Canada Christian College

Canada Christian College and School of Graduate Theological Studies, commonly shortened to Canada Christian College, is an Evangelical Christian Bible college located in Whitby, Ontario, Canada. Its president since 1993 has been Charles McVety, son of founder Elmer S. McVety. It has had "over 6000" graduates since its founding.[1]

Canada Christian College and School of Graduate Theological Studies
TypeBible college
Established1967
FounderElmer S. McVety
AffiliationEvangelical Christian
PresidentCharles McVety
Academic staff
70
UndergraduatesAvailable
PostgraduatesAvailable
Address
300 Water Street
,
Whitby
,
Ontario
,
Canada

43°51′10″N 78°55′29″W
CampusUrban
ColoursRed & black
Websitehttp://www.canadachristiancollege.com/

Programs

Canada Christian College's mission is to educate and empower students with the skills, knowledge and spiritual foundation required to become effective ministers of the gospel and to achieve personal and business success. It offers Undergraduate, Graduate and Post-Graduate Degree Programs. It offers programs in Korean Theological Studies; English as a Second Language (ESL) and Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL).[1]

History

The College was founded in 1967 under the name Richmond College as a Christian liberal arts college under the leadership of Dr. Elmer McVety and Canadian evangelist John Wesley White. Hugh White (brother of John) served as the first dean. In 1974, the institution launched a theology program with the name "Canada Christian College". Non-theological (liberal arts) programs of the college were discontinued when Richmond College closed in 1981, with student records assigned to Trinity Western University, Langley, BC. In 1982, the Ontario Ministry of Education revoked the right of Canada Christian College to grant degrees. The College continued to issue degrees under the authority of their Manitoba charter until 1999.[2] Charles McVety took over leadership of the college in 1993.[3] In 1998, the Ontario government tried to take over the College's curriculum, faculty and confessions. McVety claimed that his response was to "[tell] them to take a long walk on a short pier and get lost."[3] In 1999, Frank Klees introduced a successful motion in the Ontario legislature granting degree-granting authority to the college.[3]

Controversy

The president of the college, Charles McVety has a history of making controversial remarks regarding homosexuality and Islam.[4] In 2019, Canada Christian College organized a protest in support of Chick-fil-A amid its controversial relationship with LGBT people.[5]

Department of Jewish studies

In 1991, the College was the subject of complaints by the Canadian Jewish Congress for its plans to have a "Jewish studies" department which, it was alleged, would teaching classes meant to train students to convert Jews to Christianity. Bernie Farber of the CJC said of the college "We will take on any group whose aim is to destroy Judaism, philosophically, spiritually or directly." Rev. Malvern Jacobs and Rev. Edward Brotsky were the dean and vice-dean of the new department and were described as messianic Jews.[6] Jacobs later served as dean of Canada Christian College.[7]

In 1998, in response to concerns by the Canadian Jewish Congress, Canada Christian College closed its Jewish Studies Department and dropped classes aimed at training Christians to convert Jews. McVety told Canadian Jewish News at the time "We want to make it very clear that the Canada Christian College does not approve of or engage in any process to convert Jews to Christianity."[8] In 2003, McVety joined with B'nai Brith to participate in its countermissionary campaign and voiced his opposition to groups such as Jews for Jesus.[9] "As a committed Christian I support the idea of preaching Christianity, but preaching Christianity under the guise of Judaism to those who are in fact seeking Judaism, is plainly wrong," said McVety.[10]

In 2008, Frank Dimant, executive vice-president of B'nai Brith Canada, was appointed the Chair of the newly inaugurated Department of Modern Israel Studies; he was promoted to dean in 2015.[11]

Muslims

In 2011, Canada Christian College invited and hosted Geert Wilders, an anti-Islam politician[12] who has called for the banning of the Koran. During his speech, Wilders said that moderate Islam does not exist,[13] and that Canadian Muslims were a danger to democracy.[14]

Charles McVety, president of the Canada Christian College, has said,

Islam is not just a religion, it’s a political and cultural system as well and we know that Christians, Jews and Hindus don’t have the same mandate for a hostile takeover.[12]

The Toronto Muslim community rejected the above comment, stating they had no intention of any hostile takeover.[12] Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations also expressed concern at the remarks made by McVety.[15]

In December 2017, Canada Christian College hosted Pamela Geller, who is known for her anti-Muslim views, to speak at an event.[16][17]

Status

The college is an accredited private degree-granting institution listed by the Ontario Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development

Several evangelical leaders have received Honorary Degrees from the college including: John Hagee, T.D. Jakes, Jack Van Impe and Robert McGhee.

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See also

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. McDonald, Marci (December 5, 2006). "Stephen Harper and the Theo-cons". The Walrus. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved December 5, 2006.
  3. Steven Zhou (December 10, 2018). "Doug Ford headlines Christmas concert with controversial evangelical pastor".
  4. "Christian group plans counter-protest in support of Toronto Chick-fil-A".
  5. McAteer, Michael, "Jews question status of college", Toronto Star, November 30, 1991
  6. van Rijn, Nicolaas, "Jewish cemetery refuses educator's body --- Man rejected because he abandoned faith, rabbis' council rules", Toronto Star, June 28, 1999
  7. Lowes, Carol "Jews for Jesus campaign exposes growing tensions", Christian Week, September 30, 2003
  8. Scrivener, Leslie, "Jewish leaders take on evangelical promoters; Vow opposition to Jews for Jesus 'Fighting them on street corners'", Toronto Star, August 24, 2003
  9. "Jewish and Christian leaders launch countermissionary campaign", Jerusalem Post, August 28, 2003
  10. "A Word from the Dean". Canada Christian College. Canada Christian College. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
  11. Jessica Hume, Anti-Islamic political leader Geert Wilders comes to Canada, National Post, May 5, 2011.
  12. Ahmed al-Rawi. Islam on YouTube: Online Debates, Protests, and Extremism. Springer. p. 72.
  13. JOHN MICHAEL MCGRATH. "Five stupid things Geert Wilders said during his stay in Toronto".
  14. Ask Federal Leaders to Condemn Anti-Muslim Views of Visiting Politician Geert Wilders Archived July 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, CAIR-CAN, May 06, 2011.
  15. ""World's top Islamophobe," Pamela Geller, to speak at Jewish Defence League event in Toronto". Now Toronto.
  16. Bernie Farber and Mira Sucharov. "We must overcome Islamophobia in 2018". Toronto Star.
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