Celebrating Tyndale's 125th Anniversary

Celebrating Tyndale University College & Seminary’s 125th Anniversary AND Announcing the Alister E. McGrath Chair of Christian Thought and Spirituality

Thursday, January 10, 2019

Tyndale University College & Seminary celebrates a milestone 125 years in 2019.

What began in 1894 as an education initiative among four key denominations (Anglican, Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian) under the name Toronto Bible Training School (TBTS) has now grown to be the largest graduate school of theology in Canada and a thriving and creative undergraduate university. There have been name changes over the years as well as geographical relocations, but Tyndale’s mandate has remained the same: to form and educate a generation of students to influence and shape the world through their everyday lives and vocations. Graduates have taken on positions as teachers, lawyers, professors, counsellors, psychologists and social workers; others explore science, music and business; and some are serving in ministry, church and parachurch organizations. Tyndale has always perceived its role as a university and seminary to equip, intellectually stimulate and form students in such a way that they make an impact wherever they are. This legacy has been built over the course of 125 years.

To mark this banner year, a special timeline wall of milestone dates has been created in the main hallway adjacent to the Tyndale Bookstore. Along with a special Tyndale 125 logo, designed to denote this commemorative year, a number of special celebration events are being planned with the largest culminating at Homecoming on September 21, 2019. Alumni will be celebrated along with the Centre for Mentorship & Theological Reflection with Dr. Alister McGrath as the keynote speaker in the evening. Throughout the year, we will be highlighting achievements and launching projects that emphasize our continued pursuit to impact our community and the world with innovation and relevance.

One of the cornerstone pieces of this 125th celebration year is the fundraising initiative to create the Alister E. McGrath Chair of Christian Thought and Spirituality. With Dr. Alister McGrath’s desire to establish this chair at Tyndale, the seminary is given the honour of acknowledging this globally acclaimed theologian, scholar and Christian apologist. Dr. McGrath is currently the Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion and the Director of the Ian Ramsey Centre for Science and Religion at the University of Oxford. Dr. McGrath’s scholarship as well as his international and ecumenical influence extends into diverse scholarly areas, including science and religion, reformation theology and Christian spirituality. He has authored one of the most acclaimed theology textbooks in use, Christian Theology: An Introduction (Wiley Blackwell, 2017).

Tyndale is delighted to announce that the inaugural holder of the Alister E. McGrath Chair of Christian Thought and Spirituality will be Dr. Dennis Ngien. Dr. Ngien is the senior theologian at Tyndale Seminary, an internationally recognized scholar, an acclaimed author and the founder of the Centre for Mentorship & Theological Reflection. In addition to his scholarly achievements and engagement with churches, Dr. Ngien is also a mentor to scholars, theological students, pastors and church leaders around the world. Dr. Ngien will be honoured at a special event in the fall.