When I graduated from Knox College in 1967 there was no dean, no female professors and almost no female students. Now at Vancouver School of Theology the academic dean/vice principal is a woman, an Anglican priest, a first-rate academic and administrator; about half the faculty are women and half the student body is female. That's just the beginning of the changes.
When I was studying theology all my professors were Presbyterian. At VST, the faculty consists of members of the United, Anglican, Lutheran and Presbyterian churches. The diversity within our walls makes both for interesting meetings and stimulating lectures.
The student body in my time was also all Presbyterian though we were just starting to see a few students from other seminaries and a few of us found our way to non-Presbyterian colleges for elective courses. Today we have a student body that consists of different cultures and races, a variety of denominations and some with no denomination at all. And now, our students are not just studying for ordination but also for degrees in education, spirituality, or theology because of interests other than ordination.
It is fair to say that the practical pervades theological courses and theological understanding is a significant dimension with the practical courses. Language study is not as strong as it once was with many saying, "Thank God," while others lament the loss of both Greek and Hebrew. In truth, a three year program, is not long enough to cover the essential subjects and theological education has to continue beyond those initial years in the seminary.
The style of teaching, which has always varied, has become far more participatory. Blackboards have turned green, flip charts are joined by overhead projectors, slide projectors and now LCD projectors and DVD players. VST will soon have a wireless, network available in the offices, automated library and classrooms. Of course, typing and retyping essays has been displaced by the much more efficient cutting and pasting thanks to the computer. With helpful software an essay can be read, marked with comments and notations and then returned post-haste to the sender. (Though maybe post-haste is not a useful phrase in the electronic world.) Did I mention we also have on-line courses and distance education through e-mail courses? We are considering classes that will connect with students who will participate from away via web-cams and audio-streaming.
Most of our students are part time with some having significant travel distances. This makes it more difficult for us to maintain a sense of community, something that we continue to address with various special gatherings.
One item of bad news is that with denominational and government cutbacks, students must carry a much greater part of the cost of theological education. This is a problem for students, a problem for the colleges and a problem for the church. Bursary support is almost always necessary and always appreciated.
The good news is that God still calls faithful and industrious people to study, learn and grow as lay or ordained leaders in the church. Much has changed and will change and I wouldn't be surprised to see the dean in classy jeans. This does not change: God still remains as the one who calls us to follow.
