Melbourne School of Theology
Encyclopedia
The Melbourne School of Theology (formerly the Bible College of Victoria) is an evangelical
Christian
theological college with its main campus in Wantirna
, a suburb of Melbourne
, Victoria
, Australia
. People from all over Australia and the world travel to study there. It is one of Australia's largest Bible colleges and is highly recognised for its reputation in the training and development of missionaries. It partners with the Australian Centre for Mission Aviation which focuses on training pilots and engineers for aviation mission work. It also has a Chinese department in which courses are taught in both Mandarin
and Cantonese
.
In 2011 the main (Wantirna) campus relocated from the suburb of Lilydale
, in the central eastern suburbs of Melbourne. The Chinese department, which used to operate in Box Hill
, also relocated to the new campus and the college was renamed to the Melbourne School of Theology.
in China. At its opening only one student sat down with the principal in the hall of the Congregational church in the suburb of Prahran
near the city centre. Most appropriately they began with the study of Genesis. The college's first principal was a 54-year-old Anglican
priest, the Reverend Clifford Nash, who was there because, in his words, "he felt constrained to undertake the task". For six weeks they continued until another man and two women joined the class. They were the first of the 1000 students trained by Nash at the institute. The total now approaches 5000 graduates. At the foundation of the college Nash made a public statement, saying:
The college was later moved to the outer-eastern suburb of Lilydale. The current principal is the Reverend Michael Raiter
.
In 2010 the Bible College of Victoria, as it was then known, began a relocation to the suburb of Wantirna, which is situated in the centre of the eastern suburbs. Classes commenced at the new campus in 2011.
Courses range from one year full-time through to three or four year degrees and provide a wide range of choices for Christians looking to be equipped for ministry. Core subjects tend to be biblical or theological in nature with certain essentials such as communication skills, while electives provide opportunity for students to pursue particular areas of interest such as youth ministry, pastoral skills and methods, leadership, cross-cultural communication, aid and development and Christian worship.
Current accreditations available are:
Most courses/subjects are available full-time, part-time or via distance learning. Many are also offered through the Chinese department at which students undertake their studies in the Mandarin and Cantonese languages. Students participating in the aviation flight stream will also earn their commercial pilot licence with NVFR rating and command instrument rating.
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
theological college with its main campus in Wantirna
Wantirna, Victoria
Wantirna is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 23 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Knox. At the 2006 Census, Wantirna had a population of 13,978....
, a suburb of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. People from all over Australia and the world travel to study there. It is one of Australia's largest Bible colleges and is highly recognised for its reputation in the training and development of missionaries. It partners with the Australian Centre for Mission Aviation which focuses on training pilots and engineers for aviation mission work. It also has a Chinese department in which courses are taught in both Mandarin
Standard Mandarin
Standard Chinese or Modern Standard Chinese, also known as Mandarin or Putonghua, is the official language of the People's Republic of China and Republic of China , and is one of the four official languages of Singapore....
and Cantonese
Cantonese
Cantonese is a dialect spoken primarily in south China.Cantonese may also refer to:* Yue Chinese, the Chinese language that includes Cantonese* Cantonese cuisine, the cuisine of Guangdong province...
.
In 2011 the main (Wantirna) campus relocated from the suburb of Lilydale
Lilydale, Victoria
Lilydale is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 35 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district situated in the Olinda Creek valley. At the 2006 Census, Lilydale had a population of 13,887...
, in the central eastern suburbs of Melbourne. The Chinese department, which used to operate in Box Hill
Box Hill, Victoria
Box Hill is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 14 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Whitehorse. At the 2006 Census, Box Hill had a population of 8,616....
, also relocated to the new campus and the college was renamed to the Melbourne School of Theology.
