Vision, Aims and Values

These words, taken from a Review of Education for Ministry (2010) are an apt summary of the work of Pilgrim Theological College.

The Uniting Church in Australia (UCA) affirms that every member of the church is called to confess and serve Christ. The Holy Spirit empowers people to serve Christ in the world and in the church. Some are set apart for particular forms of service as ordained ministers of the church.

Pilgrim serves the church by providing educational and formation programs for all who are engaged in Christian service. However, it has a special responsibility for preparing women and men who have been recognised as candidates for the Ministry of Word and Ministry of Deacon within the UCA.

In doing this work, Pilgrim Theological College recognises that:

• Each person who feels called to Ministry of the Word or Ministry of Deacon is different. Therefore a program of formation should take a person’s background, experience, circumstances, and prior learning into account.
• Formation is of the whole person. Therefore the College seeks to provide formation programs that integrate classroom learning, experience and skills with personal and spiritual development.
• Ministry is always exercised within a specific cultural context and also within the multicultural context of church and society in Australia. Therefore any formation program should include exposure to different cultural contexts and to the diversity of viewpoints, values and practices that accompany them.

Pilgrim primarily consists of candidates for ordained ministry within the UCA, a Faculty and support staff. The role of the Faculty is to:

• Engage in study, teaching and research in theology and related disciplines as a community of theological scholarship within the UCA.
• Oversee the programs of formation for candidates in liaison with Presbyteries and Synod.
• Conduct their teaching and research in an ecumenical context.