News

October
September
Friday, 17 Nov 2023
Wesley Church Melbourne has announced the appointment of Acting Head of Pilgrim Theological College Rev Associate Professor Robyn Whitaker to the role of Director of The Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics and Public Policy. The centre, to be launched early next year, is a collaboration between Wesley Church, Uniting Vic.Tas, Uniting AgeWell, UEthical, and the eLM unit of the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania. The UCA Congregation of Mark the Evangelist is also a significant donor. The centre will be a key forum for public conversation about ethics and public policy through the lens of theology. Through Wesley Mission (1893-2016),…
Wednesday, 15 Nov 2023
Pilgrim Theological College is inviting applications for the position of New Testament Lecturer, with the half-time role involving teaching in the field of New Testament and related early Christian literature within the accredited awards of the college. The successful applicant will work alongside Associate Professor Robyn Whitaker to teach at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, supervise students enrolled in research degrees (MTh, PhD), participate in international standard research, and contribute to other programs and committees within the University of Divinity. Applications close on Monday, November 27. See the full Position Description for further information.
Thursday, 24 Aug 2023
Pilgrim Theological College is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Kerrie Handasyde to the position of Coordinator of Studies: History of Christian Practice and Belief.  Kerrie is an experienced teacher who is already accredited as a Senior Lecturer within the University of Divinity. She is known to many at Pilgrim through her work with the Australian Collaborators in Feminist Theologies and in coordinating Academic Skills.  Kerrie’s research excellence in history was clear to the search committee. Her book God in the Landscape explores the history of Protestant Dissent in Australia, including aspects of the Uniting Church’s heritage. She is currently researching conversion narratives in Pacific mission and co-editing two…
Wednesday, 23 Aug 2023
“Education, ecumenism and energy” were the touchstones Professor Katharine Massam pointed to in her remarks at the Release of Ties from her placement as Coordinator of Studies: Church History on Tuesday evening. The Yuma Auditorium was filled with past and present students and colleagues from Katharine’s 23 years of service. Katharine moved to Melbourne to take up a position in ‘Church History’ in 2000, and has remained part of the ecumenical faculty at what is now Pilgrim Theological College ever since. Katharine recounted the various places classes were taught prior to the construction of the Centre for Theology and Ministry:…
Thursday, 6 Jul 2023
Discover the symbol of the Christa/x, and how queer theology has taught Christians to expand their understanding of what we have always assumed to be true, in this fascinating intensive being co-taught by Stephen Burns from Pilgrim and JAnice McRandal from the Cooperative. Since the emergence of artistic representations in the 1970s–in part propelled by the United Nations’ Decade of Solidarity with Women–the symbol of the Christa has been incorporated into some theologians’ work in doctrine and devotion. Initially associated with lesbian feminist theological voices (notably, Heyward), latterly it has found strong resonance in the flourishing area of queer theology…
Sunday, 2 Jul 2023
In 2022, our head of college, Sean Winter, created a series of Bible studies based on the 2022 Synod meeting. These have been revised and edited into a PDF version. We hope you enjoy them and find them useful.   230614_SynodBibleStudiesV2[63] Course code DS2005P/8005P Lecturer S Burns, J Mcrandal Mode of Delivery Face to face Semester 2 Intensive 25-26 Aug; 8-9 Sept; 13 October
Thursday, 22 Jun 2023
What does it mean to be human, according to the Christian vision, and how can our pastoral care ensure that we respect this vision? Join Pilgrim Theological College in considering how our pastoral practices can best serve the people that we interact with.  Understanding pastoral practice and supervision in church settings is crucial to having healthy communities. This unit draws extensively upon the Jesuit educational philosophy, which understands learning and teaching as a contributive space, which supports, respects, and develops the wealth of experience and knowledge that students bring to the class. In turn, students have are encouraged to use…
Wednesday, 21 Jun 2023
Is there anything substantial to the “self”? If so, how is that evidenced? Can experience of myself be trusted as what is finally and demonstrably real, or is that just another obstacle to knowing things as they are? This unit explores the modern project, beginning with Descartes, and continuing with Hume and Kant, to place the knowing self at the center of existence. Their investigations chart an intriguing philosophical quest for the substantiality of the self.  Descartes’  triumphant argument for the “thinking “I”‘,  as what undoubtedly “is”, is met with Hume’s dismissive questioning of that certainty, spawning  Kant’s ingenious reconciling…
Who was Christ to people of other cultures? How does their historical frame of reference change their understanding, and what can we learn from it? Consider your understanding of the divine and the holy in juxtaposition with those of alternative understandings of Christ, and deepen your own faith in the process.  This elective unit surveys Christologies developed in languages perhaps not familiar to the Western cultural and historical frame of reference. Explore the vast array of ways that Jesus is seen in cultures across the world; from images of Jesus Christ developed through such language as ‘Bodhisattva’, ‘Avatara’, ‘guru’, ‘prophet’,…
Wednesday, 14 Jun 2023
Discover the women of Bible and the worlds they existed within, in this fascinating subject from Pilgrim Theological College. The Bible is filled with women – some named, some not, some the protagonists in books named after them, while some others are simply mentioned in passing. The books of Esther, Ruth, the Song of Songs, Susannah, and Judith are exceptional and exciting. They seem to bend convention, cross boundaries, and subvert societal control. What do these books that came into being within a rigid patriarchal structure teach us? These books belong to a literature of protest. They came into being during…
Tuesday, 13 Jun 2023
Discover the incredible emotion weaved throughout the book of Psalms, it’s writing and it’s intention, in this upcoming intensive unit with Monica Melanchthon in Semester Two at Pilgrim. The Psalter is poetry which erupts at moments of emotional intensity; a transcript from real life; poetical accompaniment to real events and real experiences. They are explicitly a human attempt to express thought, anger, joy, thanksgiving, lament, doubt and more, to God. This unit will introduce the student to Hebrew poetic literature, poetic devices and forms of expression, as they are found in the Psalter. We will study the formation and development…
Wednesday, 3 May 2023
