ADC Annual 2022-2023

ANNUAL

2022–2023 Donor Impact Report

Acadia Divinity College equips Christians in diverse contexts with knowledge and skills to interpret the realities of life today in the light of God’s Word, to speak good news and act confidently with love and justice, and to serve the mission of God in church and world with transformative impact.

Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.

~ Proverbs 16:3

PRESIDENT'S message

Leaning into the Future Together

Looking back over the 2022-2023 I feel overwhelmed by God’s goodness in what we have accomplished with the help of our supporters! We have made new appointments of excellent staff and faculty, developed new resources, and generated new ideas and new hope for the church as we equip Christian leaders to serve with transformative impact. At the same time, we have remained committed to the foundations of Scripture, its faithful interpretation, and its vibrant application to Christian life and ministry today.

With funding from our partners and donors, we established a Futuring Lab to help us imagine a hopeful future for theological education and the life of our churches. A new faculty position was fully funded to assist students and pastors with personal wellness and education for mental health support. And we advanced initiatives towards antiracism and decolonization. We are committed to innovation; to lead the way for theological education as we follow the footsteps of Jesus.

“I have been amazed by the exciting accomplishments of the staff, faculty, and students, and by the incredible support that makes our mission possible. Because of your support, Acadia Divinity College boasts an enviable endowment to help offset the cost of tuition for students who are preparing for ministry. ADC’s scholarships and bursaries allow a wide range of students to engage theological education, often without debt. Resources are stewarded faithfully as the faculty and staff serve students and our broader constituency with deep commitment to Christ and his church.”

~ Mr. Mark Jelley, Chair, Board of Trustees

We see God’s hand on Acadia Divinity College – at work in the land around us, in the faces of our supporters, in the lives of our students, and in the renewal of theological education for the church of today. We are excited to see what tomorrow will bring!

Thank you for your support in ensuring the strength of Acadia Divinity College, and our ongoing mission, as we continue to engage the strategic vision to Change with Purpose.

REV. DR. ANNA ROBBINS President, Acadia Divinity College Dean of Theology, Acadia University

Our churches need leaders who can help them worship, serve, and grow in a rapidly-changing culture. We have identified FOUR AREAS OF FOCUS to guide our decisions and actions so that we might effectively meet the opportunities and challenges of our mission today and tomorrow.

ADC'S STRATEGIC VISION 2021–2026

ADC is firmly rooted in a hospitable Baptist faith with a rich history in providing the best educational experience for our students. To ensure our mission extends into the future, we will strengthen our FOUNDATION as a wellresourced, outstanding seminary of excellence.

From our significant LOCATION as part of the Acadia University campus, in the land of Mi’kma’ki, on the Canadian East Coast, ADC recognizes the importance of engaging the contexts in which God has placed us, for such a time as this.

ADC is committed to reflect the whole people of God, seeking TRANSFORMATION of the communities we serve. We want to learn to see the world with the depth and breadth of God’s love, embracing ministries of justice and reconciliation.

ADC is committed to a culture of INNOVATION, seeking constantly to improve what we do. We not only consider better ways to carry out our mission, we also devise new approaches to theological education that have potential for wide transformative impact.

Acadia Divinity College is firmly rooted in a hospitable Baptist faith with a rich history in providing the best educational experience for our students.

The Building Blocks

OUR STUDENT BODY at a glance

Total # Students

185

65% STUDENTS GRADUATING WITH NO DEBT

STUDENTS BY CURRENT RESIDENCE

*Countries include: Australia, Bahamas, Cameroon, Ghana, India, Kenya, Macedonia, Nigeria, United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.

STUDENTS BY PROGRAM ENROLLMENT

Joy in Giving

A DONOR’S story

For more than two decades, the Reverend Dr. Andrew Stirling, an alumnus and Lifetime Fellow of Acadia Divinity College (ADC), has challenged and inspired others with his Gospelcentred sermons. In addition to his excellence in preaching, Dr. Stirling is widely recognized for his academic contributions to the field of homiletics.

The Reverend Dr. Connie Phillipson, an Anglican priest, had the opportunity to hear Dr. Stirling preach while she was a graduate student in Toronto. Remembering that first evening sermon at St. Paul’s Bloor Street Church she said, “It was a phenomenal sermon. I felt compelled to introduce myself to him and to learn how he prepared. That interaction began a friendship that we’ve kept up all these years,” Connie says. “He became an important mentor in my life.”

