students (R) presented Janet Baker (Bachelor of Theology) with the Special Service Award during Commissioning Supper.
nD Leis from Hawaii were given
to all 2013 Commissioning students as a gift from the church of Jonathan Steeper, a Doctor of Ministry graduate from Hawaii. In Hawaii, leis are given at graduations as a symbol of aloha, a greeting or a blessing, and are a selfless expression of love. The leis were hand made by an 89-year-old member of Jonathan’s church.
SUMMER 2013 7
8 ADC TODAY
Commissioning & Convocation 2013
F n
E n
nI
M n
G n
nE
Rev. Dr. Pierre Allard (L), who was the special speaker during Commissioning Service, received an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Acadia University during Convocation on May 12. He is seen here with Dr. Harry Gardner, President, ADC.
nF
Preparing for the Commissioning Service are Deborah Stevens (Master of Divinity), Lorraine Street (Master of Arts in Theology) and Sarah Stevens (Master of Divinity).
H n
nG Commissioning 2013 - left to right: Christopher
Barden, Graduate Diploma in Christian Studies, Mary Grace Hawkes, Master of Divinity, Michael Shaw, Graduate Diploma in Christian Studies, Chakrita Saulina, Master of Divinity, and Pam Estey, Diploma in Prison Ministry.
J n
H n
Master of Divinity graduate, Elaine Daigle, seen with ADC alumna Susan Mattinson (Class of 2011), at the Commissioning Supper.
nI
Lining up for Commissioning Service are friends Jim Smith (Bachelor of Theology) and Elkanah Shekari (Master of Arts in Theology).
K n
H nLn nJ
Doctor of Ministry graduates of 2013, left to right, Mike McDonald, Rhonda Britton (who was also the Baccalaureate Service speaker) and Jane Beers. Absent: Jonathan Steeper.
nK The family of Adrian Gardner gathered together to recognize his commissioning. Adrian graduated with a Master of Divinity degree.
nL
On May 12, Acadia Divinity College graduates led the 2013 Convocation of Acadia University.
M Ray Ivany, President, Acadia University, with n
Pierre Allard, Honorary Doctor of Divinity, with Libby Burnham, Chancellor of Acadia University, and Judith, Pierre’s wife.
nN Master of Divinity graduate, Chakrita Saulina,
seen here with Dr. Craig Evans, was the recipient of Acadia University’s Silver Medal in Theology. She also received ADC’s President’s Award presented during the Commissioning Supper.
N n
SUMMER 2013 9
Biblical perspectives on calls to ministry other kind of ministry leaders really to be thought of as God’s crisis managers among his people? Were there other kinds of calls in Scripture? There are at least two.
In the advice given to leaders in the books of 1 Timothy and Titus, scrutiny is called for: “If someone desires to be overseer, that person desires a noble work. Therefore, an overseer must be …” (author’s translation).
Natural Calls: Levites (Apostles) The second Biblical call comes through natural gifting. A clear example is Luke 1:57. “Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. AND they all rejoiced and said: Another priest to work in the temple of God!!!” John the Baptist was first called to be a priest. His was not a spectacular call to this high and holy position in Israel. It was his from birth as the son of a priest. As a calling to a ministry among the people of God, it was actually quite commonplace. Every Levitical and priestly child born a male and physically uncompromised was called to holy service. Under the first covenant it was hereditary. But Priests and Levites were the spiritual leaders and teachers of God’s people, the pastors of the flock of God who were charged with leading the people in worship, teaching them the law, and acting as experts in the law when there were matters of dispute or question. Along with their sacrificial roles, the Priests and Levites were, in some ways, the same as pastorteachers under the new covenant. It is important to note here that this mundane, natural call is overwhelmingly the most common means of call under the first covenant. There are more examples of the “internal” call highlighted in Scripture because so much of the Old Testament literature is focused on the crises of the people. But failure to place those calls in the larger context leads to the impression that the “internal”, prophetic call was the dominant one, when it was only sporadic and at crisis times. Where might we find parallels to this mundane call? Firstly, every Christian is gifted for some ministry. It is something that comes with the new birth. That is a parallel. However, there are also more mundane calls to professional ministry. Many readers of this will know of someone who has claimed that she/he had known from their earliest recollection what they wanted to do, for example to be a missionary or a pastor. Could this not be an equivalent calling to that of the Priests and Levites? It is similar at least in the sense that it
10 ADC TODAY
continued from page 5