An exciting and challenging full-time role in teaching, research, formation and engagement, within Pilgrim Theological College and the Uniting Church Synod of Victoria and Tasmania, and the University of Divinity. Qualified candidates (PhD or equivalent in relevant field) are invited to apply to join a vibrant, international, ecumenical, and experienced Faculty. Position Description Deadline for Application: 12th June 2023 For further information please contact the Head of College, Associate Professor Sean Winter Course code BA9020P/BA3020P Instructor M Melachthon Mode of Delivery Internal – Face to face and External – Online Synchronous Semester 2 10-13 July; 11-12 August
Thursday, 9 Feb 2023
Referencing everything with academic integrity. This online lunchtime session will workshop the referencing of books, articles, images, and other scholarly sources. You can also BYO references from your essays. All welcome. WEEK 4 – Wednesday 22 March at 1pm AEDT via the link on the Academic Skills ARK page. Smash out a short essay. This online lunchtime session will workshop how to plan, research and write a short essay (up to 2000 words) with insight and efficiency. WEEK 8 – Wednesday 3 May at 1pm AEST via the link on the Academic Skills ARK page. Analysis and insight. This online session will workshop developing criteria…
Sunday, 5 Feb 2023
Do faith and action connect for you? Take a deep dive into the story of faith and action for social change. You’ll meet campaigners for justice, welfare, peace, and human rights. From 19th-century women to 20th-century activists, explore their worlds, hear their beliefs, and trace the contemporary legacies of their radical, gospel work. Enrol in “Radical Legacies: Faith, Activism and Social Change” and discover how people like you worked to change the world.   Tuesdays 2pm to 4 pm, Feb 28th – May 30   Study online or in person at the Uniting Church’s Pilgrim Theological College in Parkville (FEE-HELP),…
Wednesday, 9 Nov 2022
Life at Pilgrim Theological College is pretty much busy all year round, with classes held from February to November. But every year the College pauses on the last Thursday in October to celebrate the achievements of those who are on the cusp of completing their studies at the College and the University of Divinity. The 2022 Valedictory Service was an opportunity to congratulate 32 students who are about to complete a course in theology, leadership or ministry. We also recognized three students who are about to complete their formation for ministry in the UCA. They leave the College to take…
Friday, 20 May 2022
This exciting subject, taught by our Head of College, Sean Winter, gives you the opportunity to wrestle with one of the most important and influential texts of the Bible – Paul’s Letter to the Romans. By studying Romans in its ancient context you will gain a better understanding of the gospel and learn how to think through the way that this gospel relates to your own faith and the church’s mission in the world. The subject will explore the relationship between Paul’s argument in the letter, the theology implied by those arguments, and the social, cultural, and political context of…
Thursday, 19 May 2022
Discover the origins of public theology, its main concerns, theories, and methods. Co-taught by John Flett and Robyn Whitaker, with special guests including Tim Costello, MEdedith Lake, Stephen Duckett, Rod Bower, Elenie Poulos, and Andreas Lowe this engaging intensive about doing theology in public will be offered in semester 2 at Pilgrim Theological College. It is often observed that the church as an institution in western societies no longer holds the social capital it did even 50 years ago. While this may be true, it is not the case that the Christian faith has disappeared from public discourse. The opposite might…
Can a better understanding of Greek language enhance your understanding of the New Testament? This unit develops your understanding of New Testament Greek in a fun and engaging class taught by Sunny Chen.   Even if you don’t know any Greek, this unit will help you improve your Greek syntax, grammar, and vocabulary. About a third of the unit will be devoted to the translation of Greek New Testament passages of carious genres, prepared in advance by the students. By engaging with a biblical text in its original language you will see how studying Greek can assist in its interpretation.…
Learn about the field of mission studies in this fascinating upcoming subject at Pilgrim Theological College during Semester Two. This introductory unit discusses intercultural theology and missiology as an emerging concern of world Christianity after the Western colonial era. This requires both a critical unsaying and new forms of retelling regarding the transmission, local appropriations, and diverse embodiments of the Christian faith. Since the beginning of the post-colonial era, missiology has wrestled with its colonial heritage. This wrestling has resulted in significant criticisms regarding the compromise between the gospel and its embodied forms. But, in these criticisms, different voices have…
Adelaide Morse
Worship in Context explores the central claims of liturgical theology in critical dialogue with Australian perspectives.   This unit begins by outlining norms of Christian worship from across the tradition: a focus on Christ’s presence in Word and Sacrament, the communal nature of Christian worship, the role of presiders and worship leaders, and more. This unit then brings these norms into dialogue with the Australian context: the history of colonisation, contemporary Australian culture, First People’s theology, and the distinctive Australia Church scene. This dialogue makes clear the need to adapt some of the received norms of Christian worship. As a…
Wednesday, 18 May 2022
Immerse yourself in an introduction to New Testament – its history, texts, and theology – in this fantastic unit taught by Robyn Whitaker. This unit is a great starting point for anyone interested in learning more about the world of Jesus, first-century Judaism, Graeco-Roman culture, and the texts that make up the New Testament. With no prior knowledge assumed, this unit is for anyone wanting to deepen their understanding of the Bible, think about interpretation, and understand the historical context of the New Testament. We begin with the letters of Paul as the earliest texts in the New Testament, looking…
  Explore the doctrine of the trinity, the surprising contemporary re emergence of Trinitarian thought, and its fruitfulness in political theology, Christian theologies of sexuality, and inter-faith dialogue.   This unit offers students the chance to consider the origins of the doctrine of Trinity, the distinctive Christian way of speaking of God. Although ridiculed by critics from ancient times until now, this doctrine is central to Christian faith. This unit will allow you to delve into the history of this key element of Christian faith, wrestle creatively with its mystery, and explore its contemporary relevance to such ‘big issues’ as…
