By Sherri McConnell, 2003
Canadian Deaconess and Missionary Education for Women – Training to Live the Social Gospel: The Methodist National Training School and the Presbyterian Deaconess and Missionary Training Home, 1893-1926 MA, U of Winnipeg 2003
This thesis argues that through the integration of the late nineteenth century missionary imperative with the newly emerging social gospel movement of the early twentieth century, a unique form of theological education and vocational development was created specifically for women. The adaptive, practical and socially focused ethos of the training schools meant the training schools became their denominations’ concrete embodiment of the social gospel – an ethos which can be seen in today’s diaconal education/formation.