Stirling Theological College
Stirling Theological College is the federal ministry and theological college for the Conference of Churches of Christ in Australia and a college of the University of Divinity and teaches undergraduate and postgraduate (coursework and research) theology degrees. Three presidents of the council of the University of Divinity (UD) and its predecessors, the Melbourne College of Divinity and MCD University of Divinity, came from Stirling College: K. R. Bowes (1978-79), W. Tabbernee (1986-1987) and M. A. Kitchen (2004-05). Currently A. F. Menzies serves as Deputy-Chancellor of the university (from 2012 to present). Stirling also acts as the university-wide Centre for Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE).
History
The college was established in 1907 in Carlton, Victoria, by H. G. Harward as the College of the Bible. From 1910 to 1988 it was located in Glen Iris. It changed its name to Churches of Christ Theological College in 1989 when it moved to its current location at 44-60 Jacksons Road, Mulgrave and in September 2011 changed its name to Stirling Theological College.
In 1910, the principal, A. R. Main, determined the college's purpose which still stands today, "The chief purpose of the College is to provide Biblical instruction and to furnish ample facilities in education for Christian ministry… to encourage an impartial and unbiased investigation of the Christian Scriptures, and in the spirit of devout faith in the Divine Word, freely to lay under tribute every source of light and truth available to modern scholarship."
In 1975, CCTC and Whitley College established the Evangelical Theological Association. The ETA was disbanded in 2005 when both Stirling (then CCTC) and Whitley became separately registered as teaching institutions of the University of Divinity (then MCD) and both colleges maintain a close working relationship as constituent colleges of the UD.
In January 2011, Tabor College Victoria was invited to co-locate at Stirling's campus in Mulgrave. Each college teaches courses separately under different accreditation arrangements.[1]
In August 2011, the college changed its name to Stirling Theological College in honour of former graduate and Vice-Principal, Gordon R Stirling. Stirling ministered in all Australian states and in New Zealand and after retiring became editor of The Australian Christian. His ashes are scatted in the college grounds.[2]
Notable alumni
- Ernest Aderman OBE (1894–1968) - Member of Parliament in New Zealand[3]
- Sonny Graham OAM - Aboriginal leader
- Malcolm Gray - minister, newsreader, broadcaster and noted speaker.
- Terry Lane - radio broadcaster and newspaper columnist
- Gordon Moyes AC - Member of Parliament in New South Wales
- Pastor Sir Douglas Nicholls KCVO OBE
- Kenneth Patterson OAM
- Gordon Stirling (1914-2010) - minister, Vice-principal, editor of The Australian Christian
Principals
1907 - 1910 H. G. Harward
1910 - 1938 A. R. Main
1938 - 1944 T. H. Scambler
1944 - 1973 E. L. Williams
1974 - 1980 K. R. Bowes
1981 - 1990 W. Tabbernee
1993 - 1999 G. O. Elsdon
2000 - 2009 M. A. Kitchen OAM
2010 - present A. F. Menzies
References
- ↑ EAST Alliance, Stirling Theological College website.
- ↑ Stirling Theological College website.
- ↑ Gustafson, Barry (1986). The First 50 Years : A History of the New Zealand National Party. Auckland: Reed Methuen. p. 296. ISBN 0-474-00177-6.
External links
Coordinates: 37°55′41″S 145°11′42″E / 37.928°S 145.195°E