News

On October 24, 2023, the Toronto Mennonite Theological Centre (TMTC) held a virtual Closing Ceremony to mark the end of its 33-year existence. TMTC’s mandate was to develop theological leadership for church and academy, by supporting Mennonite graduate students in theology, biblical studies, and related fields. It worked primarily with students at the ecumenical Toronto School of Theology (TST). As I reflect on what was shared at this closing ceremony, it is evident that TMTC has made important, often behind-the-scenes, contributions to the Mennonite theological ecosystem.

Empowering Future Leaders in Ministry
Conrad Grebel University College Release

“The MTS program equipped me to be a better leader,” shared recent Master of Theological Studies graduate, Mollee Moua. “I also believe that the MTS program taught me to be a better follower of Jesus Christ by helping me to explore who God is calling me to be and to not constrain myself to the expectations of others or even myself.”

Conrad Grebel University College offers a two-year Master of Theological Studies degree. It is open to people from a range of academic backgrounds and is designed for those who may be exploring vocations of ministry and service, those preparing for pastoral ministry, chaplaincy, or further graduate studies, and those seeking personal enrichment.

Steph completed their Bachelor of Arts in Social Development Studies at the University of Waterloo in 2012 and returned to campus in 2015 to start a Master of Theological Studies (MTS) degree at Conrad Grebel University College. During their time in the MTS program, Steph experienced a pivotal shift in their life: “It became clear to me that I wanted to go into pastoring.” “When we start to ask hard questions, when we decide to grapple for answers together, there’s a community that forms, and God meets you there in a cool way,” reflected Steph Chandler Burns (BA 2012, MTS 2017). 

The third Global Mennonite Peacebuilding Conference and Festival (GMP) took place on June 15-18, at Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) in Harrisonburg, VA. A diverse range of scholars, Mennonite practitioners, artists, and theologians from around the world were invited to share about their work for peace and listen to each other’s stories.

Conrad Grebel University College has partnered with two Mennonite institutions to provide an opportunity for sequential degrees. With this arrangement, Master of Theological Studies (MTS) students at Grebel can transfer their credits and proceed to complete a Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree at either Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) in Indiana or Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) in Manitoba.

Toronto Mennonite Theological Centre (TMTC) will end its operations this spring, following a decision of the Conrad Grebel University College Board of Governors at its February meeting.  

This year, Conrad Grebel University College and Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) came together to explore new pathways for learning by offering cross-listed graduate courses in which students from both institutions could enrol.

During orientation week this year, master’s students in Peace and Conflict Studies (MPACS) and Theological Studies (MTS), plus faculty and staff at Conrad Grebel University College were invited to participate in a tour of the Brubacher House Museum on the University of Waterloo campus, followed by a virtual tour of the former Mohawk Institute Residential School, offered by the Woodland Cultural Centre.

“Writing illuminates our interior world and sometimes, illuminates the world for others,” wrote Sandy Conrad, Master of Theological Studies (MTS) student at Conrad Grebel University College. “Personal and honest stories have the greatest impact on the reader.” During the winter 2022 term, Sandy offered an eight-week creative writing workshop, where current MTS students and other alumni gathered to explore unique styles of writing and build confidence in their writing.