Discover the historical and current issues around the spiritual life and the spiritual development of children in this upcoming intensive taught by Beth Waldron Anstice.   This blended learning intensive will give you the opportunity to explore and develop more informed ministries of protection and respect in both pastoral care and religious education. Examine the links between scripture, theological thought, spiritual and psychological development, neurobiology, and ministry with children. Taught over 6 weekdays, with both online and in-person options, this class is fantastic either as a standalone unit or as a part of a more comprehensive qualification.   To learn…
Immerse yourself in the writings of the monastic communities of the first five Christian centuries; explore the ways they were inspired to seek Wisdom above all and hear what they had to say to post-Constantinian, urban Christianity. Spend a week immersed in the monastic sources of the first five centuries and hear for yourself what the desert mothers and fathers had to say to post-Constantinian, urban Christianity. Discover personalities and communities in Egypt, Palestine and Cappadocia and the ways they were inspired to seek Wisdom above all. Explore their deep and practical insight into human hopes and fears, and their…
Delve deeper into the Gospel of Mark and discover more about its literary, social, cultural, and theological contexts from which this fascinating gospel has emerged.    This unit, taught by Sally Douglas, provides an in-depth study of Mark’s Gospel and the context it was written and exists in. Consider issues such as gender, power, cosmology, ethnicity, and Christology and how they’re discussed and framed in the Gospel of Mark, both historically and in terms of applications for today. Students will get the chance to trace the narrative of this text and learn face to face in weekly classes, held on…
Friday, 13 May 2022
Discuss and discover the theological, liturgical, ethical and pastoral care issues associated with ministry with people with disabilities in this upcoming unit at Pilgrim Theological College.  The relationship of disability and spirituality is central to this unit. In considering the spectrum of exclusion and embrace, issues including stigma, attitudes, body image, friendship, legislation, rights, communications, and architecture will be explored. Participation in faith communities and community-based settings will also be considered, to gain a deeper understanding of resistance to inclusion. Practical responses and strategies will be an important part of the unit. Taught by Andy Calder, the Synod’s Disability Inclusion…
Join Katharine Massam and Kerrie Handasyde on Wednesday evenings online or in person as they revisit and reinterpret key moments in Christianity’s past. History is different now – and dangerous memory is powerful.   Memory has the power to shape us. Dangerous memory unsettles our past and makes us reconsider our present. By daring to look at alternative sources of history and by asking different questions of the past, we challenge ourselves. We see that the church and its influence might have been different – and could be different. In Christianity’s Dangerous Memory we explore forgotten, marginalised, and rediscovered perspectives…
We live in a world called “postmodern”, where nothing is absolute. Is postmodernist suspicion an ally of religious faith, or its deadly enemy? Can we doubt the value of foundations, but still speak meaningfully about God? In Semester Two, learn with John Martis about how postmodern thinking can rework some of the traditional connections between faith and philosophy. This in-person or online real-time unit will explore some of the big questions about how faith and philosophy interrelate, and how our current understandings of the two impact our decision-making and beliefs. Radical doubt about concepts that have previously been considered unassailable…
Adelaide Morse
Hermeneutics is the study of interpretation. How do I know which meaning and interpretation of something — biblical or secular, said or written — is the right one?  This Semester 2 unit with John Martis engages with the philosophy of hermeneutics, including its meaning, traditional models and modern developments creating change.   Learn the thoughts of well known hermeneutical scholars, including Schleiermacher, Dilthey, Heidegger and more, and the contributions structuralists, poststructuralists and others have made to the field.   Engage with the following questions with that background in mind: What meanings of the term ‘hermeneutics’ link antiquity to modernity? What…
Wednesday, 11 May 2022
Adelaide Morse
  Warmest Congratulations to the thirty-one students (listed below – some in person and others in absentia), from Pilgrim Theological College who were graduated at the Graduation Ceremony of the University of Divinity, held in St Paul’s Cathedral at 7:30pm on Friday 25 March 2022!!  We hope that at this, the end point of your experience as students within a particular program, you discover meaning in what you have achieved and are able to gather your learnings for the wellbeing and flourishing of the community.  Prayers and blessings for your future!!! We also celebrate and congratulate Karen Eller who was…
Monday, 18 Apr 2022
Adelaide Morse
Queer Theology CT3001P/9001P J Inkpin and P Jones Blended intensive   Queer identities and faith are in the forefront of much political and cultural conflict today – but how do we explore positive ways forward? This face to face intensive with online presentations offers students the opportunity to explore how faith and queer identities intersect and impact one another. Delve into the world of queer theology and discover how sexuality and gender identity inform, challenge and transform our understandings of faith and life.   If you’re interested in learning where queer ideas intersect with faith, how queer theology has emerged…
Tuesday, 8 Feb 2022
Kerrie Handasyde is offering a series of Academic Skills workshops to help give you all the tools you’ll need to excel in the academic world. Learn about everything from footnotes to grading rubrics in this online series during Semester 1.   Each week will cover a different skill area, so you can either dip in or out for the skills you need to improve on, or attend all six to get a more comprehensive toolkit of academic skills. These workshops are only available for currently enrolled students. The workshops are: 1. How to pass: understanding grading rubrics, learning outcomes, and academic…
Friday, 4 Feb 2022
Develop your understanding of two of the great philosophical thinkers who laid the foundation for Western philosophy in this fascinating unit taught by John Martis. Plato and Aristotle are famous names – but do you really understand their ideas and the way these two Greeks influenced both past and present culture and thought? Spend semester one discovering these two great philosophers and their ideas, as well as the way Greek philosophy overall has been important to the development of early Christian theology during semester one at Pilgrim. This subject is taught both face-to-face and online, and students are expected to…
