We Are Ambrose

For the past four years Alliance University College and Nazarene University College have worked in partnership to deliver programs under the name AUC–NUC. In April, AUC and NUC legally joined together to become one university college with one governing board and one budget under the name Ambrose University College. Ambrose (including Ambrose Seminary) will continue the strong Alliance and Nazarene traditions of training men and women for professional ministry and also offers a growing array of arts and science programs that prepare our young people to serve Christ in a variety of careers including creative missionary work in closed access countries.

The formation of Ambrose brings together the proud educational histories of both sponsoring denominations and provides the opportunity to create an influential institution that will serve the Church of the Nazarene and The Christian & Missionary Alliance and the wider Christian community in Canada.

Ambrose is presently engaged in a visionary project to build a new campus in west Calgary. Sod was turned for this project in April and construction began in mid–May. It is anticipated that the new Ambrose campus will be fully operational for September 2008.

Please pray that God’s hand of blessing will be upon Ambrose University College.

Why the Name Ambrose?

The new name for the university college was selected in the spring of 2006 through a process that involved alumni, students, faculty and staff. Hundreds of name suggestions were evaluated and a final number was analyzed by focus groups. In the end the boards were given a choice between Ambrose and the name of a local mountain, Mt. Bryant. The board members chose Ambrose, a name with historical Christian meaning that expresses the values of the institution.

“Ambrose left his
mark as a hymn writer,
preacher, pastor and
an educator; he is best
known for leading
Augustine to faith.”

Ambrose is a Christian who predates the Reformation. The selection of any individual who is post–reformation or aligned with either the Nazarene or Alliance denominations would be highly problematic. A number of these names did enter the selection process but were not unanimously accepted.

Ambrose of Milan was a 4th century Christian who was called from a successful career in public office to become head of the Christian church in Milan, Italy.

Ambrose was born in Trier, Germania in 339 into a devout Christian family. In 374 while governor of Milan, Ambrose accepted the call to become bishop of his city. His first act was to give all his property to the church.

As a second career pastor, Ambrose started his theological education in order to preach. He preached daily and was highly accessible to his people and corresponded with all who wrote to him. His compassion is seen in his willingness to melt down the sacred vessels of the church to ransom captives. He stood up for the divinity of Christ in the face of political opposition and once forced the emperor to repent over a reprisal against innocent people. Ambrose left his mark as a hymn writer, preacher, pastor, and educator; he is best known for leading Augustine to faith.

Ambrose stands as one of the great Christians of his generation; a servant leader in both the church and society, an individual who embodies the values of our institution.

Figures like Ambrose are significant to all streams of Christian tradition and experience. He therefore serves as a figure who emphasizes unity in Christ rather than the particular emphasis of any group.

His centredness on Jesus in all things is witnessed by his own words:

"When we speak of wisdom, we are speaking about Christ. When we speak about virtue, we are speaking about Christ. When we speak about justice, we are speaking about Christ. When we are speaking about truth and life and redemption, we are speaking about Christ."

Ambrose