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By Peter Biggs
In a bold $40 million deal, Tyndale University College
& Seminary – which was struggling financially only a few years
ago – has purchased the nearby 56-acre Morrow Park from the Catholic
Sisters of St. Joseph.
This is the largest acquisition in Canadian
evangelical history.
The property, located on Bayview Avenue in Toronto, is
currently home to St. Joseph’s Morrow Park High School and the home
of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto.
Tyndale, Canada’s oldest school of its kind,
will retain its current campus, where some 1,200 students study humanities,
social sciences, business and theology. Tyndale took limited possession in
the fall, and will ready parts of the additional campus for use in
September 2007.
The agreement allows for an extension of the Catholic
School Board lease until the end of the 2009 – 2010 academic year.
This acquisition had some unconventional real estate
elements. Larry Willard, vice president for corporate communications at
Tyndale, highlighted the unusual spirit.
“We found the Catholic Sisters of St. Joseph
people of great integrity and good will,” he said. “Throughout,
they were a delight to work with. All of us feel that the
Catholic-evangelical Protestant cooperation on key social issues over the
last three decades has paved the way – this development seems to be a
continuation of that. They certainly could have sold their property to a
developer for far more money.”
In a press release issued by both organizations,
Sister Margaret noted: “In recent years we and our independent
advisors have reviewed a number of alternatives surrounding the future of
Morrow Park. Key to our decision was the knowledge that Tyndale will
continue the use of the property for Christian education, and that the
chapel will continue as sacred space.” The acquisition itself was
approved by the Vatican.
Tyndale was founded in 1864. Originally named Toronto
Bible College, it was only the third of its kind in North America and the
first in Canada. In 1968, it merged with the London College of Bible and
Missions to become Ontario Bible College; Ontario Theological Seminary, a
graduate school, followed.
The school’s name was changed to Tyndale in
1998, in honour of one of Christian history’s most renowned figures.
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William Tyndale is described as “the early
English reformer, whose commitment to making the scriptures available to
all persons led him to undertake the first English translation of the Bible
– at the cost of his own life.”
Veteran Christian journalist Lloyd Mackey commented to
Options that
Tyndale’s success is part of a trend among Christian establishments
which began as training schools and eventually became universities.
Citing B.C.’s Trinity Western University, Mackey
said: “It seems that Tyndale is poised to follow Trinity.”
Willard agreed. “Tyndale is called a university
college – but it is a full university. The designation
‘college’ refers to the fact that it presently has a smaller
program selection – without a science and masters program, at
present.”
Referring to this momentous expansion, Willard
continued: “This deal took around two years to complete, but
was several years in the making.”
He added: “As a university, what we really
needed to serve Canada well was space for our planned additional programs,
including a bachelor’s [degree] in education, communications and
media.”
The new property development is particularly
encouraging for Tyndale. As recently as 12 years ago, the school was
severely stretched financially.
“In the midst of a seminary building
program, some pledges didn’t come in,” Mackey recalled.
“Tyndale president Brian Stiller is to be
commended – along with Winston Ling, VP of finance – in wisely
guiding Tyndale through that challenge.”
Along with a number of other Christian colleges,
Tyndale is applying to join the Association of Universities and Colleges of
Canada for membership, and have received government accreditation to
provide a bachelor of education degree.
A team from the Ontario College of Teachers are
visiting Tyndale as the final phase of approval to enable them to be fully
accredited for the program.
“Christian higher education is becoming
mainstream,” concluded Willard.
Options Fall 2007
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