David Csinos is the 2011-2012 winner of the A. James Reimer Award. David is a ThD student at Emmanuel College at the Toronto School of Theology, studying in the practical theology department. He is focusing on the spiritual formation of children, with a particular interest in children's spiritual formation in intercultural contexts. Before studying in Canada, David studied in the United States. Believing that too many ecclesiological resources are brought from the United States into Canada without critically assessing their appropriateness for Canadian contexts, David focuses his work on Christian education in Canada. His educational interests stem from his own work with children. In addition to his formal studies he is currently coordinating a conference entitled Children, Youth and a New Kind of Christian. The conference will be held in Washington this spring.
For David, the Toronto Mennonite Theology Centre has been a group of like-minded, Anabaptist peers with whom to engage in vibrant discussion and scholarly debate. Having not been raised in the Mennonite church, TMTC also provides a space in which to think about how his own research may interact with Mennonite perspectives. The A. James Reimer award provides financial support for David and his wife, who is also studying and working as a pastor in the Mennonite church, and also acknowledges the value of David’s work for the Mennonite church, even though his research is not specifically focused on Mennonite studies.
The A. James Reimer award is awarded annually to a Mennonite student completing an advanced degree program at the Toronto School of Theology. The award was established to recognize the work of A. James Reimer in establishing the Toronto Mennonite Theological Centre. TMTC provides a Mennonite presence at the University of Toronto in order to engage in theological conversation at an advanced degree level as well as to support Anabaptist students pursuing advanced degrees.