was from very early in life, and it did not involve any spectacular point of ‘calling’ by God. External calls The final model of calling is the one placed upon someone by other members of a congregation or of the wider Church. Like David, such people might not be a first choice when thinking about possible candidates for ministry. But as people observe them in ministry, their gifts become evident. Look at what happens in Acts 13:1-3: “Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the ruler, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.” Here we have a group whom the Spirit tells to appoint Barnabas and Saul [Paul] to a new missionary endeavor. Other examples would be the selection of Aaron as High priest, through Moses; the call of Saul and David as kings, through Samuel. Whether through divine intervention, or seeing the person in a ministry setting and realizing that they are gifted for ministry, the unaware individual is first called to their ministry by others. Which call is the best? Rather than focus on just one I think that we need to see them as complementary, and be open to each. The person who says that they have heard a voice telling them to do something should not be given a higher regard than others. The person who is naturally gifted and who seems to have always known what they wanted to do should not be dismissed as having a less important call. Remember, in the ministry for God’s people under the first covenant, the vast majority of those “called to ministry” received their call on the day it was known that they were a male, born to the tribe of Levi. And finally, we should not shy away from deciding as a group that someone among us has shown gifts for ministry and needs to consider that God has called them to that ministry, and then urging them to seek the Lord’s will on that matter. Each of these calls is as valid as the other, because God is behind each one.
are two aspects to the scrutiny that the individual and the church body must exercise: candidates for ministry must (1) have a good Christian character (most of the qualifications have to do with characteristics that pertain to every Christian); and (2) be gifted for the function ‘manage’/leader and teaching.
Personal and corporate scrutiny of giftedness This then brings us to the second aspect of this topic: the need for the scrutiny of those who claim to be called. Before such public scrutiny is applied, however, potential candidates for ministry positions would do well to heed the words of Paul in Romans 12:3-8: “For by the grace given to me [Paul’s apostleship; see v. 6] I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” 1 Timothy 3:1 refers to people aspiring to the office of overseer or pastor. But there is a problem with “aspiring to the office of overseer”. What if one feels called for wrong reasons? The fact is that there are many people who are not self-aware enough to realize that what they perceive to be gifts are not. The New Testament does not leave the decision of call to the individual. In the advice given to leaders in the books of 1 Timothy and Titus, scrutiny is called for: “If someone desires to be overseer, that person desires a noble work. Therefore, an overseer must be …” (author’s translation). The subsequent characteristics are things that others must judge. Timothy is instructed to exercise discretion in the selection of those who “aspire to the office of overseer”. It was clearly understood in the Early Church that not every aspiring overseer was qualified, and if they failed to live up to the personal, communal, and ministry qualifications, then their aspiration, although well intended, must not to be affirmed. Paul instructed the believers in Corinth: 1 Corinthians 14:29 “Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. …. 32 And the spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets…” We are to exercise self-scrutiny and also submit to the scrutiny of others. In the 1 Timothy passage there
So, Biblical calls are never merely personal. There is throughout Scripture the notion that those who claim to be called by God to a ministry must give evidence of the godly character requsite to that calling. If called as a prophet, then they must demonstrate the ability to prophecy, and it must be scrutinized by others. If called to pastoral ministry, then they must be able to teach and lead the people of God, and they must be verified by others as having those requsite skills. The same would be true of any other ministry.
“Where do I go from here?” This is a question asked by many people exploring a call from God. I give the following advice, in addition to prayer and Scripture study: • Be involved in ministry in your local church to discover and confirm your gifts.
• Assess your own abilities by using your gifts as a layperson.
• Assess your motivations. • Ask others to assess your abilities and
Paul instructed the believers in Corinth: 1 Corinthians 14:29 “Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. …. 32 And the spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets…“
motivations. Tell people that you are seeking to know if you have gifts for ministry; invite them to observe you.
Be truly open to
people’s comments on your ministry.
If
people are openly positive, it is a good sign. If people are reluctantly positive, they may be just trying not to hurt your feelings.
