Our strategic vision is rooted in our mission to equip Christians to serve the mission of God in church and world with transformative action.
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
Over the next five years, four areas of focus will serve to guide our decisions and actions so that we might effectively meet the opportunities and challenges of our mission in constantly changing world. I invite you to read, be inspired, and partner with us in equipping the ministry of the church for a world that needs good news.
Dr. Anna Robbins
President, Acadia Divinity College
Dean of Theology, Acadia University
Our STORY
From our roots in the beginning of the 19th century, Acadia Divinity College has evolved in faith and changed with purpose. Our East Coast flavour of Theology continues to prepare strong, compassionate leaders to serve communities around the globe.
As the seminary of the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada (CBAC) and the Faculty of Theology for Acadia University, ADC is built on the faith of countless individuals who have worked together to distinguish the College as a diverse, creative, and forward-thinking academic institution.
ADC not only meets the challenges of the day; we strive to lead in maximizing opportunities for the creative development of theological education that equips able leaders for ministry service. We have the strength of our historical roots, in church and university. Out of that tradition, we embrace a spirit of cultural engagement and innovation as we prepare to meet future trends and challenges.
The CHALLENGE
Our churches need leaders who can help them grow and transform in a rapidly-changing culture. We’ve identified how ADC can evolve to best outwork our mission and partnership with our churches.
Charting OUR VISION
ADC comes to this pivotal moment in Christian history in a position of strength, and with a sense of urgency about equipping Christians to serve the mission of God with transformative action. We need to support and develop leaders who are able to imagine and nurture new work in local communities. We must also encourage and resource leaders who can take churches to a place of faithful witness and social relevance in a today’s culture. To this end, we have identified FOUR AREAS OF FOCUS that will enable us to fulfill our mission for our current context and calling. These areas overlap and feed into one another as an ever-evolving path into the future.
News & Stories
Foundation
Build Our Base
FOUNDATION
BUILD OUR BASE
ADC is firmly rooted in the Baptist faith and with a rich history in providing the best educational experience for our students.
With this strength as our base, we are able to explore creative initiatives to make the most of present and future opportunities that will extend our work and mission. ADC has developed as an outstanding seminary, and we are eager to maximize this success.
TO ENSURE WE MAINTAIN A STRONG FOUNDATION,
ADC WILL BUILD:
- Faculty strength to position them as outstanding leaders in theological education.
- Student support to help students navigate an ever-changing learning environment and to ensure their personal success.
- Financial security for the long term through a fundraising campaign that focuses on operating endowments, academic chairs, and endowed student funds.
- Effective governance by streamlining the committee structure of our Board of Trustees and continually developing the strength of the Board through diversity of backgrounds and gifts.
- Clear communication as we identify audiences and tell our story better.
Location
Engage our Place
LOCATION
ENGAGE OUR PLACE
ADC recognizes the importance of engaging the context in which God has placed us and called us in this place and time.
From our relationships with the creation, the wider university campus, the East Coast, and urban and rural areas, to our international affiliations, we embrace our physical reality and seek to make a fresh impact.
TO ENSURE WE LIVE OUT AN EMBODIED MISSION IN OUR PHYSICAL LOCATION,
ADC WILL ENGAGE:
- The land, sea, and sky in theological perspective and educational practice.
- Acadia University through our commitments to serve, support, and encourage others, and increase the visibility of theology in higher education.
- The city through presence and partnerships in Halifax so that we offer relevant theological education for the emerging urban East Coast church.
- Our East Coast context by developing ADC’s theological voice with a publishing initiative that will be distinctive in its Baptist roots, acknowledgement of historical actions of faithfulness and injustice, recognition of the land of Mi’kma’ki, and the ways that God speaks here.
Transformation
Extend
our
Embrace
TRANSFORMATION
EXTEND OUR EMBRACE
ADC is rooted in our commitment to be the whole people of God, seeking transformation of our community and the communities we serve.
We want to move beyond exclusion and marginalization and learn to see the world with the breadth of God’s love. Through a ministry of justice and reconciliation, we aim to widen access to theological education to all who are called, wherever in the world they are located.
TO ENSURE WE UPHOLD AN ENDURING COMMITMENT TO TRANSFORMATION IN CHURCH AND COMMUNITY,
ADC WILL EMBRACE:
- The inclusion of historically underrepresented communities, particularly Indigenous peoples and those of African descent as we commit to learning to walk well together.
- Truth and Reconciliation, and the pursuit of justice in our structures and curriculum.
- The embodiment of diversity in recruitment, appointment of students, staff, faculty, and Board, and ongoing diversity training for our entire community.
- Effective national and international partnerships with those who share a common mission.
- Wider access to theological education to all who are called, wherever in the world they are located, through technological investment, and pedagogical development.
Innovation
Set
the
Pace
INNOVATION
SET THE PACE
ADC has a culture of evaluation and innovation that constantly seeks to improve what we do.
We not only consider better ways to carry out our mission, we also devise new approaches to theological education that have potential for wide transformative impact. We are not content to be good. We want to lead the way.
TO ENSURE WE CONTINUE TO PURSUE INNOVATION IN THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION,
ADC WILL:
- Establish a futuring hub, which will gather, conduct, and interpret research on trends and developments that will help us imagine and prepare for life in the future as a seminary and with our churches.
- Build an educational sandbox for experimenting and re-imagining theological education for emerging contexts in partnership with churches.
- Engage, experiment with, and continually invest in new technologies for theological education.
- Develop new approaches to mental health in theological education as we equip graduates to understand their own mental health and how to support the mental health of their congregations.
- Offer flexible, accessible theology for everybody who needs to respond to the constant and rapidly-changing church context, including continuing education for church leaders and education for laypeople who lead ministry in under-served locations.