Academic Stream in Theology, Spirituality, and the Arts
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Toronto School of Theology Toronto, Ontario, Canada ATS Innovation Grant Project title: Theology, Spirituality, and the Arts The TST M.T.S. Arts Stream Committee: Rebekah Smick, Katharine Lochnan, Alan Hayes (until June 30, 2018) and Dorcas Gordon (since July 1, 2018) as the Director of TST Project abstract: This initiative develops a new academic stream in Theology, Spirituality, and the Arts for the Master of Theological Studies program in the Toronto School of Theology within the University of Toronto. It seeks to bridge Christian “faith seeking understanding” with wider publics seeking spiritual direction in the arts. As central features of the new stream, it aims for close engagement with cognate academic disciplines, public cultural institutions, and the artistic community. 1. What were the primary goals of your innovation grant project? The primary goal of the Toronto School of Theology’s (TST) innovation grant project was to establish a defined academic stream in Theology, Spirituality, and the Arts within the Master of Theological Studies program [M.T.S.] of the TST as a conjoint degree with the University of Toronto [UofT]. The project sought to construct the new stream in close engagement with public cultural institutions, the wider university of which we are a part, cognate academic disciplines, and the artistic community. Like a number of other theological schools, TST teaches courses in theology and the arts and sponsors relevant events. These offerings target primarily Christian audiences. The impetus behind our current degree aspirations emerged with TST’s extraordinary involvement in a hugely successful public art exhibition, entitled “Mystical Landscapes,” mounted by the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto and the Musée D’Orsay in Paris. This exhibition took as its focus the relationship between mystical traditions and Symbolist art. Nine theologians from TST served on the Advisory Committee and analyzed the works of art from a theological and mystical perspective. The presentation employed spiritual direction techniques, inviting viewers to "walk with" the artists and contemplative workshops employing "Visio Divina", Buddhist sittings, and mindful meditation techniques. The exhibition turned into a blockbuster, breaking attendance records in Toronto and Paris. The total attendance of 750.000 visitors placed it among the top 15 best attended 1 exhibitions in the world in 2017-18. This overwhelming response to the spiritual message came as a huge surprise to public institutions that have resolutely adhered in the past to a secular perspective. The art of this important period in the history of modern art has been examined primarily through a secular lens; by placing it in a spiritual context, new and more authentic readings emerged. The exhibition’s catalogue book became a best seller and a key addition to the literature on spirituality and the arts. It is clear that, in North America and Europe, there is a willingness to have spiritual conversations in the public forum. Given this remarkable outcome, supported by the collaborative involvement of TST scholars, TST’s initiative to establish a defined arts and theology stream within our M.T.S. program has been fuelled by a hope to bridge Christian ‘faith seeking understanding’ with wider publics seeking spiritual direction in the arts. 2. How well did the project attain this primary goal? On May 27, 2019, the Academic Council of the Toronto School of Theology approved the proposal and forwarded it to the University of Toronto for its approval, which is now in place. The four colleges included in the proposal were Regis College, Emmanuel College, the Faculty of Theology, the University of St. Michael’s College and the Faculty of Divinity, Trinity College. Not only is this defined academic stream part of the M.T.S. within the four colleges but it also is awarded conjointly by the University of Toronto. Wide consultation and the process of securing approvals Shepherding the project through the approval process was the responsibility of the TST’s M.T.S. Arts Stream Committee [hereafter: the Committee]. In the context of the Toronto School of Theology and the University of Toronto [UofT], a proposal for a new academic stream is required to pass through a thorough consultative process involving all interested parties. It is required to receive the approval or clearance of the appropriate units within TST and the UofT. Within the TST, the process involves seven member colleges and additional affiliated academic institutions. It also involves the academic organization of the TST, which in this case is the Basic Degree Council, since the M.T.S. degree, like the M.Div., is considered a “basic degree,” as well as the Academic Council, whose approval a new stream requires. With respect to the UofT, the process goes through the Office of the Provost. The following is a summary of the steps that were taken in that process, and their outcomes. September 