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

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(as of March 31, 20221)