Faculty of Divinity Convocation 2025

Trinity College’s Faculty of Divinity Convocation Ceremony 2025:  Tuesday, May 13 at 3 pm in Seeley Hall

At the Faculty of Divinity Convocation Ceremony, 13 Faculty of Divinity students will graduate with the following degrees: Master of Divinity (MDiv), Master of Theological Studies (MTS) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Theological Studies, which are awarded conjointly by Trinity College and the University of Toronto. Faculty of Divinity prizes will also be awarded.

Trinity College will confer an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Divinity (honoris causa) upon John Franklin in recognition of his extraordinary service in promoting the deep interconnection between spirituality and the arts, his dedication to integrating artistic expressions into theological discourse, and his tireless support for others in the field, underscoring his belief that art is essential to our spiritual and emotional well-being. He will be presented by Rev. Dr. Geoffrey Ready and hooded by Dr. Walter Deller.

The College looks forward to celebrating with our newest graduates, prize winners and honoree.

Please note: this year – on Tuesday, May 13:

• For graduands, honoree and their guests, the Convocation Lunch Reception will be held at 12 pm in the Trinity Quad (rain location: The Buttery).
• All are welcome to attend Eucharist, which will be held at 1:30 pm in the Trinity Chapel, and the Convocation Ceremony, which will start at 3 pm in Seeley Hall.

John Franklin

John Franklin was born and raised in Toronto, and is a son of Irish immigrants. He lost both parents by the age of nine and was raised by a step-mother who brought kindness, stability, and deep faith to life. Characterized by an ever present curiosity about life and its questions, he was captivated by philosophy, which was his focus of study at university and was central to his years of teaching. Though not ordained he has often been behind a pulpit on a Sunday morning but more commonly he was at a podium in front of a classroom. Drawn to theology he served as newsletter editor on the Executive of the Canadian Theological Society for 22 years.

1998 brought a career change when he moved from teaching to become Executive Director of IMAGO, a charitable Christian arts initiative. Since 1972 IMAGO has been committed to advocating for artists and the arts. Taking up this new position was a liberating experience given the absence of institutional restraints and the freedom to do innovative work at the intersections of faith, art and culture. Collaborations over many years with educational institutions (including Trinity College and Toronto School of Theology) and within church and cultural settings allowed for developing networks among artists and enabling new audiences to experience the arts first hand. Leading this boutique organization brought the challenge of cultivating serious reflection on theology and the arts as well as the opportunity for a “pastoral” role encouraging and connecting artists. It has also provided many occasions to teach courses, give talks and do some writing on the relationship between faith and the arts, exploring points of convergence as well as how art may be a valuable resource for the spiritual journey.

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