SASKATOON — The Right Rev. Helen Kennedy, bishop of Qu’Appelle, the bishop of the Emmanuel and St. Chad (ESC) College council and the chancellor of the ESC senates, has written a letter discussing the future of the college in Saskatoon.
“Dear friends of Emmanuel & St. Chad, your generosity has sustained Emmanuel & St. Chad through more than a century of Anglican theological formation. I want to make sure you hear directly from me about a significant decision we have made — and what it means for the mission your giving supports,” the bishop wrote.
“ESC has concluded its participation in the Saskatoon Theological Union. We are moving forward as an independent Anglican theological college, with a renewed and focused model of formation: robust online programming complemented by in-person intensive learning,” she continued.
“I want to be transparent with you. The STU arrangement, entered in good faith, ultimately moved toward a one-school model that would have dissolved ESC’s distinct Anglican identity into a broader institution,” Kennedy said. “After prayer and careful governance discernment, we concluded that our obligation — to you, to the Anglican Church of Canada, and to the students we serve — was to preserve that identity rather than surrender it.
“Your gifts to ESC were made in support of Anglican theological formation. That is precisely what they will continue to fund. ESC’s endowment remains intact, our faculty committed, and our mission clear, she continued.
“The model we are building is not a retreat — it is a strategic advance. Online and intensive formation allows ESC to reach Anglican candidates for ministry across Canada, not just those who can relocate to Saskatoon. Your investment will do more good, not less.
“If you have questions about the stewardship of your gifts, or about ESC’s financial position and plans, I would welcome a conversation at a future opportunity,” Kennedy added.