• Find out what it is like in professional
ministry. Talk to pastors, chaplains, pastoral counselors about what they do; can you honestly picture yourself doing that?
• Be willing to go through the process of recognition in your denomination.
• Train at an accredited seminary or in some other accredited training program. n
SUMMER 2013 11
“Re-Visioning Community Chaplaincy”
Conference W
ho ministers to people when they are released from the artificial environment of prison and try to find their way back into society again? A dedicated group of
individuals known as Community Chaplains carries out the vital ministry of personal and spiritual care and practical support for previously incarcerated people. Over the weekend of May 30-June 2, 2013, ADC’s Taylor Centre for Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care hosted over seventy Community Chaplains from across Canada as well as a chaplain from Rwanda. They gathered on the Acadia campus to develop national connections, to explore sustainable funding for this ministry, to share best practices, and to enjoy mutual encouragement and support – and to experience warm Maritime hospitality!
by Rev. Dr. Carol Anne Janzen ’95 and Lorraine Street Carol Anne Janzen, Director of the Charles J. Taylor Centre for Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care and Lorraine Street, Administrator for the Community Chaplaincy Conference.
ADC partnered with agencies such as Prison Fellowship Canada, Mennonite Central Committee, Friends of Dismas (Toronto), and charitable foundations in order to hold the conference.
Community Chaplaincy was born in the Maritimes, around the kitchen table of Judy and Pierre Allard, when Pierre was Chaplain at Dorchester Institution and Regional Chaplain for the Atlantic Region. From this humble beginning, a Canadian model developed that is now recognised and emulated around the world. Community Chaplains believe that every single person — including one who has broken the law and been incarcerated—is a beloved child of God, and they strive to demonstrate God’s love and forgiveness for each one. As one participant suggested, this ministry could well be called “second chance ministry”. It calls to mind the gardener’s plea in Jesus’ Parable of the Barren Fig Tree, “Sir, give it one more chance.” [Luke 13: 8, NLT] n
Standing L-R: Stephen Siemens, Mennonite Central Committee Canada; Eileen Henderson, Mennonite Central Committee Ontario; Judith Laus, Prison Fellowship Canada; Shauna Mayer, Mennonite Central Committee Ontario; Tom O’Connor, Consultant, Transforming Corrections, Oregon; Brian McDonough, Diocese de Montreal; Kris Knutson, Do Likewise Society; Scott MacIsaac, Island Chaplaincy; Laurent Champagne, Diocese de Montreal; Pat Wilson, Community Chaplain, Halifax; Hugh Kirkegaard, Regional Chaplain, Correctional Service of Canada. Seated L-R: Harry Nigh, Community Chaplain, Toronto; Michael Walsh, Friends of Dismas; Carol Anne Janzen, Director, Taylor Centre, ADC. Absent: Lorraine Street, Conference Administrator, ADC.
May 31–June 13, 2014
Holy Land Tour Join Dr. Glenn Wooden and Dr. Anna Robbins as they Journey and Discover Israel and Palestine
12 ADC TODAY
• Students may take one or two courses (1 Bible; 1 Theology) for a total of up to 6 credit hours for the one tour. • Non-students are welcome to join the tour. • There is a pre-tour option going to Egypt and the Sinai Peninsula.
For more information online, fill in the box at: www.jcbs.org/find_trip Tour = JC14 Date = 053114 W ID# = 53507
“Vengeance Is the Most Seductive Drug We Have”
A Course on Restorative Justice In June I had the wonderful opportunity to be part of a civilization in a class on Restorative Justice, taught by Rev. Dr. Pierre Allard, society can be former Chaplain General and Assistant Commissioner of judged by the Correctional Service of Canada. Quite simply, it was entering its an exceptional week, full of fascinating theory and real-life prisons.” experience with excellent guest speakers including the Director Dostoevsky General of the Aboriginal Issues Branch of the CSC, a former warden from Kingston Penitentiary, the Atlantic Regional Chaplain of the CSC, and the Executive Director of Prison Fellowship Rwanda. Students also came from many different walks and stages of life, which brought a richness to the discussions.
