Emmanuel College, University of Toronto offers new degree in Muslim pastoral care

Emmanuel College is associated with the United Church of Canada. This becomes obvious when you enter the grounds and are greeted by a statue of a crucified woman.

What does an ostensibly Christian Theological College know about Muslim pastoral care? It’s pretty simple: whatever you do, don’t speak about Mohammed. If you are careless about the context of your remarks, fail to say “peace be upon him”, use poor inflexion, bad diction, stutter, giggle at the wrong moment or, Allah forbid, absent-mindedly doodle a Mohammed, the object of you pastoral care may decide to behead you.

Having learned that, you have earned your degree.

From here:

Emmanuel College at the University of Toronto has enlarged its Muslim Studies certificate program to prepare people for pastoral care in social agencies that serve Canada’s growing population of Muslims.

The new two-year program, offered through the Master of Pastoral Studies degree stream, grew out of the United Church of Canada theological college’s three-year certificate program, launched in 2010 to enhance interfaith dialogue between Muslims and Christians.

The new program will train students from various religious communities to specialize in pastoral care and serve as chaplains in facilities with clients of the Islamic faith.