Vancouver School of Theology - Native Ministries

Native Ministries

The Native Ministries M.Div. by Extension Program is the only degree program in North America for persons engaged in ministry in First Nations communities that is accredited by The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada. At the present time, the program includes students from the Anglican, Presbyterian and United churches in Canada and from several denominations in the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii.

Partnership with First Nations Peoples and the Churches

This innovative degree program was developed in partnership with First Nations people. The primary location and context for learning is the community in which the student lives and serves. This context is crucial for the student’s effective engagement with the social, cultural, political and religious values of First Nations communities. Denominational authorities are also indispensable partners. They nominate candidates and provide the necessary infrastructure for the delivery of the degree program. This infrastructure includes the identification of tutors, the allocation of suitable meeting places for course and seminar sessions and the arrangement of a suitable ministry location for the student. Certain tutor and student costs are also borne by the sponsoring denomination. The guidelines and standards for this infrastructure are established by the School.

Throughout their enrollment in this degree program, students normally continue to exercise some congregational ministry. In this fashion, students need not leave their cultural context, and their communities are not deprived of individuals who are already providing congregational leadership.

Native Ministries Consortium

The members of the Native Ministries Consortium are:

• Anglican First Nations Council of Caledonia

• Native MinistriesCouncil, BC Conference (United Church of Canada)

• Episcopal Church in Navajoland

• Episcopal Diocese of Alaska

• Cook School for Christian Leadership (Tempe, AZ)

• Henry Budd College for Ministry (The Pas, MB)

• Indigenous Theological Training Institute (ECUSA)

• Vancouver School of Theology

The purpose of the Consortium is to develop, under Native direction, community-based training programs for Native ministries, both lay and ordained. The Consortium appoints members to the School’s Native Ministries Program Committee, which has primary responsibility for the M.Div. by Extension program.