By Rev. Rebecca Osborn, ATTS Administrator

Across the Arctic, communities are changing rapidly—and the Church is being called to respond. At the Arthur Turner Training School (ATTS), we find ourselves in a season of both waiting and quiet growth.

ATTS exists to equip local leaders for ministry in their own communities—raising up priests, deacons, and lay leaders rooted in the North. ATTS has a long history, going back to an old church-owned hospital in Pangnirtung converted into a ministry school in the early 70s. Most of the students who learned during that season are now retired. ATTS has gone through other phases since then: a decade of closure, various attempts to re-launch followed by the re-opening of the inperson full-time program in Iqaluit in 2016 until Covid and the Northern housing crisis brought it to another time of adapting to the needs of the north. Today, ATTS is a hybrid school, providing much of our content online, connecting students all over the Arctic via online platforms, with many connecting by Starlink. While technology is a challenge for some, it also helps build the practical skills that are essential for ministry today.

Having lived in the north for ten years now, it no longer seems exotic. It is unique and special, deserving of a humble attitude of learning when you arrive. But the people who live here want the same things as everyone else: to preserve their way of life while staying connected to the world; to have the power and freedom to discern and pursue God’s hopes and plans us. There is no one way to do this. It comes down to each generation, indeed each individual, to decide how they will adapt to their unique environment.

The Arctic is known for being cold. But what is even more remarkable is the dramatic change it is always going through.

From constant day to constant night, from lush tundra to feet of packed snow: to survive here, you have to adapt – and adapt often! The people who live in the Arctic, whether born or transplanted, learn to adapt, not only to the change of seasons, but to the changing world. Since we moved here, we have seen internet access change from a trickle to a flood. We have seen children grow up with devices in their hands. We’ve seen alcohol introduced to dry communities. These changes are happening all over the world, but here, change is always fast.

If there is one constant in all this change, it’s the need we see for the gospel. And it’s not just a perceived need by those in the church: there is a real desire from people across the North! People are hungry to learn more about Scripture. Mental health is a massive issue up here, and we want Biblical formation to be a tool for growth and wholeness. People want their churches to grow and thrive. We want our children to learn Scripture, and to be formed in the hope of Jesus.

So, like everything else up here, we adapt. From what was formerly just a full-time program for those ready for ordination, we now offer a full suite of evergrowing discipleship courses, so anyone with an internet connection can access some kind of guided study each Fall, Winter, and Spring in both English and Inuktitut. Admission is flexible – we discover our callings to lay ministry or ordination as we learn and grow.

As an administrator, I’m also a pastor. Who are these students? What are their passions?
What are their gifts? Who is motivated? Who needs encouragement? It also helps that all of our instructors are also parish clergy with a combined wealth of Northern experience, so together we are able to adapt to offer the best formation possible as we train leaders for ministry in the North!

Right now, we are still in a season of waiting. We have big dreams. We are waiting for God to call a full-time director to expand what we can offer. We are waiting patiently as resources are translated, so we can offer more courses in Inuktitut.
Even without a full-time director yet, I’m so excited to share that our hybrid Deacon Training Program has completed its pilot run, and will only get even better! One course was just “ok”, so a team of instructors completely rewrote it based on feedback, and it was a great success. We’ve also improved the “funnel”, with the addition of a preliminary Bible Course to get students ready for more intensive discipleship, and we’re very pleased to say that new course has completed it’s first term being offered completely in Inuktitut.

Also, because of your generosity and support, the Executive Committee was able to approve a stipend for those hard-working parish ministers who agree to teach an ATTS class. “The worker is worth the wages”, so we’re thankful to be able to bless our dedicated instructors in this way. This is alongside the new ATTS Continuing Education bursary as we think long-term about raising up a generation of Northern clergy who can upgrade their education at southern seminaries and then become instructors in the future. It’s amazing how God provides through His Church! Pray for us that we can see how God is calling us to faithfully adapt to each new opportunity.