That first meeting with Dr. Stirling led Connie to ADC. “I wanted to find a school that offers a high quality, ecumenical program. Knowing that both Dr. Stirling and Dr. Peter Holmes of Yorkminster Park Baptist Church had earned their Doctor of Ministry (DMin) degrees at ADC with a focus on preaching influenced my decision to go to Nova Scotia to study.” Connie was placed under the supervision of the Reverend Dr. Stuart Blythe, the John Gladstone Professor of Preaching and Worship and Director of Doctoral Studies at ADC. “I quickly grew to have a deep appreciation and respect for Stuart,” Connie says. “Not only is he a gifted preacher and teacher, but he was also a patient and gracious supervisor.”

The impact of her relationship with Dr. Stirling and experience at ADC led Connie to establish The Reverend Dr. Andrew Stirling Endowment for Homiletics Education. Named in honour of her good friend and mentor, and with deep appreciation for Dr. Stuart Blythe and the ADC community, the endowment supports further homiletical training. “I wanted to do something to show my gratitude to both Dr. Stirling and Dr. Blythe,” Connie said of the gift.

Connie hopes to help preachers better understand the value and techniques of good rhetoric in preaching. She sees the generous gift that established the endowment as a starting point, and she invites others to consider contributing. “Giving to this endowment is a wonderful way to honour Dr. Stirling and support students as they learn to preach biblical sermons with courage and confidence.” Connie adds, “As Christians, we have a responsibility to support efforts that uphold the centrality of the Bible in our world today. Preaching persuasively is one of the ways that we can tangibly do this.”

Acadia Divinity College celebrates our donors with gratitude for their gifts that support and encourage our faculty, staff, and students. We value our partnerships as together we equip Christians to serve the mission of God in church and world with transformative impact. From scholarships to operating endowments, every gift advances the work of ADC and makes a difference in the lives of our students, and those they serve.

“My hope is that this fund will continue to raise the importance of the practice of preaching, and help preachers further develop and hone their craft.”

“I am grateful for the degree that I earned and the research I was able to produce during my time at Acadia Divinity College. I have learned how to persevere, to pray, to trust and that this journey of faith cannot be done alone. We require fellow travellers and mentors. I am grateful to have found these people at ADC.”

~ Kallie Hutton, Master of Arts (Theology) graduate, Recipient of the

Silver Medal in Theology 2023

Supporting Our Mission

NEW ENDOWED FUNDS established

Acadia Divinity College is profoundly grateful for the ongoing support of our donors who have established endowed funds. Endowments provide vital resources that support the mission of ADC year after year.

Donors who have created endowed funds have become integral partners in our ministry, leaving an indelible mark on the future of the church. Their contributions have sustained the work of ADC and have also served as an invitation to others to join them in their generosity.

NEWLY ESTABLISHED ENDOWED FUNDS

Beatty Ryckman Operating Endowment

• William and Virginia Leach Chair of Pastoral Psychology

• Reverend Dr. William and Dr. Pearleen Oliver Chair of Community Leadership and Social Justice

Reverend Dr. Andrew Stirling Endowment for Homiletics Education

We celebrate the extraordinary impact of these endowed funds and the donors who have made them possible.

To explore endowed funds, visit ACADIADIV.CA/ENDOWED-FUNDS

“Mental health is an important part of spiritual formation. The new Leach Chair of Pastoral Psychology is an exciting step forward for investing in the well-being of our leaders and congregations. It will help inform and equip for our healing mission in the world. Dr. Glen Berry is an excellent choice. He brings a keen interest and a wealth of expertise and experience. Congratulations ADC & Dr. Berry!”

~ Dr. Cheryl Ann Beals, (DMin ’16) Director, Sozo Centre for Soul Care Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada

Strengthening Clergy Wellness and Mental Health

DR. GLEN BERRY APPOINTED FIRST OCCUPANT OF THE William & Virginia Leach Chair of Pastoral Psychology

During a Listening Tour in the fall of 2019, ADC President Anna Robbins heard the need for resources in training and education to address the emerging health crisis.

As a result, mental health education emerged as a priority for the College in our strategic vision Change with Purpose.

After years of support for the teaching and training in pastoral care, The Beatty Ryckman Trust partnered with ADC in 2022 to establish a fully funded academic chair named in honour of Bill and Virginia Leach. “The William and Virginia Leach Chair of Pastoral Psychology honours their wish to establish a permanent chair in pastoral psychology at Acadia Divinity College,” stated Rev. Dr. J. Peter Holmes and Ms. Marie Soderlund, advisors of The Beatty Ryckman Trust. “It was their prayer that this Chair will strengthen clergy wellness and in so doing, strengthen the church.”

