“New” seminary opens in Winnipeg

Winnipeg Centre for Ministry Studies (WCMS) – that’s the name of a “new” seminary in Winnipeg.

The Centre, located at Canadian Mennonite University (CMU), unveiled its new name and logo Mar. 23 at CMU. Formerly called the Evangelical Anabaptist Seminary Program (EASP), it was founded in 2002 as an offshoot of Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary (MBBS) in Fresno, Cal. and the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) in Elkhart, Ind. in order to offer theological education to Mennonite church members in Manitoba and other western provinces.

Associate dean Pierre Gilbert and Anne Friesen welcome visitors to WCMS launch.

“The change in the name shows that we are not just for Mennonites,” said WCMS associate dean Pierre Gilbert, noting that even though people from many other churches take courses at the school, the former name was seen to be too limiting. “We wish to send a clear signal that we want to serve the broader church.”

At the same time, the name indicates that the school exists to serve people in Winnipeg, he said. “We want to provide seminary education that addresses this context.”

Since most people equate seminary studies with becoming a pastor, Gilbert said the Centre’s name change also indicates “we provide a whole range of courses to help people in any kind of ministry – pastoral, working with youth, or in church-related organizations. Anyone who wants to know how they can serve God better, in whatever kind of work, can find something at the Centre.”

That said, the Centre does offer courses specifically for those considering pastoral ministry, offering a Certificate of Christian Ministry. It also hopes to offer a Master of Arts degree in Christian ministry in the next two to three years.

For more information, go to ministrystudies.ca.

—from CMU release