Farel Reformed Theological Seminary

Farel Reformed Theological Seminary is a bilingual (French/English) Reformed, university-level theological school in Montreal, Quebec for the training of pastors, evangelists, teachers and those simply interested in studying theology.

History

The Evangelical Reformed Alliance ("Alliance réformée Évangélique" or A.R.E.) was founded in 1978 at Montmorency in the region of Québec, on the basis of the Montmorency Manifesto. In order to promote Reformed work in Québec, the members of A.R.E. formulated three objectives :
#to help in the establishment of Farel Institute (now called Farel Reformed Theological Seminary), a theological faculty, so that students could complete theological education;
#to launch a magazine of biblical and theological reflection, to be called "Parole";
#to revise and publish French Reformed works such as "l'Institution chrétienne" by John Calvin.

A.R.E. called on the Rev. Martin Geleynse to work on the formation of Farel Institute. His parish, the Christian Reformed Church of Montreal, graciously liberated him to permit him to become the head of Farel Institute. Daniel Racine was named editor-in-chief of Parole, and Harold Kallemeyn was put in charge of publications for Farel.

The beginnings of Farel Seminary were quite modest. For some time a need for such an organism had been felt in Québec. After several negative experiences in which French-speaking Québecois tried to study in the established anglophone theological institutions the pastor of St.Marc's Church in Sainte-Foy agreed to offer courses in history and in dogmatics. It was truly a "small beginning", with only two students in the first course. But the enthusiasm of the students communicated itself to others and so other courses could be offered. Thus it happened that John Miller began to teach biblical languages. And it was he who suggested that the new-born theological faculty be named "Institut Farel"--after the 16th century Protestant Reformer William Farel. An extension course was offered to a Christian community in Montmorency, and the demand for teaching grew. Daniel Racine, who was the French secretary of the Canadian Bible Society and one of the founding members of the South Shore Church in Montreal, was invited to teach at Farel. The arrival of Martin Geleynse as co-ordinator and dean of the Institute permitted the faculty to develop a structure and to make itself known more widely. It was then a question of administering the offices and the personnel, of establishing a teaching programme, and of promoting the faculty in other institutions. When Martin Geleynse left in 1986, Jean-Guy deBlois became the new co-ordinator, and thus part of the administrative council, which also included Jean Zoellner, Ross Davidson and David Craig. After a period of questioning and reorientation, Farel returned to more modest dimensions, even as it offered a new program of studies leading to a Bachelor's degree in theology.

In 2001 Farel Seminary moved from Quebec City to Montreal where it took up residence in a renovated section of the former Erskine and American United Church. At this time young professors were added to the school and the work gained new momentum.

Doctrinal Basis

Farel Reformed Theological Seminary has an explicitly biblical and confessional Reformed theological basis. It seeks to be faithful to the message of the Bible and the Reformed Confessions of the 16th and 17th centuries (principally, the Heidelberg Catechism and the Westminster Confession).

References

*Lalonde, Jean-Louis. "Des loups dans la bergerie: Les Protestants de Langue Française au Québec. 1534-2000." Fides, 2002.
*Lougheed, Richard. "La Conversion Controversée de Charles Chiniquy." Québec: La Clarière, 1999.
*Paquin, René. “Les protestans Canadiens-français et le ‘réveil’ catholique dans le Québec du XIXe siècle: brève hsitoire d’une concurrence.” In "l’Identité des Protestants francophones au Québec: 1834-1997." Remon, Denis, ed. Montréal: Acfas, 1998.

External links

* [http://www.farel.net Farel's web-site]
* [http://www.erq.qc.ca Reformed Church of Quebec]
* [http://www.frcna.org/Resources/Files.ASP?type=student Free Reformed Churches of North America]

Category: Christianity