At a dinner to celebrate the gift, it was announced that Dr. Glen Berry will be the first occupant of the Leach Chair of Pastoral Psychology. As a clinical psychologist in the public health service, he has a strong interest in helping pastors better understand mental health issues and mental illness, as well as building community within and around church families. “Glen brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to this position,” said Dr. Robbins. “We are excited to welcome him to the faculty table.”

The impact of this generous gift from The Beatty Ryckman Trust will be far and wide as ADC graduates take their new knowledge and skills into their communities.

To learn more, visit ACADIADIV.CA/LEACH-CHAIR

Developing and Diversifying our Firm Foundation

THE IMPACT OF our faculty

As the nature of learning and teaching in higher education continues to change, the foundation of a deep understanding of the Bible, Christian teaching, and pastoral theology remains the heart of theological education.

Our faculty see their role as part of a call to ministry and are constantly innovating and implementing strategies that support student success. The classroom experience is student-focussed and challenges future ministry leaders to ask big questions as they prepare to serve the mission of God in church and world with transformative action.

As part of their ministry, faculty members research, write, and support the work of the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada (CBAC). Over the past year, for example,

Dr. Lennett Anderson was the keynote speaker at the 2022 CBAC Justice Summit in Truro, Nova Scotia.

• Dr. Jody Linkletter taught an online session for children’s ministry workers for the 2023 NEXT Conference.

• Dr. Danny Zacharias spoke at the 2023 Integrate Church Leaders Conference in St. Andrews, New Brunswick. This event was co-sponsored by CBAC and Canadian Baptist Ministries.

WE WELCOMED TWO NEW FACULTY MEMBERS: Dr. Grace Au, Assistant Professor of New Testament Studies

• Dr. D. Steven Porter, Assistant Professor of Church Innovation and Evangelism and Director of Doctoral Studies

SOME OF THE LOCAL CONGREGATIONS WHERE OUR FACULTY PREACHED IN 2022-2023:

• Avonport Baptist Church

Berwick Baptist Church

Bethany Memorial Baptist Church

• Brookfield Baptist Church

Brunswick Street Baptist Church

Digby Baptist Church

• East Preston United Baptist Church

• EBC: The Meeting Place

Middleton Baptist Church

Moncton Wesleyan Church

• Pereaux Baptist Church

Springhill Baptist Church

Stevens Road Baptist Church

• West End Baptist Church

Wolfville Baptist Church

“At ADC, I have found a faculty who make academic challenge a part of my formation in Christ and my work in ministry, and who are always seeking new ways to make study relevant to real life. I get to worship God with my mind at ADC, and my love for God’s kingdom is growing as a result.”

~ Andrew Taylor, Master of Arts (Theology) student

To learn more, visit ACADIADIV.CA/NEW-FACULTY-2023

Acadia Divinity College recognizes the importance of engaging the contexts in which God has placed us, for such a time as this.

Pandemic, Public Health, and the People of God

EAST COAST THEOLOGY Volume One launched

East Coast Theology emerged from a commitment to engage our unique location on the Atlantic Coast of Canada. President Anna Robbins cast a vision of producing a book series to explore theological topics from an East Coast perspective. In her words, “Students, churches, and their leaders have rarely been equipped with theological resources characterized by both academic excellence and a commitment to the local church as it exists in an Atlantic Canadian setting.” East Coast Theology provides just such a resource.

The topic was inspired by conversations with Dr. Robert Strang, Chief Medical Officer of Health in Nova Scotia. Dr. Strang, widely known for his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, challenged the faculty to consider the intersection between public health and biblical principles. He wrote the foreword and afterword for the book, entitled Pandemic, Public Health, and the People of God.

ADC appealed to donors in spring 2022 to support this initiative. Thanks in part to their generosity, volume one of East Coast Theology became a reality. Authored by ADC faculty, its contents include biblical, theological, and practical reflections on Christianity and public health relevant in Atlantic Canada and beyond.

The book, published as Pandemic, Public Health, and the People of God, was launched at the East Coast Theology Summer School with a panel discussion and workshops in June 2023.

“My two weeks at Acadia Divinity College – taking my first summer course as part of the Doctor of Ministry program and participating in the East Coast Theology event – far exceeded all my expectations. To be studying in an environment that exudes such academic excellence AND deep spirituality was a great blessing. The classes and lectures reignited my passion for learning and for ministry, and refreshed both my mind and my spirit.”