COVID has forced the church to experiment with so many aspects of its life. This has intensified the already-existing ferment in which the contemporary church has found itself. There is little likelihood that this ferment will ease any time soon. In fact, for the community brought into being through the strange message of a crucified and risen Jewish teacher and the sending of the Spirit which blows where it will, ferment is to be expected. This unit, taught by Geoff Thompson and John Flett, will be of interest to anyone who wants to understand and enter into this ferment. The…
Deepen your understanding of the New Testament by learning the basics of its original language in this popular course taught in Semester 1 at Pilgrim Theological College. Learning a language may sound like it could be dry work, but this is in fact one of our liveliest and most energetic classes, taught by Sunny Chen. Learn a new alphabet and start to read and understand the original language, as well as get the opportunity to translate and interpret short passages from Scripture, along with other writings from the first and second centuries. This unit will be taught both online and…
Thursday, 3 Feb 2022
https://pilgrim.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Revelation.mp4 Delve into the book of Revelation; a highly symbolic, political, and justice-oriented text that is often misunderstood by readers in this captivating subject taught by Robyn Whittaker during Semester 1 at Pilgrim. Revelation is one of those biblical books that continues to confuse and scare people. It has had a huge influence upon popular culture due to its evocative images of the red dragon, the slaughtered multi-headed lamb, the number 666, and graphic depictions of hell.   Through vivid visions and highly symbolic figures, Revelation invites us to think about the way evil is manifest in the world, the…
Monday, 31 Jan 2022
How do we make good choices, both individually and as a community? Explore authentic leadership and identify strategies for building the capacity of groups and individuals to make good choices in ‘Discernment and Authority in Christian Tradition’, taught at Pilgrim Theological College in Semester 1.  This subject gives students the chance to examine the nature and processes of discernment in the Christian tradition, and the relationship that it has to authority within the Christian community. Discover examples of Christian leadership both within and beyond the church, and develop definitions of authentic leadership to better improve your understanding of what it…
Wednesday, 26 Jan 2022
This exciting subject, taught by Geoff Thompson, will explore the big ideas that have traditionally been identified as “Christian doctrine”, such as God, revelation, creation, humanity, church, and more. Christianity’s big ideas have been produced and passed on through controversy and curiosity. This unit gives you the opportunity to consider what it might mean for the central concepts of Christianity to nurture a vision that engages, provokes, and stretches the imagination, intellect, and heart in order to serve the church best in its witness to the world. This subject is suitable for students who are only just beginning their journey…
Consider some of the key questions that arise in pastoral care: What makes pastoral care “pastoral?” What does it look like in practice, and how does it connect with a living Christian faith? This interactive unit will give students the chance to explore together the challenges and experiences of pastoral ministry, and identify basic questions and issues that they want to address. ‘Theology of Pastoral Care’ offers a robust theological foundation for the practice of pastoral care, and gives you the opportunity to guide your own learning around the exploration of pastoral care both in terms of its theological underpinnings…
Friday, 21 Jan 2022
Taught by John Martis, this unit is a fantastic basis for anyone wanting to understand more about theology or philosophy, and how they interact with each other. Discover the philosophers who influenced some of our most famous theologians and the rich history of the philosophical system.   Aristotle, Kant, Hegel, Heidegger, and more; Famous philosophers who laid the groundwork for equally famous theologians, and impacted their thinking and teaching. Discover the impact of Platonism on the New Testament and how it plays into the world that Jesus was living in. This unit explores the philosophical underpinnings of some key theological…
Thursday, 20 Jan 2022
Discover the rich history of material culture within Protestant Christianity and explore ways in which objects both reflect and shape cultures. We live in a culturally diverse society, filled with visual images, texts, and objects that are powerful communicators of what we believe and our societal values. Historically, Christians have used a range of ways to express their spiritual lives, giving us a rich diversity of visual arts, literacy, and artifacts that can help us understand the relationship between these elements and the lives and beliefs of the people who created them. This unit examines the place of visual culture,…
Wednesday, 19 Jan 2022
What kind of mixed messages do we give children about our theologies and practices? Have you managed to untangle some of the messages you received as a child? How do our faiths impact our children, and how should we be teaching them about faith? Complete your Graduate Certificate in Children and Families Ministry at Pilgrim Theological College to start to consider and answer these questions today! The Graduate Certificate in Children and Families Ministry is taught in the form of three intensives throughout the year – two compulsory units and one selected in consultation with the Coursework Coordinator. This is…
Monday, 10 Jan 2022
Gender, Justice and Empire: Contextual Reading of the Old Testament BA3040P/BA9040P 11, 12, 18, 19 March; 1 and 2 April This unit is taught both online and in-person over 6 days (Fridays and Saturdays). Explore the relationship between big issues in Old Testament interpretation, through texts that narrate the experiences of women both within the Old Testament and through contemporary feminist and culturally divisive scholarship. If you’re looking to learn more about women in the Bible, and the impact and interpretation of their gender within Old Testament society, then this is the unit for you! Suitable for anyone interested in…
This introductory course will help you understand the life, history, and faith of the people of God in ancient Israel. Taught by Jione Havea and Brian Kolia, this subject is a fantastic introductory subject for any theological student. Life, History and the People of God in the Hebrew Scriptures will invite you to survey the contents of the Old Testament and study the historical contexts, genres and theology in and of the OT books. In the process, you’ll also get the chance to explore how their own lives can be related to the struggles and joys of contemporary faith.  …
For centuries, Christians have been campaigners for change within society. Take a deep dive into this history in Radical Legacies: Faith,  Activism  and  Social  Change,  taught by Kerrie Handasyde during semester one at Pilgrim.    From 19th century women’s groups to 20th-century grassroots activists, these lectures, discussions, and workshops will explore how Christians have impacted social change throughout history. This subject will look at specific campaigns including abolition, voting, welfare, peace, work, and housing. It will trace the legacy of their radical, gospel work, enabling you to discover why and how they changed their world, and by extension, ours. Lectures…
