Allison Murray is the 2015 winner of the A. James Reimer Award. Allison is a PhD student currently in her third year of studies at Emmanuel College at the Toronto School of Theology, studying in the area of Christian History. Allison’s research looks in particular at the history of Christian responses to the women’s movement in the twentieth-century and the development of the theology behind notions of gender known as complementarianism.
In addition to her formal studies Allison is very much a part of the TMTC community. She co-chaired the planning committee for the 2015 symposium “Engaging Women’s Voices on the Church, Theology, and Mission: A Task for the Church and the Academy” and is on the planning committee for the 2016 TMTC Mennonite Graduate Student Conference to be held at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary. For Allison, the TMTC community is an important part of her success at the Toronto School of Theology because it provides important points of connection with other graduate students and with TMTC alumni who are active in ministry.
Thanks to the financial support of the A. James Reimer award, Allison will be able to pursue her passion for academia and focus primarily on her studies rather than on seeking additional employment to help fund her degree. This opportunity for focus will make it possible for Allison to progress more quickly through her degree and to participate in the extra-curricular programs, such as TMTC Scholar’s Forums and Emmanuel College’s Teaching for Ministry Fellowship, which enrich the graduate school experience.
The A. James Reimer award is awarded annually to a student completing an advanced degree program at the Toronto School of Theology. Other criteria include academic excellence, active involvement in TMTC, and demonstrated commitment to the life of the Mennonite Church and its institutions. The award was established to recognize the work of A. James Reimer in establishing the Toronto Mennonite Theological Centre.