~ Rev. Lorraine (Lori) Diaz, Doctor of Ministry student Minister of Congregational Life and Membership Development Timothy Eaton Memorial Church

ADC'S STRATEGIC VISION

Order online at WIPFANDSTOCK.COM

AMAZON.CA

Want to study this book with your church or small group? Download a free discussion guide at EASTCOASTTHEOLOGY.CA/DISCUSSION

“As I read each of the chapters of this volume, consistent themes stood out: compassion for others, the connection of individual wellness to community wellness, acceptance and inclusion, cooperation, and reciprocity, loving each other through actions, and the priority of the collective. I was also powerfully reminded of how we can look to our First Nations and African Nova Scotian communities for examples and inspiration.”

~ Dr. Robert Strang, Chief Medical Officer of Health in Nova Scotia

Acadia Divinity College is committed to reflect the whole people of God, seeking transformation of the communities we serve.

Equipping International Students

ACADIA DIVINITY COLLEGE HELPING INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS with cost of education

Olaniyi Cole arrived at Acadia Divinity College from Nigeria in September 2021. Entering the Master of Divinity program was his passion, but the pressure of financial need was real. At ADC he found a place that provided him not only a bursary but also a college assistantship position.

“One of the major challenges of international students in Canada is the cost of education”, says Olaniyi. “The high cost of tuition is a huge burden that most international students struggle to cope with coupled with high cost of accommodation.”

Knowing ahead of time that fees at Acadia Divinity College are subsidized was a huge relief to Olaniyi and helped him make the decision to choose ADC as a place to fulfill the call of God on his life.

Rachel Dougherty from India via Dubai stepped into the unknown arriving the week of New Student Orientation in September 2022 eager to see what God had waiting for her at ADC. In addition to working on campus for the University, she also received a bursary from ADC which helps her offset her educational debt. “I am blessed by the generosity of the financial aid I receive at ADC”, says Rachel.

“It is a blessing to know that I am supported, encouraged, and prayed for, and I want to thank the donors whose generosity has helped me to thrive through my first and second semesters.”

“Receiving financial assistance in the form of a bursary and scholarship has been the major source of respite.”

ADC'S STRATEGIC VISION

For more information, visit OLIVERCHAIR.CA

Advocates for Justice

ADC RECEIVES $100,000 MATCHING GRANT TO support the Oliver Chair

Acadia Divinity College is called to a ministry of reconciliation and justice, including a commitment to embrace underrepresented communities. We are equipping and encouraging our students, clergy, and churches to become advocates for justice and equality in their local contexts. To support this key priority, in 2022 ADC announced the establishment of The Reverend Dr. William and Dr. Pearleen Oliver Chair of Community Leadership and Social Justice.

An investment of $3M is needed to fully fund this academic chair. More than $550,000 in gifts and pledges have been received for the Oliver Chair, including significant support from the African United Baptist Association of Nova Scotia, the Redleaf Foundation, as well as churches of the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada, the Board of Trustees, faculty, and staff of Acadia Divinity College.

Fundraising for the Oliver Chair received a huge boost with a generous pledge of a $100,000 matching grant from the Atlantic Baptist Foundation. “We are deeply grateful for the vision and partnership of the Atlantic Baptist Foundation,” stated ADC President Anna Robbins. “Their matching funds are doubling the impact of the giving of our churches and associations to the Oliver Chair.”

ADC'S STRATEGIC VISION

Acadia Divinity College is committed to a culture of innovation, seeking constantly to improve what we do.

Keeping Our Eyes on the Horizon

TRANSFORMING THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION & IMAGINING NEW FUTURES with the Futuring Lab

With the generous support of the Lilly Endowment Inc. Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative, in early 2023 Acadia Divinity College (ADC) launched the Futuring Lab, a dynamic space to conduct research on trends and developments that will impact the future life of the church, as well as experiment with new approaches to theological education.

Two inter-related elements form the Futuring Lab:

1. The Futuring Hub for Theo-Futures Research, facilitated by Mr. Joel Murphy, will conduct, gather, and interpret research on cultural trends, enabling the College, our students, and our churches to make the most of future opportunities and respond well to emerging challenges.

2. The Sandbox for Theological Education & the Church, directed by Dr. Jodi Porter, is an action-oriented research laboratory supporting innovative educational thinking and activities.

