VST Summer School
July 3rd to 14th, 2023
Vancouver School of Theology is pleased to announce its plans for July summer school programming. Most courses will be taught in hybrid form, in-person classrooms and virtual Zoom classrooms.
Vancouver School of Theology has been using Zoom with great success with it’s growing number of distance students, and is pleased to extend this opportunity to its summer school participants.
Early Bird registrations till May 15th, 2023
Note: Students wanting to register for degree credit should do so through their Student Portal starting March 15th
Public Lectures

Global Migrations and Christian Witness
with Jehu J. Hanciles
Visiting Distinguished Scholar
Monday July 10, 7pm
St. Mary’s Kerrisdale & Online
Link: https://vst.edu/event/global-migrations-and-christian-witness/

Taking the Plunge: Biblical Patterns for Coming to Faith in Christ
with Bishop Todd Townshend
Tuesday, July 11th, 7pm (PT)
Epiphany Chapel & Online
Link: https://vst.edu/event/taking-the-plunge-biblical-patterns-for-coming-to-faith-in-christ/
Courses

Listening to the Heart of Genesis: A Contemplative Path
Instructor
Rabbi Leila Gal Berner
Week 1: Morning (9am – 12pm PT)
July 3rd – 7th, 2022
Link: https://vst.edu/courses/listening-to-the-heart-of-genesis-a-contemplative-path/

Spirituality of Everyday Life: Learning from the Celtic, Benedictine, Franciscan and Ignatian Traditions
Instructor
Will Hernandez
Week 1: Morning (9am – 12pm PT)
July 3rd – 7th, 2022

Thomas Merton and Racism
Instructor
Gregory K. Hillis
Week 1: Afternoon (2 – 5pm PT)
July 3rd – 7th, 2022

Listening to and Learning from Children in the Ancient World
Instructor
John W. Martens
Week 1: Afternoon (2 – 5pm PT)
July 3rd – 7th, 2022
Link: https://vst.edu/courses/listening-to-and-learning-from-children-in-the-ancient-world/

O’Driscoll Forum on Preaching and the Arts
Instructor
Bishop Todd Townshend & Louise Peters
Week 2: Morning (9am – 12pm PT)
July 10th – 14th, 2022
In Person only (no Zoom)
Link: https://vst.edu/courses/odriscoll-forum-on-preaching-and-the-arts/

Deuteronomy and the Formation of Racial/Ethnic Worldviews
Instructor
Chauncey Diego Francisco Handy
Week 2: Morning (9am – 12pm PT)
July 10th – 14th, 2022
Link: https://vst.edu/courses/deuteronomy-and-the-formation-of-racial-ethnic-worldviews/

Heaven in the Theological Imagination
Instructor
Donna Bowman
Week 2: Morning (9am – 12pm PT)
July 10th – 14th, 2022
Link: https://vst.edu/courses/heaven-in-the-theological-imagination/

Beyond Empire: Rethinking the History of Global Christianity
Instructor
Jehu J. Hanciles
Week 2: Afternoon (2 – 5pm PT)
July 10th – 14th, 2022
Link: https://vst.edu/courses/beyond-empire-rethinking-the-history-of-global-christianity/

Introduction to Japanese New Religions
Instructor
Casey Collins
Week 2: Afternoon (2 – 5pm PT)
July 10th – 14th, 2022
Link: https://vst.edu/courses/introduction-to-japanese-new-religions/
Tuition
Audit & Certificate Tuition
- Early Bird Registration till May 15, 2023
- Audit Registration: $285
- Continuing Education Certificate Credit: $360
- Regular Rate
- Audit Registration: $300
- Continuing Education Certificate Credit: $375
Degree Credit Tuition & Registration
Most Summer School courses are also available for 1.5 credits of either basic or advanced graduate degree credit. Current degree tuition rates apply. Registration takes place through the Student Portal .
Summer School Information
Course Expectations
- Summer courses are open to all interested participants. There are no prerequisites or theological training needed to audit a course. Auditors attend and participate in the course but are not required to submit any assignments for grading. It is our hope that all summer school students will be able to participate in real-time in the virtual classrooms, although an asynchronous option for auditors is available if necessary.
- All degree, diploma and certificate students are expected to maintain 100% attendance and be in person (synchronous only if via Zoom)
Equipment Requirements for Synchronous Distance Learning
- A relatively recent laptop, desktop, or mobile device (smartphone or tablet)
- If using a desktop computer, an external webcam will most likely be required.
- A headset with built-in microphone, or a pair of headphones and your device’s built-in microphone (i.e. laptop mic). Headphones are required for the best audio experience.
Continuing Education Certificate Credit
If reading and writing help you engage more deeply with course material, you may want to consider taking a class for Continuing Education Certificate credit. Work expectations include preparation and reading before the start of the course with a graded reflection paper following.
Degree Credit
Most Summer School courses are also available for 1.5 credits of either basic or advanced graduate degree credit. Current degree tuition rates apply. If you are interested in taking a course for degree credit towards your VST degree program, or to transfer into a comparable theological degrees elsewhere, please register via your Student Portal or email registrar@vst.edu. (Do not register with the summer online registration form.)
Course Outlines & Required Readings
Course outlines and required reading texts will be posted online as they arrive (likely by end of April). Please refer to each individual course above to find course outlines and required reading.
Textbooks
Please make your own arrangements for acquisition of the Required Texts for your course through your local bookstores. Online bookstores such as Indigo.ca or Amazon.ca have competitive prices with fast shipping to your neighbourhood.
Accommodations
VST is a non-residential graduate school, meaning we do not have housing for our students. However, there are a myriad of options available for students looking for short-term accommodations either on or off campus. Here are just a few of the resources available:
- Andrew’s Hall – Across the parking lot from VST (Summer Term only)
- Carey Hall – 2 blocks away from VST
- Triumf House – On UBC campus
- UBC Conferences Accommodations – A variety of options and prices
- UBC Suites – Various locations on campus
- UBC Commuter Student Hostel – Designed for weekday commuters
- UV Rent Line – UBC’s off-campus housing
- Airbnb
Financial Aid
The H.R. MacMillan Fund for Clergy Continuing Education provides funding for Clergy continuing education in British Columbia, or for any clergy person taking courses at Vancouver School of Theology.
Course Cancellation
In the event of low registrations, some courses may be cancelled. Please register early to avoid disappointment. Information on course cancellation will be available on our website in early June. If VST has to cancel a course, you will be given a full refund.
Withdrawal Policy
If you withdraw from a course, notification must be received in writing to the Registrar by the dates below. In all cases a $25 admin fee is non-refundable ($40 for degree credit withdrawals). Of the remaining fees, the following are refunded depending on the date of withdrawal:
- 100% is refunded prior to the 1st day of classes
- 80% is refunded by the end of the first day of class;
- 40% is refunded by the end of the second day of class;
- 20% is refunded by the end of the third day of class;
- After the third day of class, no refund can be given.