Sunday, 12 Dec 2021
Children and Families Ministry: Core Issues in Diverse Contexts https://pilgrim.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Children-and-Families-Ministry-Core-1.mp4   Taught as a stand alone intensive, or one of three intensives that make up the Graduate Certificate in Ministry With Children and Their Families, this subject is the perfect way to get started or undertake professional development in Children and Families Ministry. Especially suitable for church based, community based and para-church expressions of ministry, this subject will give you the opportunity to: ▪ Explore theological and biblical resources for contextual children and families ministries ▪ Develop skills for evaluating and designing practical processes for discipleship and evangelism ▪ Grow…
Tuesday, 7 Dec 2021
  Providing professional development for current and emerging leaders in key roles (including governance roles) within the Uniting Church and other faith-based organisations.   Advanced leadership skills are essential for current and potential leaders (lay and ordained, stipended and voluntary) across faith organisations and communities. Within a community of mutual learning and development, and engagement with others in similar and different contexts, the Advanced Leadership Program provides a course of study that enables reflection and learning through a combination of readings, realistic scenarios, experiential learning, and practical application. About the program Begins in April 2022 continues for most of the…
Thursday, 2 Dec 2021
Pilgrim Theological College was blessed to hear Kylie Crabb give an incredibly thoughtful reflection at our valedictory service in October.  We’re pleased to share the written version of the reflection below.   Valedictory service Pilgrim Theological College, 28 Oct 2021 Rev Dr Kylie Crabbe   Reading from All Saints’ Day John 11.32-44   We gather, in these strange times and at the end of yet another tricky, Covid-affected semester, just a few days out from All Saints’ Day. It occurs to me that such a liturgical date is a very good time to celebrate all that you have achieved in…
Friday, 13 Aug 2021
5 groups that would benefit from Foundations for Religious Education    It can be tempting when you hear the term “religious education” to dismiss it as only relevant for Religious Education teachers in primary or secondary schools.  But our upcoming intensive, Foundations for Religious Education, is suitable for a range of people and a range of careers.    Here are 5 groups who may benefit from Foundations for Religious Education!  Youth Workers  If you work with teenagers or youth in any context, but especially in a religious context, understanding the disciplines of Education and Theology can help you present information…
Friday, 23 Jul 2021
5 tips for studying online  With Victoria in and out of lockdowns for 2020 and 2021, studying courses and degrees look radically different from what they used to.   Pilgrim Theological College has successfully transitioned to online learning, and then back out of online learning. With week one learning running exclusively online, here are 5 tips to help you study in an online setting.     1. Keep your camera on It can be incredibly tempting to just turn your camera off while in a zoom meeting and scroll on your phone. Keeping your camera on means that you have to at…
Friday, 16 Jul 2021
Academic skills are a unique set of tools that you need to be adept at in order to complete any higher education course. Improve yours with Dr Kerrie Handasyde in this unique series! August 3, 18, September 1, 15, and October 13   There are a series of skills that are crucial to your success as a student, which aren’t taught outside of the academic world. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for students to begin a course, even when they’ve done prior study, and find that the expectations and requirements have changed or altered, even between universities. In order to ensure…
Wednesday, 14 Jul 2021
Enrolment is at the end of this week, and even if you can’t commit to a weekly subject, there are plenty of other options.  Don’t worry! You can still register for credit or to audit these three intensives:  Whether you got delayed because of the ever changing COVID 19 situation, or struggle to fit weekly classes into your lifestyle, these intensives offer some great options across a range of topics for both credit and for general education.  Contact our registrar at study@pilgrim.edu.au to enrol for credit or to audit any of these subjects.   Doctrine, Truth and Pluralism  July 30,…
Tuesday, 25 May 2021
Following the announcement of a seven day lockdown across Victoria that came into effect from midnight on Thursday 27th May, Pilgrim students are asked to note: There will be no face to face Pilgrim classes at the CTM between now and midnight on June 3rd. Arrangements are being made to ensure effective completion of remaining semester 1 units and examinations: please contact your unit teacher or the Registrar if you are in any doubt about these. The Dalton McCaughey Library will be closed, but a click and collect service will be available between 10.30 a.m.–4.30 p.m. Requests can be made…
Sunday, 16 May 2021
Everyone procrastinates. We’re all wired to avoid negative feelings so we seek distraction from difficulties. We turn to mood-enhancing activities like games, social media, even tidying up – anything to avoid the negative mood that comes with a challenging task. In the short term, procrastination works because it can lift our mood and we feel less stressed for a while. But then it catches up and we wish we’d started that assignment earlier. These 10 tips will help you get your essays started – and feel good about it! 10 tips to stop procrastinating now and make the task more…
Monday, 10 May 2021
If you want to: Deep dive into history and explore new patterns of being community Co-operative café: community, history and the new economics Katharine Massam Intensive: 19 and 20 July, 29 and 30 October Before there was social enterprise there was the cooperative movement. This innovative unit features a collaboration with Co-operative Bonds and the Business Council of Cooperatives and Mutuals (BCCM) to workshop business models that might establish a café (or similar enterprise) as a cooperative. Ground this in learning about the radical tradition that supports a growing global movement for a new economy. Examine the models of religious…
Equip yourself for real life, faith, and ministry People study at Pilgrim for all kinds of reasons – out of interest, for their life of faith, to equip themselves with new skills and qualifications, for love of learning, to develop their theological imagination. We know that for theology to be meaningful it must be relevant. We’ll help you explore the implications of your learning, making connections with life in our world, questions of faith, and real vocational contexts. Our subjects can also equip you for vocations – ministry with children and families, pastoral care, leadership in the church. No matter…