“The degree of
What made the week truly special, though, was Pierre’s passion and joy that overflowed to all of us until we saw offenders through his eyes and felt their stories with his heart. This was far from a soft gushy course, however, as Pierre called each one of us to a higher standard for our lives and our contribution to society, whether we are Christians or not. He inspired us to choose to believe
by Samantha West Samantha West is a Master of Divinity student at Acadia Divinity College.
in people’s ability to change, and in the reality of God’s unfathomable capacity to make us into new creations. As the week progressed, I could tell that this course was ministering to people in areas where they had become brittle and parched. I sensed a growing feeling of peace in people, a willingness to be vulnerable again, a desire to trust more and open up. For me personally, it was such a blessing to see and know that the spiritual gifts of mercy and encouragement can truly change the world, even when we are offering these ministries at the very edges of society. Somehow the course pushed us to look at life as idealists but work as realists, and be willing to accept the inevitable tension. It was a beautiful course, and one I will take with me in my heart no matter where God may lead. It was wonderful to be taught by a wise and humble Christian leader as he looks back and reflects on his long career, while still living with such energy and vision and faith that that those around him feel uplifted in his presence. The many true stories about the deeply wounded side of humankind cannot be easily or comfortably forgotten, nor assimilated without response. We are challenged to apply the principles of restorative justice wherever we may be, to journey with others in their most difficult moments, and to foster healing and reconciliation within our communities. n
Micah 6:8: “No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
SUMMER 2013 13
PHOTOS OF INTEREST
Simpson Lectures 2013. Dr. Stephen McMullin, the special speaker during the Simpson Lectures, spoke on “Christian Witness in an Age of Change”.
In May 2013, two Acadia Divinity College students received the Praxis Scholarship through Canadian Baptist Ministries (CBM) and travelled to Cuba with three other seminary students and two leaders. In the photo from left to right, Rev. Marlene Knowles, a Doctor of Ministry student, Rev. Estela Hernandez of the William Carey Baptist Church in Havana, Cuba, and Mat Wilton, a student in the Master of Divinity program. Each year, ADC students are invited by CBM to apply for a Praxis Scholarship.
Dr. Ron Sider shares a light moment with our Doctor of Ministry (DMin) students during their spring course in Wolfville. The DMin students, who gathered from across Canada and many corners of the world, also enjoyed courses with Drs. Larry Hurtado, Bill Webb, Scott Hafemann, Robert Johnston and Catherine Barsotti, and ADC’s own, Bill Brackney. 14 ADC TODAY
ADC Remembers Keith Hobson Acadia Divinity College and the wider Christian community was saddened by the recent passing of Rev. Dr. Keith R. Hobson. The guiding principle of his life was that, considering all that Jesus Christ had done and given for him, he could not give any less than his best for his Lord. In 1949, Keith and Daisy left their homeland of England and followed God’s call to minister in the Canadian Maritimes where he served as the senior minister of several churches. He was elected the President of the Convention of Atlantic Baptist Churches and in 1970 became Executive Minister of the Convention, a position he held for 14 years. He was founding Chair of the Board of Trustees of Acadia Divinity College, served on the Board of Atlantic Baptist College (Crandall University) and the Spencer Memorial (Seniors) Home. In his capacity as Executive Minister, he led the Board of Ministerial Standards and Education and held many other leadership positions. Following his retirement from the Convention he served in a number of pastoral ministries as well as was the Interim General Secretary for the Canadian Baptist Federation.
God provided Keith with gifts of leadership, faith, teaching, and wisdom. In addition to these spiritual gifts, he had incredible physical stamina for the many demands of ministerial life and calling. He was widely sought out as a counsellor whose wisdom was greatly appreciated. His contribution to God’s Kingdom spans several continents, but he was never more loved and appreciated than in his adoptive home of Canada.
A scripture that Keith lived by, Matthew 22: 36-40 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighboUr as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Alumni News 1946 Carrol Armstrong of Torbrook Mines, NS passed away on February 15, 2013. In 1951, he married his wife, Jean, and began his ministry. Youth ministry was a significant focus of Carrol’s work throughout his life. Carrol also received recognition from Acadia Divinity College for his work with Rural Life Services. He will be missed by many. 1971 Morley SHAW has completed his interim ministry at Bayview District of Baptist Churches, NS. 1980 Joao Matwawana completed his ministry as Associate Pastor for Visitation and Pastoral Care at Faith Baptist Church in Lower Sackville, NS. 1984 Robert Nickerson has accepted a call to serve as Interim Pastor of St. Andrew’s Baptist Church, NB. 1993 Brian WALLACE has completed his ministry at Zion United Baptist Church, Yarmouth, NS.
