Presbyterian Theological College
| Presbyterian Theological College | |
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| Motto | Doctus in Regno Cœlorum (Latin) |
| Motto in English | Trained for the Kingdom of Heaven |
| Established | 1866 |
| Type | Denominational, Christian |
| Religious affiliation | Presbyterian Church of Victoria, Presbyterian Church of Australia |
| Principal | Rev Peter Hastie |
| Academic staff | Rev Peter Hastie, Rev Dr Greg Goswell, Rev Dr Tony Bird, Rev Dr Jared Hood, Rev Dr Felix Chung |
| Location | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Campus | Box Hill, Victoria, Australia |
| Website | www.presbyteriancollege.org |
The Presbyterian Theological College is the theological college of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria. It provides theological education for candidates for the ministry of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, as well as for members of all Christian churches. It is an approved teaching institution of the Australian College of Theology, and is based in the Melbourne suburb of Box Hill.
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[edit] Doctrinal position
The Presbyterian Theological College is an Evangelical and Reformed college which teaches in accordance with the standards of the Presbyterian Church of Australia. The Supreme Standard is the Word of God which comprises the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. In addition, the Subordinate Standard of the Church is the Westminster Confession of Faith read in the light of the Declaratory Statement of 1901.[1]
[edit] History
The PTC traces back its existence to 1866 when "The Theological Hall of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria" was formed. In 1974, however, the whole staff of the Theological Hall opted to join with the Uniting Church, and the continuing Presbyterian Church of Victoria opened a provisional Theological Hall in Hawthorn with only a handful of staff and students.[2] It relocated to the top floor of the Assembly Hall building in Melbourne in 1977, and again to the present site in Box Hill in 1986.
[edit] Principals
The first Principal of the newly formed College was Rev Robert Swanton. He was succeeded by Rev Prof Allan Harman in 1982, who served until his retirement in 2001, and then Rev Prof Douglas Milne, until his retirement in 2011. Rev Peter Hastie has been appointed Principal for a ten year term, commencing 2012.[3]
[edit] Faculty
As well as there being many adjunct lecturers, the full-time faculty consists of:
- Rev Peter Hastie, BJuris, BTh (Hons), MA(Theol), LTCL
- Rev Dr Greg Goswell, BSc (Med)(Sydney), BD (London), ThL (ACT), DipArts(Theol)(Moore), ThSchol, MTh (ACT), PhD (Sydney)
- Rev Dr Tony Bird, BSc, PhD (Leeds), BTh (ACT), DipMin (ACT), MTh (ACT)
- Rev Dr Jared Hood, BTh (Hons)(ACT), DipTh (ACT), MTh (ACT), GradDipIS, ThM (1st hons)(Westminster), MA(Th)(ACT), PhD (Melb)
- Rev Dr Felix Chung, DipSoWork, MME (Alliance), MTh (Alliance), PhD (RTS)
[edit] Academics
Current awards offered, through the Australian College of Theology, include: Bachelor of Ministry, Bachelor of Theology, Master of Divinity, Master of Arts (Theology), Master of Theology and Doctor of Theology. A number of Graduate Diploma awards are also offered, as is an internal award, the Certificate of Bible and Ministry.[4]
[edit] Presbyterian Ministry Candidates
The College is one of three authorized to train men for the ordained ministry of the Presbyterian Church of Australia. The academic requirements for candidates for the Presbyterian ministry are set by the General Assembly of Australia (GAA) and administered by the College Committee of the GAA. In accordance with the doctrinal standards of the Church, and the regulations of the College Committee, the instruction in the College centres around the biblical area, and it includes work in both Hebrew and Greek.[5]
The program involves four years' full-time training, including: Philosophy/Apologetics; Historiography (part of Church History Survey); English Language and English Literature; Old & New Testament Surveys; Church History Survey; Hebrew; Old Testament Exegesis (2 years; 1 year Hebrew, 1 year Hebrew or English at the student’s discretion); Greek; New Testament Greek Exegesis (2 years); Reformation History; Systematic Theology (2 years); Christian Ethics; Introduction to Canon and Text; Hermeneutics. Presbyterian Distinctives; Westminster Confession of Faith; Australian Presbyterian Church History; Presbyterian Church Polity; 8 semester length courses in Practical Theology, 2 in the field of Evangelism and Mission (EM) and 2 others in Field Education subjects (SFE). SFE involves placement in a congregational setting for practical experience.[6]
[edit] Feature events
As part of its Master of Arts (Theology) award, the College annually offers a subject taught in intensive mode. This is an MA subject taught over the course of one week, and conducted by a world-renowned scholar, often from overseas. Intensives have been taken by Gerald Bray, Tremper Longman, Paul Barnett, Ed Welch, Philip Satterthwaite, and Sam Larson.[7]
The College also annually hosts its Ministry Conference, usually in March or April. Guest speakers, often from overseas, are invited, supplemented by staff members and other local speakers. This conference is attended by ministers, elders, home missionaries, students and others.[8]
[edit] Student life
The student group at the College is called the John Paton Fellowship, named after John Gibson Paton, a nineteenth-century missionary to the New Hebrides. Six residential units were opened on the College property in early 2008.[9]
[edit] The Swanton Library
The College's Library (the Swanton Library) has over 25,000 volumes, and subscribes to approximately 140 periodicals. The catalogue is online: The Swanton Library
[edit] PTCMedia
The College operates a resource centre which sells academic books, DVDs, CDs, including many faculty publications and lectures. It also provides resources for the Presbyterian denomination, such as the Rejoice! hymnbook, and training materials for elders and members.[10]
[edit] See also
- Presbyterian Theological Centre, the sister college in Sydney
- Queensland Theological College, the sister college in Brisbane
- Australian College of Theology, the accrediting body for most awards at the College
- Presbyterian Church of Victoria, which operates the College
- Presbyterian Church of Australia, which sets training standards for the College
[edit] References
- ^ Position Statement at the PTC website
- ^ History at the PTC website
- ^ Faculty at the PTC website
- ^ Summary of Awards at the PTC website
- ^ Position Statement at the PTC website
- ^ Presbyterian Ministry Candidates at the PTC website
- ^ MA Intensives at the PTC website
- ^ Ministry Conference at the PTC website
- ^ Accommodation at the PTC website
- ^ PTCMedia at the PTC website
[edit] External links
- College Web site
- The Swanton Library
- The Presbyterian Church of Victoria
- The Presbyterian Church of Australia
- The Australian College of Theology
Coordinates: 37°47′51″S 145°07′10″E / 37.7974°S 145.1194°E
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