In 1838, a determined community of Baptist men and women set out to establish a place of higher learning in the Annapolis Valley. Although they possessed little in the way of money, this industrious group made up for it in their determination.
Local men felled trees and hauled them to the future site of the university. Women in the community knit mittens to sell and raise funds in order to purchase nails for construction. Through their drive and sacrificial giving Acadia University was born.
With a history rooted in such resourcefulness and willpower, it is no wonder that today Acadia University is ranked as one of Canada’s most creative and innovative universities.
Acadia Divinity College is proud to be part of this heritage. As the Faculty of Theology of Acadia University, we are able to provide a cutting edge theological education due to the innovative use of technology in the classroom as well as an outstanding faculty.
The mission of Acadia Divinity College is to prepare men and women for leadership in various Christian ministries both locally and globally. We want to proclaim the message of God’s Word for this generation and to lead the Christian community in its journey of faith and its mission in the world. We stress not only the importance of proclaiming the message, but also living it in the pluralistic society in which we live.
We believe that students preparing for ministry need to have a solid academic understanding of the Christian faith. However, we also believe that students need to develop practical skills. This involves students developing ability in areas such as preaching, counseling, worship, and Christian education. We also know that any person preparing for Christian service must also be a person of integrity and character thus the reason for our courses in spiritual formation and our opportunity to worship together in weekly chapel times. The integration of academic, practical, and spiritual aspects of theological education is the most effective way to train for Christian service.
We hope that the information you discover on this website is helpful and that you will contact us with any questions you might have. I would also strongly encourage you to visit Acadia Divinity College so you can meet our faculty, staff and students and have a chance to observe classes. You will also be impressed with the beautiful campus on which our College is situated. ADC is a great place and we invite you to check us out.
Harry G. Gardner
President, Acadia Divinity College
ADC Alumni 1977