Friday, 26 Mar 2021
Over the mid-semester break we’re initiating a guided study group where you can discuss how to approach upcoming assignments while getting to know other students. It will be friendly, structured and productive. How will it work? Choose one assessment task that you have underway and prepare to talk for 2 minutes (200 words) about the task requirement and very briefly outline how you’re planning to approach it. In response, the group will provide constructive, enabling feedback. Our Academic Learning Advisor will be there to guide and answer any questions. Pilgrim aspires to be a community of learning for people on…
Tuesday, 23 Mar 2021
So I praise God, whose mystery keeps drawing us into theological study, I praise Jesus, whose life, teaching, death and resurrection is a constant source of nourishment and challenge, and I praise the Holy Spirit, who offers wisdom, comfort and inspiration. Praise to the Trinity of love. Amen. – Andrea Mayes, Vice-Chancellor’s Scholar The Pilgrim community extends a huge congratulations to the Pilgrim students who graduated from the University of Divinity last Friday, 19th March. We applaud their efforts and recognise the significant personal investment involved in undertaking the task of theology. We pray that the next step in the…
Friday, 12 Mar 2021
“This deeply interconnected collection of essays offers fresh perspectives on the challenges of comprehending the relations between power and agency, authority and love. Feminist theology has always rejected binary separations between these spheres and stresses the painful but necessary task of accommodating their entanglement in human and divine relations. What the authors in this work achieve are vivid, culturally located and accountable representations of loving as ‘power transformed’ and ‘transforming power’.” – Heather Walton Professor of Theology and Creative Practice School of Critical Studies, University of Glasgow We are thrilled about the publication of a new book of essays, Contemporary…
The library team is proud to announce the implementation of a new, expanded search function for the Dalton McCaughey Library resources. Scholarly literature is increasingly available online and the new search function includes the full text of online journals, reference works and books as well as catalogue records. You can choose to search only the catalogue from a separate tab, or you can filter your search results to exclude catalogue records, narrow the date range and many more options. What’s changing? There are two search boxes; one for searching online and print collections and one for the catalogue. The combined…
Saturday, 13 Feb 2021
‘Something About The Light’ A sermon preached at the Pilgrim Ministry Candidate commencement event, on vocational anxiety, vocational affirmation, and transfiguration, which “isn’t just something that happened to Jesus but is something that happens to each of us as we take the next step, as those who have seen the light of God’s creative and redemptive presence in the face of Jesus Christ, and who have taken that story and the truth that it tells into the deepest parts of ourselves…” Rev Dr Sean Winter, Head of College 12th February 2021 (Feast of the Transfiguration: 2 Kings 2:1–12; Mark 9:6–9;…
Wednesday, 10 Feb 2021
There is a special pleasure in being able to welcome you to the new academic year at Pilgrim in 2021. After the challenges of learning and teaching in 2020, it is a real joy to see enrolments come in for the rich and impressive timetable of units and courses on offer at the College this year. And it is particularly encouraging to know with significant confidence that classes will be available face to face as well as online. Along with pretty much every other higher education institution, we are working to make sure that people can study in ways that…
Thursday, 28 Jan 2021
We are excited to welcome Rev Dr Assoc Prof Monica Melanchthon into the role of Academic Dean, from the beginning of 2021 for the following two years. Monica brings a passionate, liberational approach to the Hebrew Bible, drawing on feminist and non-Western insights to read texts in conversation with issues of community, culture, gender, and justice. You can enrol to study units with Monica through 2021. Read more about Monica in our Faculty profiles. Talk with us and with each other about the difference that all of these ideas (about God, the Bible, the Church, Faith, Ministry etc.) make to…
Thursday, 20 Jun 2019
Faculty member John Flett has co-edited Coverting Witness: The Future of Christian Mission in the New Millennium (Lexington Books), a collection of essays in honour of missiologist Darrell Guder. https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781978708402/Converting-Witness-The-Future-of-Christian-Mission-in-the-New-Millennium Pilgrim doctoral candidate Bryan Cones and faculty member Stephen Burns have co-edited Liturgy With a Difference: Beyond Inclusion in the Christian Assembly (SCM Press), with essays on preaching to “Nones” (people who say “no religion” in the census), worship space as sanctuary, the experience of trans-presiders, and crafting gay weddings: https://scmpress.hymnsam.co.uk/books/9780334057406/liturgy-with-a-difference Faculty associate Jione Havea and faculty members Monica Jyotsna Melanchthon and Stephen Burns each have essays in the current…
Wednesday, 18 Jul 2018
In  August this year Professor Christine Helmer visited Pilgrim Theological College as a Northey Lecturer. Professor Helmer is an expert in the theologies of Martin Luther, Friedrich Schleiermacher, ecclesiologies of resistance, and the meaning and function of Christian doctrine. She teaches at Northwestern University in Illinois. Her 2014 book, Theology and the End of Doctrine, has made a significant contribution to the contemporary discussions of the role of doctrine in the church. She is concerned that the church’s doctrinal work has developed in ways that isolated the church’s intellectual work from other academic disciplines. Yet, she also argues, that the…
Friday, 18 May 2018
We are delighted to announce that Revd Professor Stephen Burns and Revd Dr Robyn Whitaker will be joining the Faculty of Pilgrim Theological College in mid-July 2018. Stephen and Robyn both bring significant gifts in teaching, research, and engagement to the community of theological scholarship at Pilgrim. In joining the existing faculty team, they also take up roles within the wider education and formation stream within the new eLM unit of the Uniting Church Synod in Victoria and Tasmania. Stephen Burns studied theology at the Universities of Cambridge and Durham, receiving his PhD in Liturgical Theology in 2002. He is…
Wednesday, 28 Feb 2018
THE JD NORTHEY LECTURE Thursday 3 May 2018  The Bible as a Site of Struggle in South Africa, from Apartheid to after Liberation Presented by: Gerald West Senior Professor University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, South Africa A story is told by a black African prophet-healer in 1930s South Africa of how the Bible was stolen from the Europeans who stole African cattle. This story recognises that the Bible of imperial Dutch traders has become, over centuries, an iconic African book. This story frames other ways in which the Bible is a site of struggle in South Africa’s history. The lecture will…