History
Founded as the Melbourne Bible Institute (MBI) in September 1920, the institution was established to train missionaries to serve with the China Inland MissionChina Inland Mission
OMF International is an interdenominational Protestant Christian missionary society, founded in Britain by Hudson Taylor on 25 June 1865.-Overview:...
in China. At its opening only one student sat down with the principal in the hall of the Congregational church in the suburb of Prahran
Prahran, Victoria
Prahran , also known colloquially as "Pran", is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 5 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Stonnington. At the 2006 Census, Prahran had a population of 10,651. It is a part of Melbourne with...
near the city centre. Most appropriately they began with the study of Genesis. The college's first principal was a 54-year-old Anglican
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
priest, the Reverend Clifford Nash, who was there because, in his words, "he felt constrained to undertake the task". For six weeks they continued until another man and two women joined the class. They were the first of the 1000 students trained by Nash at the institute. The total now approaches 5000 graduates. At the foundation of the college Nash made a public statement, saying:
The MBI stands foursquare for the wholehearted acceptance of the entire sacred volume of the Old and New Testaments as from God. This is God's book for the plain man, and to such He will interpret its full meaning progressively by His Holy Spirit. Herein, too, is provided a full equipment for everyone who would serve Jesus as Lord. This book holds a message from God adapted to the spiritual needs of every class in every age. That message received makes men "wise unto salvation" which has all the elements of completeness. But if the book is from God, it will bear without loss the sincerest and most searching examination . . . Its genuineness will defy the acid as well as the sledgehammer of criticism. It is sufficient, and always sufficient, for the purposes for which it has been given to us.
The college was later moved to the outer-eastern suburb of Lilydale. The current principal is the Reverend Michael Raiter
Michael Raiter
Michael David Raiter is a well-known Christian speaker and is the current principal of the Melbourne School of Theology in Melbourne, Australia...
.
In 2010 the Bible College of Victoria, as it was then known, began a relocation to the suburb of Wantirna, which is situated in the centre of the eastern suburbs. Classes commenced at the new campus in 2011.
Courses
There are a range of MST courses at undergraduate certificate, undergraduate degree, graduate degree and postgraduate level, including specialised options such as mission aviation and a Chinese department. In 2008, MST established the Centre for the Study of Islam and Other Faiths, through which students are given the opportunity to learn about the distinctives of other faiths and thereby be better equipped to minister to people from those faiths.Courses range from one year full-time through to three or four year degrees and provide a wide range of choices for Christians looking to be equipped for ministry. Core subjects tend to be biblical or theological in nature with certain essentials such as communication skills, while electives provide opportunity for students to pursue particular areas of interest such as youth ministry, pastoral skills and methods, leadership, cross-cultural communication, aid and development and Christian worship.
Current accreditations available are:
- Certificate IV in Ministries
- Certificate IV in Aeroskills
- Diploma of Mission Aviation (Flight)
- Associate Degree of Theology
- Bachelor of Theology
- Bachelor of Theology (Honours)
- Bachelor of Ministry
- Bachelor of Ministry (Honours)
- Bachelor of Christian Studies
- Graduate Diploma of Christian Studies
- Graduate Diploma of Divinity
- Master of Divinity
- Master of Arts (Divinity)
- Master of Arts (Theology)
- Master of Theology
- Doctor of Theology
- Doctor of Ministry
Most courses/subjects are available full-time, part-time or via distance learning. Many are also offered through the Chinese department at which students undertake their studies in the Mandarin and Cantonese languages. Students participating in the aviation flight stream will also earn their commercial pilot licence with NVFR rating and command instrument rating.
Key staff and faculty
| Principal | The Reverend Michael Raiter Michael Raiter Michael David Raiter is a well-known Christian speaker and is the current principal of the Melbourne School of Theology in Melbourne, Australia... |
| Vice-principal | The Reverend Sam Reeve |
| Dean of Studies | Delle Matthews |
| Dean of Postgraduate Studies, Nash Institute | The Reverend Jeff Pugh |
| Professorial Dean, Centre for the Study of Islam and Other Faiths | Peter Riddell |
| Dean of Chinese Department (MSTCD) | Y. Liong |
| Dean of Mission Aviation Course | The Reverend Bruce Searle |
| Dean of Students | Phyll Oostwoud (women) / Stuart Ray (men) |
| Head of Department of Biblical Studies | Greg Forbes |
| Co-ordinator of Diploma Studies | The Reverend Edward (Ted) Woods |
| Librarian | Kathy Caddy |
| Distance Learning Coordinator | Nigel Cunningham |
| Administration and Finance Manager | Rosemarie Eloff |
External links
- Melbourne School of Theology official website
- Australian Centre for Mission Aviation official website