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Acadia to host debate between Craig Evans and Bart Ehrman

Reserve your FREE TICKETS to the first annual Religion Soup Debate/Dialogues @ www.religionsoup.ca

Brought to you by: The Navigators of Canada, Acadia Divinity College, and Saint Mary's University (Religious Studies Dept.), and churches across Nova Scotia.

Featuring: 

Prof. Bart D. Ehrman (Agnostic): University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill - Author of 'Misquoting Jesus: Who Changed the Bible and Why?' and 'Forged: Writing in the Name of God Why the Bible's Authors Are Not Who We Think They Are.' www.bartdehrman.com

Prof. Craig A. Evans (Christian): Acadia University (Divinity College) - 'Author of Fabricating Jesus: How Modern Scholars Distort the Gospels,' and 'Jesus, the Final Days (Co-Authored with NT Wright).'www.craigaevans.com

Taylor Centre celebrates Spiritual Care week at Capital Health from October 17-21st

 Please visit the Capital Health website for more details http://www.cdha.nshealth.ca/. See also the presentation below.

Fifth Annual Covenanting Service

Acadia Divinity College students, faculty, staff, family and friends gathered for our Fifth Annual Covenanting Service held at Wolfville Baptist Church, on September 11, 2011. The day coincided with the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attack on the United States of America, which likely elicited horrific memories and painful reflections for many families who suffered bereavement through the events as well as the succeeding wars. Indeed, the world itself though changed forever through subsequent responses and reactions to this terrible tragedy. Yet there are undertones of a desire for peace and community.

As a seminary, we are mindful that we are called to serve as this same world through the Church of Jesus Christ, by the preparation of Christian leaders, thereby making our gathering most significant. Furthermore, we were earnestly reminded of our role to subscribe in making the world a better and safer place, by demonstrating the Bible’s message of what it means to be a community that reflects the love and forgiveness of God, in our faith and lifestyle. The sermon was “Called to be a Community” and delivered by Dr. Stephen McMullin, Director of the New Brunswick extension. The main event of the service focused on renewal of our covenant (pledge to partnership) as churches, college, mentors and students and families, in the overall process of training for Christian ministry spanning local and global levels.

We hope you will plan to join us next year!

Tributes to Baptist Chaplains Rev. Gerald Burke and Rev. Adele Crowell

The halls of the Queen Elizabeth Health Sciences Centre Chapel rang out with the beats of an African drum on the afternoon of February 24th as many friends and colleagues of Rev. Gerald Burke (‘85) came to celebrate his 17 years of ministry as the Baptist Chaplain at the Halifax-area hospitals. A Tribute was given by Buffy Harper, Manager of Spiritual Care for Capital Health, and a song was sung in Gerald’s honour by Rev. Gary Myatt (’85, ‘98). Gerald has moved to New Brunswick with his wife Dawn and their family and will continue in ministry.

Dr. Tracy Demmons (’04), Director of the Taylor Centre for Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care (and one of Gerald’s former Baptist summer students), gave a brief tribute to Gerald. Rev. Dr. Ron Mclean (’68, ‘95), representing the Halifax Baptist Chaplaincy Committee, presented Gerald with a plaque commemorating his 17 years of ministry.

On the evening of Sunday, September 18th, an Induction Service was held for Rev. Adele Crowell (’85) at Bedford Baptist Church. Several members of the Halifax Chaplaincy Committee participated in the service including Rev. Dr. Ida Whitehouse (’77) and Rev. Dr. Ron McLean. The message was given by Rev. Lequita H. Porter, Pastor of East Preston Baptist Church. Adele’s husband Tom was present as were their daughters Amelia and Julia. Dr. Demmons brought greetings and best wishes on behalf of ADC and the Taylor Centre for Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care. Adele has assumed all responsibilities for care of the Baptist patients staying at Halifax-area hospitals.

We are most thankful for Gerald and Adele and wish them all the very best in their new ministry settings!

Canadian Youth Leaders studying in the Czech Republic

Every two years a unique gathering brings Canadian youth leaders studying at Acadia Divinity College (Canada) together with youth leaders from across the European Baptist Federation family of nations. In May this year, this powerful gathering took place once again in the Christian mountain retreat centre KAM in Malenovice (Moravia) Czech Republic. Thirteen Canadians and eleven youth leaders from Europe and the Middle East joined to be challenged in Growing into Leadership by speakers Steve and Jo Griffiths. Steve is a Anglican rector and a youth leadership specialist and author. He is the past president of the International Association for the Study of Youth Ministry and the founder of The Journal of Youth and Theology. Time and time again, students who take part in this program are touched by the international friendships and exchange of thoughts around topics relating to working with youth. The Canadians were able to go and visit for four days with the European and Middle Eastern counterparts in their home countries (Italy, Belgium, Lebanon, Estonia and Croatia) and to learn first hand how youth work is done in Europe. Jeff Carter, the Youth Leadership Training Coordinator for the EBF and European host for the event stated: "This event is simply one of the most pivotal and transformational events in the work we do with leaders, each year young leaders come away challenged and touched by the lives of others, in some cases it changes completely the way they do ministry" . Dale Stairs, Director of the Youth Ministry Program at Acadia Divinity College also was instrumental in rallying the Canadians and also sees this event as a highlight in the partnership between Acadia and the EBF. Students from Acadia take in the event for course credit while the European participants attend it as a conference. The next event is scheduled for May 2013 in the same location.

For more information on this event of future events contact

Jeff Carter
jcarter@ebf.org

Acadia Divinity College to Offer Doctor of Ministry in Prague

Acadia’s rapidly growing Doctor of Ministry programme is set to expand again. Beginning in the fall of 2012, ministry leaders based in Europe and elsewhere will be able to study toward an Acadia DMin in Prague, Czech Republic.
This new international Doctor of Ministry programme is a joint initiative of Acadia Divinity College (ADC), Canadian Baptist Ministries (CBM), the International Baptist Theological Seminary (IBTS), and the European Baptist Federation (EBF). Students admitted to the programme will take courses at the IBTS campus in Prague and will also take courses at Acadia’s Wolfville, Nova Scotia teaching site in Canada.
Dr. Jeff Carter will provide leadership for the new programme as part of his role as a member of the Global Field Staff of CBM. He will continue to serve as Youth Ministry Training Coordinator for the EBF and as a Lecturer at both IBTS and ADC.
Acadia offers Canada’s largest Doctor of Ministry programme, enrolling students from more than 20 denominations and 30 different ministry vocations. Students in the programme live in all Canadian provinces as well as in the United States and overseas.
“We are delighted to partner with other ministry organizations who have a heart for encouraging and equipping seasoned ministry leaders,” says ADC’s Director of Doctoral Studies, Dr. Bruce Fawcett. “This partnership will be great for our Canadian DMin students since it will allow them the opportunity to study in Prague as part of their DMin experience, and in some of their classes in Wolfville they will now have the opportunity to connect with Christian leaders from Europe.”
Applications will be received starting in October 2011 for fall 2012 admission. For more information, contact Dr. Jeff Carter.