Tuesday, 20 Feb 2018
Pilgrim Theological College adjunct lecturer Beth Barnett practises what she teaches, which is why you might find her students entering a church building on their hands and knees to view the surrounds from a child’s height. This is one of the observational tasks included in the intensive unit Children and Families Ministry: Core issues in diverse contexts. Ms Barnett will teach the unit in two three-day blocs in February, leaving students the rest of the semester for assessment tasks. While there is a more formal essay component, the unit’s observational tasks include the aforementioned crawl into a church building (Ms…
Monday, 5 Feb 2018
Although he admits a certain bias, Stephen Connelly believes there is something unique about the Dalton McCaughey Library located at Centre of Theology and Ministry in Parkville. “I believe this library is loveable, it’s quite palpably different from other academic libraries I know.” That lovableness was affirmed by other speakers and guests as the tributes flowed for Mr Connelly’s leadership of the library, which is operated jointly by the Jesuits and the Uniting Church. The gathering was held to celebrate Mr Connelly’s 22 years of service as Dalton McCaughey head librarian on Wednesday . Dalton McCaughey Library council member and…
Monday, 22 Jan 2018
equipping LEADERSHIP FOR MISSION (eLM) eLM (formerly working title Mission & Capacity Building Unit) is currently seeking people for two key positions. Two academic opportunities with Pilgrim Theological College ACADEMIC TEACHING APPOINTMENTS We invite qualified candidates (PhD or equivalent) with a passion for theological education and research to join the vibrant and experienced Faculty of Pilgrim Theological College within the Synod’s Education and Formation for Leadership Team (within eLM).     Co-ordinator of Studies: New Testament A teaching, research, formation, and engagement role at Pilgrim Theological College, working in relationship with the University of Divinity and the UCA Synod of…
Monday, 15 Jan 2018
Cost and time are two of the biggest barriers that often prevent people from doing further study. Pilgrim Theological College is aiming to tackle those obstacles by removing some of the financial sting to studying theology for those under 35, while providing flexible means of doing so. The college is offering 10 scholarships that will pay half the fees for full-time, part-time or online students to gain a Diploma in Theology or a Graduate Diploma in Theology through the University of Divinity. Liam Miller, who after three years of study online has two units to complete before qualifying for a Masters of Divinity from Pilgrim…
Friday, 10 Nov 2017
Pilgrim Theological College celebrated the completion of study for a number of their 2017 valedictorians in November with a service of celebration and thanks. Some valedictorians have completed their study and others are “on the verge” of completion. Rev Associate Professor Sean Winter, the Acting Head of Pilgrim, told the theology students that “whatever the future holds, keep the questions you have asked here, the challenges you have faced here, the insights you have won here, the knowledge you have gained here, the changes you have made here, keep them at the forefront of your mind and go on living…
Thursday, 9 Nov 2017
In 2018 we are excited to introduce a number of new units exploring the humanities, biblical studies and Christian thought and history. We explore art, the medium of film, the interpretation of Isaiah, the meanings attributed to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in early Christian texts, the history of Protestantism through the lens of religious literature and music,  and questions of sex, sexuality and gender from a doctrinal perspective. Read more about these theological units below and also explore our 2018 handbook. And if you need assistance about which unit or theological course to study, or how to…
Thursday, 15 Jun 2017
Our students come from all walks of life. Whether returning to study, needing a refresher, a contemporary theological update or embarking on a spiritual journey, Pilgrim College has several options. Watch the videos and be inspired to embark with us… Our Students Our Teachers Our Subjects   For advice regarding courses please contact the Registrar or Coursework and Research Co-ordinator.
Friday, 26 May 2017
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Tuesday, 23 May 2017
International guest lecturers will be offering two new subjects at Pilgrim in semester two. Each of these is available for credit or audit, and when completed for credit, counts towards any of the relevant awards of the University of Divinity. AR 1/8000P Conversations: With All Due Respect: Theology, Feminism, and Conflict (begins with the symposium on the same theme with M.Shawn Copeland, Ruth Duck and Cynthia Wilson) Passionately Christian, Compassionately Interfaith (Sathianathan Clarke) Further information
Wednesday, 3 May 2017
To celebrate the 40th birthday of the Uniting Church of Australia and Pilgrim Theological College, an Anniversary Scholarship has been established to cover 75% of the University of Divinity fees in 2017. Further information is available here. If you are interested, download an application form.   Hurry…Apply Now! Applications close Friday 14 July 2017    
Monday, 24 Apr 2017
This course seeks to cultivate missional presence in the world that is passionately Christian as well as compassionately interfaith and is taught by Pilgrim Theological College Guest Lecturer Dr Sathianathan Clarke. Students can complete this intensive for academic credit or audit. More information  Study options Register online Register by 17 September 2017
Wednesday, 12 Apr 2017
Congratulations to Pilgrim students for attending the institution ranked 2nd amongst Australian universities for overall student experience! It was revealed in the papers today that the University of Divinity is the second most satisfying university for tertiary students in Australia. Thank you to everyone who participated in the Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) survey, enabling Divinity to achieve this stunning result. QILT results are available here The Sydney Morning Herald April 12, 2017
Thursday, 30 Mar 2017
Graduation day is an important one for any student, ‘A moment of grace’ is how guest speaker, Alan Niven, described it. It is the day when all those hours of study in class and at home, and all the hard work of thinking, reading and writing, finally come to fruition. Graduation is always a significant personal achievement. But it is also an achievement best shared. The University of Divinity’s Graduation Ceremony in Melbourne, held on the 24th of March, on the grand stage of St Patrick’s Cathedral, was an important milestone for a number of Pilgrim students. One by one, they crossed the stage…
Tuesday, 14 Mar 2017
Pilgrim is a great place to ask and seek answers to the ‘big’ questions, where you can wrestle with the large issues in a very open and supportive environment.   Join us in the process of discovery. The 2017 courses are listed here.
