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Lori Guenther Reesor has experience as an author, speaker, and fundraising coach. After a spiritually enlightening experience during a student co-op term in Egypt, Lori has explored what it means to be generous. She also has three years of pastoral experience, and is an active member of Hamilton Mennonite Church. Her book, Growing a Generous Church, is filled with stories of how people learned generosity. The Reesor family is well known in the Grebel community; Lori met her husband, Barry, at Grebel, and both their children, Emma and Peter, also lived at Grebel. Emma followed in her parents' footsteps and met her husband, Thomas, at Grebel. 

“Holding space to have difficult conversations can be incredibly difficult,” said Samantha Coelho, an Advocacy and Networking Specialist at Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Canada. “But I think having these conversations can lead to more intimate and fulfilling relationships, allow us to build empathy, and remind us to have humility about the positions we hold.”  Supporting marginalized communities, working for justice, and exploring creative approaches to addressing world issues have become a regular part of Samantha’s life, but her introduction to advocacy, justice, and peacebuilding began a decade ago during her undergraduate degree at the University of Waterloo and Conrad Grebel University College where she studied Arts and Business with a major in Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS).

Like many undergraduate students, Phil Enns’ professional career wasn’t immediately clear. He wandered between Philosophy and Religious Studies courses before pursuing a master's degree in Philosophy at the University of Waterloo. “While I did enjoy what I was studying, I didn’t have the flexibility to pursue the religious connections I was making,” he remarked. In search of a personal connection to his work, Phil connected with Jim Reimer, Professor of Theology at Conrad Grebel University College. “Jim introduced me to Grebel’s Master of Theological Studies (MTS) program, and I immediately knew that was what I was looking for.” As an MTS student, Phil was able to engage in conversations analyzing the differences between cultures and religions, something that greatly benefited him in his international work after graduation.

For Margaret Sherk and Christa Van Daele, returning to academic studies after an extended hiatus has been an exciting and introspectively insightful experience. Both Margaret and Christa are Master of Theological Studies (MTS) students at Conrad Grebel University College and the University of Waterloo. Through discussions that encourage back-and-forths between professors and other students, they have experienced religious diversity that has allowed them to explore their own spirituality. Their life experiences have enriched their learning and allowed them to contextualize course content and provide valuable insights to others in the classroom. 

At Conrad Grebel University College, theology classes are enriched by the variety of its students. For students who have just finished their undergraduate degree, or graduates looking to return to their studies after a hiatus, Grebel’s Master of Theological Studies program is a chance to get involved in the overarching theological discussion. 

“Consider where you are right now when it comes to forgiveness. Is there a burden you are carrying?” Theological Studies Professor Carol Penner asks the reader these questions in the first reflection of her new book, Unburdened. Written as “A Lenten Journey Toward Forgiveness,” her book leads readers through six weeks of Lent, daily orienting readers “toward the resurrection and Easter, toward the possibility of a new life in Christ.”

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).