New program equips Tyndale students to serve at Christian and Missionary Alliance churches

By Tyndale Communications  /  Tuesday, December 15, 2020

A view of the chapel from the outside

The first courses in “Christian and Missionary Alliance Studies” will begin in May 2021.

Starting next spring, students can specialize in serving Christian and Missionary Alliance churches through a joint program offered by Tyndale University and the Eastern Canadian District of the Christian and Missionary Alliance (“Eastern Canadian District of the C&MA”).

Students can complete the “Christian and Missionary Alliance Studies” concentration in any of the MDiv majors offered at Tyndale, within a two-year MTS degree, or a one-year graduate certificate.

“Approximately 9 percent of our seminary students identify as Christian and Missionary Alliance - one of our larger denominational groups,” says Dr. Arnold Neufeldt-Fast, VP Academic and Dean of Tyndale Seminary. “This partnership will contribute to Tyndale’s mission to develop and equip leaders for church and society within both the Canadian and global contexts.”

Students can expect to learn about history and thought, spirituality, the mission commitment of their denomination, or of the Christian and Missionary Alliance church they hope to join. Two of the four courses for the concentration will normally be offered each year by a professor recommended by the Eastern Canadian District of the C&MA.

“We are excited about how this concentration will help prepare students to lead our churches into the future (and start new ones!) with fresh wisdom that is rooted in the historic strengths of the C&MA as a Christ-centered, Spirit-empowered, Mission-focused movement that seeks to multiply disciples everywhere,” says Rev. Curtis Peters, District Superintendent, Eastern Canadian District of the C&MA. “We are passionate about developing leaders who live out these historic emphases of our tradition in newly inspired ways that will meet the demands of today, both in Canada and among least-reached peoples around the world.”

Tyndale’s other denominational partnerships include agreements with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, the Salvation Army, the Mennonite Brethren, and the Wesleyan denominations.

“This fall, our students have come from more than 75 different church traditions,” says Dr. Neufeldt-Fast. “Each contribute the gift of their tradition to Tyndale’s ‘broad-tent evangelical’ ethos.

“We hope that graduates of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Studies program leave Tyndale both knowing and loving their church’s story and strengthened to share the unique spiritual gift of their tradition with the larger Church.”

About Tyndale University

Tyndale University in Toronto, Ontario, offers a wide range of programs at the undergraduate, seminary and graduate levels. Built on over 125 years of history, Tyndale alumni are working in private, public and not-for-profit sectors. Tyndale is dedicated to the pursuit of truth, to excellence in teaching, learning and research, for the enriching of mind, heart and character, to serve the church and the world for the glory of God.

About the Eastern Canadian District of the Christian and Missionary Alliance

The Eastern Canadian District consists of over 90 churches and new ventures that seek to experience the fullness of life in the kingdom of God and to invite their neighbours and nations from least-reached peoples around the world to do the same. The District joins with all Canadian C&MA churches in one unifying vision prayer: “O God, with all our hearts we long for you.  Come, transform us to be Christ-centered, Spirit-empowered, Mission-focused people, multiplying disciples everywhere.”

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Arnold Neufeldt-Fast
VP Academic and Dean
Tyndale Seminary
neufeldt-fast [at] tyndale [dot] ca

Rev. Curtis Peters
District Superintendent
Eastern Canadian District of the Christian and Missionary Alliance
curtis [at] easterndistrict [dot] ca