Pastoral and Chinese Ministry Program Celebrates 25 Years
“Something monumental took place 25 years ago to address the unique issues presented to pastoral leadership in the Chinese community,” said Gary Nelson, President and Vice Chancellor of Tyndale University College & Seminary on Sunday, May 5th at the 25th anniversary celebration banquet for the Pastoral and Chinese Ministry (PCM) Program of Tyndale Seminary.
Close to 500 people attended the event entitled “Experience Grace. Breaking New Grounds.” It was a celebration of the longest-running, ethnic-specific Master of Divinity program in North America.
At the dinner, Dr. Daniel Aleshire, Executive Director of the Association of Theological Schools stated, “Christianity takes on the culture in which it is. It never exists in a culturally neutral form. Culture is why PCM is so important. In a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment, culturally-sensitive Christian leadership is so important...Programs like this connect wisdom with culture.”
The PCM program places a high value on mentoring students. The importance of these relationships could be felt as Dr. Barbara Leung Lai, the Director of the PCM Program stated to those who attended the homecoming event held earlier in the afternoon, “Your presence is a heart-warming moment and encouragement.”
Over the past 25 years, more than 150 men and women have graduated from the PCM program. The impact of this program and its graduates can be seen below in a celebration video created for the milestone event.