Atlantic School of Theology

Spirituality is all around us. At all the major transition points of our lives – birth, adolescence, marriage, sexuality, parenthood, death – we ponder the big questions that shape our lives; the spiritual questions.

Often times, it’s chaplains who guide us in our spiritual conquests, who see us through the most trying times of our lives.

And if you’re a Nova Scotian, it’s likely the chaplain who guides you through it all is a graduate of the Atlantic School of Theology, a graduate university based in Halifax.

The ecumenical school has 154 students at the graduate level, from each of eight to 12 Christian denominations, and a few non-Christian traditions, too.

But as Canon Eric Beresford, President of the Atlantic School of Theology points out, “The University and our graduates affect more people than those directly involved in the religious communities we cater to.”

Spirituality isn’t just about attending church on Sunday morning – though that is a big part for many church-going Christians. Rather, it’s a practical reality in the lives of Nova Scotians.

“Our graduates touch the lives of hospital patients and their families, prison inmates and their families, employees of businesses and organizations, university students, the entire volunteer community; everywhere that people need spiritual care,” Beresford explains.

Of course, spirituality and religion have been around a long time – since the beginning of time, some may say. The Atlantic School of Theology has roots that date back to the eighteenth century. But the School continues to evolve the way it shares its wisdom.

“The religious foundation on which our school is built has been around for millennia, and theology has been taught in Atlantic Canada for centuries. In the past 10 years, however, our service has changed drastically,” explains Reverend Beresford. “We’ve developed a greater presence in the region and across the country, we’ve begun to recruit students from around the world, we’ve become more visible here and abroad, and we’ve become involved in a wider range of issues.”

For instance, recently, the School has become aware of its role in developing volunteer managers. Reverend Beresford says, “The religious sector constitutes the largest volunteer sector in Canada. Moreover, even in non-religious volunteer and non-profit organizations, people from the religious communities comprise a huge portion of those volunteers.

“What we’ve witnessed lately is that the social safety net has become stretched and strained. More and more people cannot afford the basic necessities of life. So, we’re training people who provide leadership for the volunteer and non-profit organizations that aid the unfortunate across the province and beyond.

“We do this not just for the interests of the church, but for the well-being of the larger communities in which we live and operate.”

For example, most, of our nation’s food banks were founded by religious institutions and persons. Many, especially in rural areas, still operate out of churches.

The Atlantic School of Theology has also worked alongside Saint Mary’s University recently to develop and support an organization called the Canadian Centre for Ethics and Public Affairs, which stimulates public reflection on the issues and challenges faced in our society.

The School of Theology has even dipped a toe into arts and culture. For instance, it’s currently running a sacred concert series on campus featuring professional musicians from the Atlantic region and beyond.

And, as Canon Beresford explains, “The concerts fit with our mission, because a lot of serious music has its roots in spiritual quests.”

The School hasn’t just expanded its reach here in Nova Scotia, though. It’s spreading its wings right across the nation, and the globe.

“Ten years ago, the Atlantic School of Theology trained about 17 to 18 per cent of all United Church clergy. Today, it’s more along the lines of 25 per cent, and it continues to grow,” says the Reverend.

“Furthermore, five years ago, we may have only had students from one or two provinces outside Atlantic Canada, but today, we have students from every province in Canada.

“We have the capacity and the ambition to grow further,” says Reverend Beresford. “That’s why we’re expanding into markets outside the ones we’ve traditionally served.

“We’d also like to play a role and be a helpful participant in conversations around what type of society we have in Nova Scotia and how our culture is shaped.

“Of course,” adds the Reverend, “Despite our efforts to become involved in a wider range of issues and recruit beyond our provincial borders, we remain committed to our roots. It’s very important to us to remain visible in the religious community and throughout Nova Scotia in general.”

Reverend Beresford believes the Atlantic School of Theology has very deep ties to Nova Scotia, not just because its roots stretch centuries into the province’s history, but also because its teachings continue to be shaped by Nova Scotia’s uniqueness.

“This is a place where questions about our context – questions about the aging population, immigration, or increasing diversity – have a very specific flavour to Nova Scotia.

“For instance, the economy has a very different flavour here in Nova Scotia than it does on Bay Street,” explains the Reverend.

For Canon Beresford and his colleagues and students, Nova Scotia’s unique flavour has a profound impact on their studies, their conversations, and their teachings.

“For example, one of the reasons why our graduates work as chaplains is linked to the number of military bases here,” he explains. “Nova Scotia is a place where you cannot have a conversation about international peace and justice without acknowledging that our families and friends are working toward peace on the international scene. Our context makes us think about those issues with a different sensitivity.”

Certainly, Nova Scotia has a unique flavour. And the Atlantic School of Theology, a staple in our community and our individual lives, certainly adds much to that flavour. The wisdom of millennia. Community giving. And, above all else, spirituality.