During the 1960s and 1970s, the project of a university-level center for pastoral training become an palpable need to members of churches in the Union of French Baptist Churches in Canada. This first took form as the Bible Training Centre in Quebec City, led by the Rev. Charles Foster from 1967 to 1971. The Center for Evangelical Theological Studies was then formed following a serious study lasting several years that was conducted by the Education Committee of the Union of French Baptist Churches in consultation with church members and pastors.
Thanks to the initiative of the late Rev. Dr. Maurice Boillat, former Secretary General of the Union and first professor of Homiletics, the Faculty of Theology at Acadia University expressed interest in the project of a training center in Montreal that would be affiliated with Acadia University in Nova Scotia. It was due to the wise and dedicated work of Pastor John Gilmour that the authorities of the same University approved the project on November 10, 1980. Subsequently the Ministry of Higher Education of Quebec granted us recognition so that our students could obtain loans and scholarships. God was at work; Dr. J. Perkin, President of Acadia University, took a personal interest in the project, and the experience of Mr. Gilmour in French secondary education in Quebec and in the Council of Higher Education proved to be a valuable and indispensable contribution. Thus, in the summer of 1982, the first courses by the Center for Evangelical Theological Studies (CETE - name of the Faculty until May 1994) were offered on Ontario Street under the direction of Pastor W. Thomson Nelson, first Director of Studies at the Center. In 1986, with the help of the Canadian Baptists, the building of the Papineau Avenue was acquired to house the offices of the Union and the premises of the Faculty.
In 1987, the CETE hired a second full-time professor in the person of Dr. Amar Djaballah, previously professor at Toronto Baptist Seminary. In 1992, he succeeded Dr. Thomson as Dean. In 1993, Dr. Richard Lougheed joined as a third full-time professor. The following year, in 1994, the faculty added to the B.Th. (its only program to date) two Certificates (Biblical Studies and Biblical Counseling) as well as an M.A. in Theology. This expansion of its program coincided with a change of the institution’s name from CETE to Evangelical Theological Seminary in September 1994.
In September 1997, Mr. Wilfred Buchanan joined the faculty as its fourth full-time professor, also assuming the responsibilities of Registrar. In May 1999, the Faculty awarded its first two master's degrees (M.Th.), granted by Acadia University.
Prayers, difficulties already overcome and still to overcome, tears and joy - all this sums up the experience of recent years. We want to be at the service of the evangelical church in Quebec, and not only of Baptist churches. We pray that God sends us the best possible candidates for training as pastors, evangelists, missionaries, and lay leaders, to the glory of Jesus Christ and for the service of his Church.
The faculty is officially registered as a corporation as of February 15, 2006. Thanks to everyone who prayed for and supported in this effort. This new stage in the life for the ETS is decisive and will allow it to develop fully: while continuing to serve all the needs of the Union in terms of training, it is also open to all churches and denominations in Quebec and elsewhere. We hereby invite all local churches who wish to officially partner with us to apply.
Thanks to the initiative of the late Rev. Dr. Maurice Boillat, former Secretary General of the Union and first professor of Homiletics, the Faculty of Theology at Acadia University expressed interest in the project of a training center in Montreal that would be affiliated with Acadia University in Nova Scotia. It was due to the wise and dedicated work of Pastor John Gilmour that the authorities of the same University approved the project on November 10, 1980. Subsequently the Ministry of Higher Education of Quebec granted us recognition so that our students could obtain loans and scholarships. God was at work; Dr. J. Perkin, President of Acadia University, took a personal interest in the project, and the experience of Mr. Gilmour in French secondary education in Quebec and in the Council of Higher Education proved to be a valuable and indispensable contribution. Thus, in the summer of 1982, the first courses by the Center for Evangelical Theological Studies (CETE - name of the Faculty until May 1994) were offered on Ontario Street under the direction of Pastor W. Thomson Nelson, first Director of Studies at the Center. In 1986, with the help of the Canadian Baptists, the building of the Papineau Avenue was acquired to house the offices of the Union and the premises of the Faculty.
In 1987, the CETE hired a second full-time professor in the person of Dr. Amar Djaballah, previously professor at Toronto Baptist Seminary. In 1992, he succeeded Dr. Thomson as Dean. In 1993, Dr. Richard Lougheed joined as a third full-time professor. The following year, in 1994, the faculty added to the B.Th. (its only program to date) two Certificates (Biblical Studies and Biblical Counseling) as well as an M.A. in Theology. This expansion of its program coincided with a change of the institution’s name from CETE to Evangelical Theological Seminary in September 1994.
In September 1997, Mr. Wilfred Buchanan joined the faculty as its fourth full-time professor, also assuming the responsibilities of Registrar. In May 1999, the Faculty awarded its first two master's degrees (M.Th.), granted by Acadia University.
Prayers, difficulties already overcome and still to overcome, tears and joy - all this sums up the experience of recent years. We want to be at the service of the evangelical church in Quebec, and not only of Baptist churches. We pray that God sends us the best possible candidates for training as pastors, evangelists, missionaries, and lay leaders, to the glory of Jesus Christ and for the service of his Church.
The faculty is officially registered as a corporation as of February 15, 2006. Thanks to everyone who prayed for and supported in this effort. This new stage in the life for the ETS is decisive and will allow it to develop fully: while continuing to serve all the needs of the Union in terms of training, it is also open to all churches and denominations in Quebec and elsewhere. We hereby invite all local churches who wish to officially partner with us to apply.