1996 Donald DUNN has completed his ministry at Aenon and Western Shore Baptist Churches, NS and has accepted a call to serve at Norton Baptist Church, NB. 1996 Leon LANGILLE has completed his ministry at Kingston Baptist Church, NS. 2000 Jack and Audrey CARTER have completed their ministry at Barrington Temple Baptist Church, NS and have accepted a call to serve as Pastors of Hillsburn Baptist Church, NS. 2004 Andrew MORSE has completed his ministry as Associate Pastor of Hillsborough Baptist Church, NB. 2004 Jason Hinsdale has accepted a call to serve at Kingsboro Baptist Church, PEI.
2007 Karen DOUCETTE has accepted a call to serve at Alton Baptist Church, NS. 2008 Darren MILLETT has completed his ministry at St. George Baptist Church, NB and has accepted a call to serve at New Life Baptist Church, Hatchet Lake, NS. 2009 David CUMBY has completed his ministry at Bridgetown, Centrelea and West Dalhousie Baptist Churches, NS. 2011 Libby AMIRAULT has accepted a call to serve as Interim Pastor of Melvern Square United Baptist Church, NS. 2012 Hal BABCOCK has completed his ministry at Middle Southampton Baptist Church, NB.
2006 Virginia DEADDER has completed her ministry at Mount Denson United Baptist Church, NS.
SUMMER 2013 15
If undeliverable please return to: Acadia Divinity College 15 University Avenue Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6 41228525
A Student’s Call to Ministry
16
Doug Duncan ADC TODAY
A
t 44 years old I often get asked, “How did you know you were “called” to ministry?” Many wonder why I would leave a successful career of 15 years, give it all up, and go to seminary. Trying to describe “the call” is sometimes like finding a needle in a haystack; it’s not that simple. However, I’ve come to realize that there were stages in the process.
The perfect timing of God: Following Christ is often an exciting but challenging journey. God requires all believers to “walk by faith and not by sight”; I was no exception. The day God asked me to leave my job, I did so by faith. One year later I was enrolled at Acadia Divinity College. n
The nudge of God: After I surrendered my life to Jesus, I began serving wherever and whenever I could. This desire continued as I matured as a believer. Eventually people around me, Christian and non-Christians, began to make comments like, “you should be a pastor.” These comments connected with me in a significant way and I began asking God if that is what he wanted.
16 ADC TODAY
August 9, 2013 ADC Open House in the afternoon – All are welcome as we come together to celebrate 45 years of Equipping Christian Leaders! August 10, 2013 ADC Friends & Alumni Supper Please register at adcevents@acadiau.ca September 23 & 24, 2013 George Rawlyk Memorial Lectures Guest Speaker: Nick Bunker October 21 – 23, 2013 Hayward Lectures The Heart of the Old Testament Guest Speaker: Mark Boda November 8, 2013 Religion Soup - Saint Mary’s University Speaker TBA November 9, 2013 ADC Apologetics Conference Halifax Location - TBA February 10 – 12, 2014 Simpson Lectures The Character of Preaching Guest Speaker: Scott Gibson
Wrestling with God: Once I realized that God might be calling me to something I wrestled with it for two years. It was a difficult process that God used to teach me patience and obedience. The peace of God: One day during my wrestling time with God, I came to realize a deep fear of missing what God wanted. I confessed this to God and instantly received His peace.
Events of Interest
March 11 & 12, 2014 Experience Acadia Div (open house) May 9, 2014 Commissioning Supper and Service Doug Duncan is a third year Bachelor of Theology student. Along with serving as the ADC chapel worship leader, Doug serves as the pastor of Harmony Baptist Church in the Annapolis Valley.
May 11, 2014 Convocation May 31 – June 13, 2014 Holy Land Tour For more information see page 12