Emmanuel College Launches New Program for Cantonese-Speaking Christian

^{Dr. Alan Lai (left) and Emmanuel College Principal HyeRan Kim-Cragg. (Photo by Kai Wang)}

By Leslie Shepherd 

Emmanuel College will offer a new Cantonese Continuing Education Program in September designed to support Cantonese-speaking adults, especially newcomers from Hong Kong seeking to broaden and deepen their theological understanding. 

This program will be run out of the college’s Centre for Religion and Its Contexts, making it the first of its kind at an established Canadian university. It will offer courses that focus on biblical, ethical and theological learning in an interdisciplinary fashion aligned with the ethos of the United Church of Canada. 

The program is aimed largely at Cantonese speakers who moved to Canada after the 2019 pro-democracy protests and social unrest in Hong Kong that resulted in a political crackdown and tight national security measures by China. 

“Many of them may not be familiar with the United Church of Canada’s long history of inclusive theology and working for social justice,” said Emmanuel College Principal HyeRan Kim-Cragg. 

The program is a collaboration between Emmanuel College and Dr. Alan Lai, a United Church minister in Vancouver, who will be the program co-ordinator. He initiated discussions with Emmanuel College about the idea when he was principal of the Centre for Christian Studies in Winnipeg, a United Church theological school. 

“Emmanuel among all theological schools in Canada is the best fit for this collaboration, because of its most diverse program offerings for most diverse student body, and because of its association with the University of Toronto,” said Lai.
 
The courses will all be online, making them accessible for busy adults. After completing four courses, each consisting of four two-hour sessions, they will earn a certificate from Emmanuel College. 

“This program is a great way for us to connect with the Cantonese-speaking community and offer meaningful learning that combines theology with real-life contexts,” said Kim-Cragg. She said she hoped that some who complete the certificate program would continue to study by applying for Emmanuel’s graduate programs. 

The program will cost $500 per course. Class sizes will range from 10 to 30 students to ensure a welcoming and interactive experience. The United Church of Canada Foundation has provided $15,000 to the program over two years. 

“This is a chance to bring Christian faith and learning together in a way that speaks to people’s lived experiences,” said CRIC Director Henry Shiu. 

For more information about the program, email cantoneseemmanuel@gmail.com. 
 

Learn more about the new Cantonese Continuing Education Program here!