14, 2017 – First meeting with Basic Degree Council of the Toronto School of Theology. At this meeting the Committee introduced our project to 2 the body within TST that oversees “basic degree” education. The Council expressed support. October 19, 2017 – Collaborative Informational Event on the Development of an Academic Stream in Theology, Spirituality and the Arts in the Toronto School of Theology. This meeting was a consultation led by the Committee that brought together about 40 interested professors, administrators, and students within the TST and the UofT, as well as artists with already established relationships with TST. It succeeded in securing commitments to move forward with the proposal for the new stream. The Committee meanwhile compiled a list of faculty members who teach courses that relate in some manner to the arts and theology. December 7, 2017 – Meeting with TST college representatives to discuss the proposed M.T.S. arts stream. The Committee presented the proposal for the new arts stream. There followed a wide-ranging discussion of learning goals, strategies, course opportunities, specific issues, and various problems to deal with going forward. The meeting secured the general support of the attendees, and commitments to cooperate in the ongoing process. January 15, 2018 - Meeting with Basic Degree Council with interested students. This occasion was structured to give former and current TST students the opportunity to inform the Council of their previous and current involvement in studies in the arts and theology within TST. The meeting succeeded in demonstrating to the Council that some previous students, with the support of several professors, had already constructed their programs of study as ad hoc programs in arts and theology. Current students showed that there was high interest in establishing such a stream. The Council offered advice for structuring the program, gaining support among professors and students, and carrying the process forward. January 30, 2018 – Meeting with the University of Toronto Provost’s Office at Simcoe Hall. The officials of the Provost’s Office encouraged the TST representatives to move forward with the proposal for the new stream. They clarified the steps to take in order to establish the proposed Arts Stream within the existing M.T.S. degree structure within TST. The meeting identified what needed to be included in the draft of the proposal to the Provost. The officials of the Provost’s Office offered advice about learning goals, learning outcomes, experiential learning, student placements in partner organizations outside the university, the appointment of honorary adjunct professors, and the potential use of courses within the UofT. February 12, 2018 – Meeting with TST Heads of College. The Committee presented the proposal for the new stream, and sought the support of the colleges for the new stream. The Heads of College gave enthusiastic general support for the initiative, but realistically acknowledged that they would be 3 unable to contribute more resources than what already exists. Regis College, a full member college, said that it possessed relevant resources, confirmed its support for the new stream, and stated that it would contribute its existing resources to the new stream. In the aftermath of this meeting, the Institute for Christian Studies [ICS], an affiliated academic institution of TST, confirmed its support for the new stream and offered to contribute its existing resources to the new stream. Both Regis College and ICS confirmed that they were in a position to move forward with the new stream. April 18, 2018 – Meeting of the Deans of Regis College and the Institute for Christian Studies. Both institutions committed their existing resources to the new stream, and began discussions about how to do this. They identified their resources pertaining to faculty, course offerings, curriculum, advising, website development, placements, administration, and other matters. Regis College and ICS agreed that their resources, together with other available resources identified within the other colleges, were substantial and sufficient to support a strong new stream in Theology, Spirituality, and the Arts within the M.T.S. degree program. Regis and ICS took the lead to establish and host the new academic stream. September 26, 2018 – Meeting with new director of TST. January 24, 2019 – Meeting with TST Director and TST Registrar and Manager of Academic Services. A first complete draft of the required University of Toronto Major Modification Proposal (MMP) for a New Stream in an Existing Undergraduate Program composed by the Project Director of the ATS Innovation Grant was discussed and edited. February 4, 2019 – Meeting with the Basic Degree Council of TST. A draft of the completed MMP was presented to the Basic Degree Council. A significant result of this meeting was that three TST colleges that had originally chosen not to participate in the stream decided to re-examine that decision. February 12, 2019 – Meeting with the deans of Emmanuel College and St. Michael’s College.