Funding from the Lilly Endowment Inc. allows ADC to expand our capacity to explore, innovate, and ultimately better support our students, our churches, and our partners as they grow and transform in their understanding and abilities to navigate a rapidly-changing culture. Located within The Andrew D. MacRae Centre for Christian Faith and Culture at ADC, the Futuring Hub will support leaders and communities as they discern, critically reflect, and earnestly consider the implications and potential actions for their people and their local contexts.

Our explorations have the potential to transform theological education in Canada and beyond. ADC will be well equipped to walk alongside individuals and congregations as we prayerfully consider, courageously reflect, and creatively explore how to prepare and engage with future possibilities. We are excited to see the Christian church thrive.

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

~ Isaiah 43:19

Seeing Jesus Through a Wider Lens

OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH NAIITS: An Indigenous Learning Community

Recently, Terry and his wife Bev transitioned to Elders-in-Residence of Indigenous Pathways, and Terry now serves as Director Emeritus of NAIITS. We also offer congratulations to Shari Russell, incoming NAIITS Director, and look forward to continued partnership with her capable leadership. In the near term, Terry will continue leading the collaboration funded by the Lilly Endowment, as the permanent facilitation team is set in place, and we anticipate having him continue as an active participant in the life of ADC.

We give our thanks to Terry and Bev for all they have done, and continue to do, to support truth, reconciliation, renewal, and flourishing. We are grateful for the ways that decolonization in theological education has brought opportunities for the church to encounter Christ anew.

ADC is committed to learn to walk well with Indigenous people in Canada and beyond. In part, this is a response to the calls to action directed to the church and related educational institutions in the 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Report. More deeply, it is a response to the invitation of Scripture and the call of the Holy Spirit to nurture the flourishing of all life in relationship, and to be ambassadors of reconciliation everywhere.

Over the past decade, ADC has journeyed with NAIITS: An Indigenous Learning Community (NAIITS) into a relationship of embrace, repentance, and decolonization that opens the way to fresh perspectives and innovation in theological education.

With the support of The Charis Foundation, the Executive Director of NAIITS, Dr. Terry LeBlanc (Acadia DD 2015) joined our faculty table to assist our reflections in decolonization and Indigenization. Together we imagined a new collaborative work for theological schools in Canada – to develop a Learning Community for Decolonization. NAIITS was awarded $5 million from the Lilly Endowment Inc. Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative to lead this project. We congratulate our friends on their great success and are excited to be partners in this new work.

“When I started studying at ADC, the last thing I expected to learn about was my relationship to the Land. However, through the wise teachings of Dr. Danny Zacharias, Professor David Skene, and guest lectures by Dr. Terry LeBlanc, I had the opportunity to begin to learn about restoring shalom between our world, us, and the Lord. I never expected to have my biases challenged in this way, but I couldn't be more relieved, and my life has been so enriched by these Indigenous leaders.”

~ B. John Bartlett, (MDiv '22) Director of Ministry, Cornerstone Baptist Church

FINANCIAL STATS at a glance

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

(as of March 31, 20221)

Financial Overview

DEVELOPMENT STATS

(as of March 31, 20231)

TOTAL DONATIONS & GRANTS RECEIVED

$4,014,000

STUDENT SUPPORT

(as of March 31, 20221)

SCHOLARSHIPS AND BURSARIES

SOURCES OF FUNDING Donations and Grants

Student Academic Fees Acadia University Grant

Atlantic Canada

$188,000 114

$188,000 was awarded to 114 students through our Scholarships and Bursaries program

EXAMPLE OF TUITION SUPPORT for our Graduate Students2

$2,883,000

EXPENDITURES

TOTAL $2,764,000

Audited Financial Statements are available at ACADIADIV.CA/GOVERNANCE/#FINANCIAL

1 Values rounded to nearest 1000s

2 There are additional scholarships above and beyond the Entrance Scholarships and Bursaries.

As we pursue our mission to equip Christians to serve, all that we accomplish would not be possible without your continued generosity and support. Thank you!

STUDENT AID

$42,000

$42,000 was awarded to students as additional student aid support.

For information on tuition support visit ACADIADIV.CA/SCHOLARSHIPS-BURSARIES

If you would like to be part of our mission, discover more about supporting us financially by visiting

ACADIADIV.CA/GIVE

Acadia Divinity College is located in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaw people. We are the seminary of the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada and the Faculty of Theology for Acadia University.

ACADIA DIVINITY COLLEGE

15 University Avenue

Wolfville, NS • B4P 2R6 • Canada

toll-free: 1-866-875-8975

local: 902-585-2210

secure fax: 902-585-2232

email: adcinfo@acadiau.ca

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