“We are reaching out to say, ‘We want to earn your trust that we are evangelical and we are biblical.’”

Craig Macartney
Spur Ottawa Writer

Ottawa’s Ryle Seminary is hosting an open house to connect with local pastors and prospective students. The six-year-old school, located at the Bible House, downtown, has a unique model, focusing more heavily on biblical instruction than most modern seminaries.

“You might be shocked how little actual Bible study a standard 30-course curriculum has,” says Gary Graber, the school’s academic dean. “There are good courses: counselling, youth ministry, ethics, cross-cultural, history, but you can’t fit all that in a three-year program without it taking away from other places. We make the Bible central.”

The school is still small, with class sizes generally between four and six students, and Graber says they are still not well known. Part of their goal through the open house is to strengthen their relationships with local pastors to deepen their roots in Ottawa.

“You want to train interpersonal stuff, not just theoretical things. A pastor is hands-on almost at all times.” Photo courtesy of Ryle Seminary.

“We are reaching out to say, ‘We want to earn your trust that we are evangelical and we are biblical.’ We have a strong passion for ecumenical working with Bible-believing Christians from all denominations. I am hoping we can bring together more people under the umbrella to train to do the work that God has called us to do.”

Graber says Ottawa ministries face a significant challenge in training the next generation of leaders. Unlike Toronto or Montreal, Ottawa has few post-secondary options for ministry, especially institutions with an evangelical focus. In the past, he says, many ministry interns would take courses online or move away for school, but it is draining potential leaders from the city.

“A pastor is hands-on almost at all times. So, people can take online courses to supplement their face-to-face courses, but most seminaries have a limit. You want to train interpersonal stuff, not just theoretical things.”

That’s part of what drew Colton Carrick to Ryle. Carrick is interning at St. Peter & St. Paul’s Anglican Church and feels called to ordained ministry, but he did not want to leave Ottawa. Carrick says Ryle’s commitment to scripture was the primary draw, but he also sees another significant advantage.

Professor Steven Richard Griffin stands with students. Photo courtesy of Ryle College

“Ryle is an academically rigorous, but intimate, environment. I have greatly benefitted from the relationships I built with my professors, which I believe would have been difficult in a larger seminary.”

Those mentoring relationships, he says, have been invaluable in developing the skills pastors need for ministry.

“Most of the professors at Ryle are also pastors. Our professors know what pastors need and are therefore gracious in their practical lessons and advice on how to apply theological ideas or Biblical assertions to ministry.”

At the June 30 open house, which runs from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Bible House, participants will be able to meet the professors and talk with students like Carrick.

Graber hopes the event will really showcase their biblical focus.

“It’s more the traditional way, before the North American curriculum got spread out to youth ministry or church-planting courses. When you add it up, at least a third of our curriculum is just Bible. That should appeal to Bible-believing Christians.”

The Bible House has a long history of serving the Church from downtown Ottawa. Photo courtesy of Ryle Seminary.