AST strengthens the Board

The Board of Governors of Atlantic School of Theology met October 21 and 22 in a session entitled "Strengthening the Board." The event was an opportunity for further development of the governing body of AST.

The setting was the beautiful Ledgehill Centre in Middleton Nova Scotia with fall colors blazing and the cool air suggesting the inevitable Maritime change of season.

A pre-circulated Board governance self-assessment tool was used provided by In Trust, an organization devoted to assisting governing boards of theological institutions in North America with strategic and functional operations. The Tool included a survey of Board members in six areas:

* Tending roots: mission, faith, and values
* Focusing forward: goals, priorities, and strategies
* Nurturing relationships: communication in and out of the institution
* Building teamwork: attention to systems and structures
* Ensuring growth: board education and learning
* Honing skills: problem analysis and strategic thinking

Facilitator for the event was Mr. Frank Schwartz,
newly appointed Executive Director of CCEPA (Canadian Centre for Ethics in Public Affairs) a joint project by Atlantic School of Theology and St. Mary's University, Halifax.

AST Board of Governors

Over the 12 hours of working time together, members of the Board were enabled to vision for the future of the School and the work of the Board in terms of strengthening its ministry. The Board remains conscious of the unique opportunities available to an ecumenical theological school positioned in the Maritime Provinces and ways it can serve the church in several denominations in that context.

As a founding partner of AST, the Diocese of Fredericton names two representatives to the AST Board of Governors. Richard Thorne (Parish of Central Kings) was recently appointed by Bishop Claude MIller to join Archdeacon Geoffrey Hall in offering diocesan representation on the Board. The Rev'd Leo Martin (Parish of Upper Kennebecasis) represents the Diocese of Fredericton on the AST Senate and the Rev'd William Morton (Parish of Salisbury and Havelock) sits on the Anglican Formation Committee.

Students currently studying at AST include postulant Marian Lucas-Jefferies who is in her third and final year of the Master of Diviinity program; Kevin Frankland (Parish of Grand Manan) in his first year of theological study and David Watts studying via the online course offerings of the School.

Atlantic School of Theology is an ecumenical university committed to excellence in graduate level theological education and research and in formation for Christian ministries, lay and ordained, in church and society, primarily in Atlantic Canada.

Read current news in the Fall/Winter issue of AST Magazine.

Diocesan Communications
24 October 2005