Christian Academy separates from People’s Church
TORONTO, ON—One of Ontario's largest private Christian schools is "growing up" by loosening its ties to the prominent evangelical church that founded it.
Peoples Christian Academy (PCA) was started in 1971 by evangelist Paul Smith and The Peoples Church in central Toronto. The school plans to move from its location beside the church within the next two years and set up a separate charitable organization while maintaining a "covenant relationship" with the church.
The new direction came as a shock to many of the congregation at one of Canada's largest evangelical churches, says Art Brooker, secretary of Peoples Ministries Inc., which currently owns and operates the school. The move will address the future needs of the 640 students that come from as far away as suburban Mississauga to attend classes from Kindergarten to Grade 12.
"This is like your child growing up and moving on," says Brooker. "The demands of students today for such things as adequate labs and computers put a stress on the facility.
This will allow the school to grow and serve its students."
PCA's move will allow the church remove portable classrooms to make more parking spaces for the 3,500 people who attend Sunday mornings and free up church facilities for ministries during the day. It currently runs a seniors' ministry at nearby church while students are on the premises during the day.
Confusion and anxiety accompanied the announcement that PCA would move. Some parents and church members thought the school might be closing its doors or cutting its ties to the church, says Brooker.
"Unfortunately, the letter that went out [to the congregation and parents] regarding the changes wasn't as clear as it should have been." he says.
Anxiety addressed
The anxiety was addressed at a lengthy meeting for parents and church members chaired by Brian Stiller, president of Tyndale University. At the meeting, the school's board outlined its decision to relocate PCA to "meet its expressed needs and to allow for the growing ministries of The Peoples Church."
Board chair Brian Relph stated the immediate task is to ensure each student continues receiving the best Christian education throughout the two-year transition period. All the academy's assets will be transferred to the new location and The Peoples Church is committed with helping with capital costs associated with the move.
The academy's current governing council is working with a parents' committee to identify a new location for the school in north-central Toronto.
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