A large part of my dissertation focused on the work of the largest accrediting body for graduate theological education in North America, the Association of Theological Schools (ATS). So, when some of my future colleagues at Briercrest invited me to attend an ATS gathering in Pittsburgh it was a no-brainer. This was an opportunity to meet the people behind the papers and articles I had read and quoted during my dissertation research.
The conference exceeded my expectations in so many ways. I had the chance to get to know people from across North America in a relaxed (albeit in a business causal kind-of-way) environment. I'm grateful to my future Briercrest teammates, Jay and Beth, for including me in great things they are doing for the school and the multi-vocational project funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. I'm thankful for a handful of faculty and administrator friends from theological schools in Canada, such as a Scottish preaching professor from Acadia Divinity College, a Wycliffe College grant writer who knows something about everything, and the recently appointed dean of theology at Ambrose University in Calgary. He's going to be one of my first calls once I get settled in my new role in the Prairies. I also got the chance to meet and chat with some fine ATS people, including former Executive Director, Dan Aleshire. What an honour.
The only hiccup occurred the night before I was scheduled to fly back to Toronto. I received word that my early morning flight was cancelled and rescheduled for a nighttime trip with a stop in Washington. Two men from Horizon College & Seminary in Saskatoon who happened to be sitting at my table also happened to be on that cancelled flight. We all decided to drive back to Canada instead of taking our chances at the airport. As it turns out, Beth, my Briercrest colleague who lives in Toronto, had driven to the conference. She had space to squeeze me behind her passenger riding shotgun, the newly appointed principal of Emmanuel College in Toronto. What a eventful end to a great conference.
