Queen's provost may expand distance learning: Rev. John Mellis sees gains in enrollment.

St. John's, Nfld.

THE NEW PROVOST of Queen's College theological school hopes to explore the possibility of expanding distance education programs at the college as another way to equip men and women for pastoral and other ministries.

Rev. John Mellis, who took over from former longtime provost Canon Boyd Morgan on Aug. 1, said distance education would be a valuable tool, especially in training lay ministers in rural communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mr. Mellis came to Queen's College from Vancouver School of Theology, where he directed a native ministries program that offers a master of divinity degree by extension for people ministering in First Nations communities.

"Distance education is certainly a way that we might expand our programs beyond what's possible in a residential setting," Mr. Mellis said in an interview. "I don't know that we'll be doing that in the immediate future because our resources (are limited) and we need to maintain the programs that we have. Our first concern is to make sure that the training needs for the three dioceses in Newfoundland are taken care of."

Queen's College was established in 1841 as the Theological Institute, a training school for Anglican priests. It was later renamed Queen's College in honour of Queen Victoria and Queen's College, Oxford University, the alma mater of the bishop of the day.

Since then, the college has expanded its programs to include persons of any denomination who wish to pursue the study of theology without seeking ordination. The Faculty consists of Four full-time and 11 adjunct members. The degree programs offered include master of divinity and bachelor of theology--both of which lead to ordination--and master of theological studies. The college also offers a part-time, three-year diploma in theology and ministry program, of interest to persons who lead groups and committees in church settings, as well as an associate in theology program for those interested in increasing their knowledge and appreciation of Christian belief and practice, which can be done through correspondence.

"Across North America, there is a tendency for there to be a severe shortage (of ordained ministers) in rural areas and a surplus in urban areas," said Mr. Mellis.

"A lot of rural areas have addressed this by trying to provide training for lay people within rural areas so that they could carry on as members of a ministry team or move towards ordination," he added.

He said this coming year the college will be enrolling twice as many students as it had a few years ago, a sign he believes Christianity is vibrant.

Both Mr. Mellis and his wife, Dana, a theologian who has worked in a I'Arche community for people with disabilities, grew up overseas. John Mellis' father was a missionary pilot in New Guinea, while Dana Mellis' parents were missionaries in northeast India.

During the past 30 years, the couple has ministered in a variety of communities From British Columbia to Brazil. For 10 years, they served as joint Anglican-United Church air ministry to isolated communities along the central B.C. coast, including a number of communities of the Kwakwakawakw First Nation.

The couple travelled in a single-engine float plane piloted by Mr. Mellis. Their two daughters, Kristen and Erika, often accompanied them on mission work.

Kristen moved to St. John's before her parents to do teacher training, which they say is part of the reason they decided to relocate here when the opportunity at Queen's arose last winter. Kristen, who has a degree in theology and a keen interest in Celtic studies, has wanted to live in Newfoundland since she was a child, said her mother:

There's another connection: John Mellis' great-grandfather had two brothers who settled in Newfoundland in the late 1800s but resettled to Canada after about 20 years.

Mr. Mellis describes his theology as both evangelical and catholic: "Evangelical with respect to the centrality of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and catholic with respect to the sacraments and order of the church, which guards the unity of the Faith amid its diverse cultural expressions."

Will Hilliard is a staff reporter with the St. John's Telegram.