Tuesday, 7 Mar 2017
New Study Opportunity Do you have an interest, prior experience in or aspire to work within the field of ministry with children and families? Through the University of Divinity, we now offer a Graduate Certifcate in Children and Families Ministry. This course allows students to delve deeper into the issues, theology, thinking and practice around church-based ministry with children and families. Chris Barnett, the Uniting Church Children and Families Ministry Co-ordinator elaborates further in this video.
Thursday, 2 Mar 2017
What do Ministers gain by studying at Pilgrim? Pilgrim Theological College continues its commitment to ecumenism, as is represented by staff and students alike. It is an inclusive community, with an incredible breadth of theology and thinking, all important traits, especially in contemporary society. Integration Co-ordinator, Sue Withers, further elucidates the benefits to Ministers of studying at Pilgrim:
Thursday, 16 Feb 2017
Our students come from all walks of life. Whether returning to study, needing a refresher, a contemporary theological update or embarking on a spiritual journey, Pilgrim College has several options. Just a few more reasons our students chose to study with us: ‘…as a qualification to teach religious education and equip me to offer a higher ministerial leadership in Chaplaincy…’ ‘… a deeper understanding of the New Testament and its relevance to worship and preaching will enhance my leadership roles in my local congregation and presbytery.’ ‘…the degree will aid my discernment of a “Call to Ministry” … in the company of other students, under the guidance of…
Thursday, 2 Feb 2017
In last month’s Crosslight, John Flett, reflecting on contemporary political populism and a theological response wrote, ‘The movement of political forces might feel beyond our control, but it is not so. The first step is to meet, discuss and understand some of the forces in play. The second step is to find theological resources which might direct our response within our congregations and inform our discussions with our friends and neighbours’. Join John in taking these steps as he guides ‘Conversations: Interdisciplinary Theological Perspectives on Contemporary Issues’, an intensive course held over three Fridays and Saturdays in March and April. Which…
Tuesday, 10 Jan 2017
The Pilgrim community is deeply saddened by the death of Sr Dr Janette Gray RSM on 24 December 2016. Jan was an inspiring colleague whose work as a theologian and educator flowed wholeheartedly from the integrity of her life. Over 15 years, first at the United Faculty of Theology and then in the context of Pilgrim Theological College, Jan taught popular and life-changing subjects in systematic theology and Christian anthropology. We were all enriched by her creativity as a teacher and administrator, her instinctive kindness and generosity in leadership, her pastoral insight, and the humility and brilliance that marked her…
Thursday, 24 Nov 2016
‘Anyone! I would recommend it to anyone’. by Bethany Broadstock   My last essay is in! That puts me two-thirds of the way through this theology degree and I have some reflections on why I would recommend it to anyone. First: it won’t just affirm you and everything you believe, know or think you believe and know. If it does, you should change institutions. You will have to argue and articulate those things and consider why they are, and they will change and you will change. Some of them you will lose forever – it will deconstruct belief and reassemble…
Thursday, 15 Sep 2016
Hi, I’m Fiona. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering and I’ve spent most of my professional life working in sustainable building design. My Pilgrim story really began when my son Jack was diagnosed with Autism and mental disabilities and my whole world then changed. My career took a back seat while I balanced parenting, therapies and trying to live as “normal” a life as possible. This is also where my spiritual journey began, as I longed for some kind of meaning to all that had, and was happening, in my family’s lives. Eventually I found myself at Brunswick…
Tuesday, 13 Sep 2016
A Reflection on the ROS Conference by John Flett From 2-4 of September 2016, Pilgrim Theological College, in association with UnitingCare VicTas and the University of Heidelberg’s Institute for the Study of Christian Social Service, hosted a conference reflecting on the relationship between agencies and congregations. Over 80 participants gathered to hear 16 experts in the field discuss different aspects of the problem, from extended theological reflections, to forms of funding and modes of advocacy. It is clear that both the church understood primarily in congregational terms and the church understood primarily in social service terms are under various pressures.…
Thursday, 25 Aug 2016
The International Association of Mission Studies (IAMS) holds a major international gathering every four years. This year we were hosted at a place where I had previously taught: “Presbyterian University and Theological College” in South Korea. 300+ people listened to 150 papers over five days, dealing with the theme of “conversation and transformation.” Plenary sessions featured strong paper presenters diverse in both academic discipline and global location. Other papers were divided into a number of sub-groups, covering areas such as: “biblical studies and mission,” “children, youth and mission,” “gender in mission,” “healing/pneumatology,” “interreligious studies and mission,” and the “theology of…
Tuesday, 9 Aug 2016
A Background of the Recapturing our Soul Conference In association with UnitingCare and the University of Heidelberg’s Institute for the Study of Christian Social Service, Pilgrim Theological College is hosting a conference on the relationship between agencies and congregations. Though ecumenical in nature, the idea for this tripartite discourse came from the structural changes currently underway within the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania of the Uniting Church in Australia. Cultural shifts, such as secularisation, have meant that church and religious bodies now occupy a different space in relation to service provision. Funding models often place ambiguous pressures on service providers,…
Tuesday, 2 Aug 2016
Intensive Units for Semester 2 2016 5-7 August, 3-4 September BA2040P/BA3040P/ BA9040P Gender, Justice, Empire: Contextual Readings of the Old Testament (Melanchthon) 21-28 September CH3030P/DS3030P/ CH9030P/DS9030P The Wisdom of St Benedict:  The Rule and its Sources (Posa) – Sydney NSW 20, 27 August 3, 10, 17 September DP3805P/DP9805P Effective Christian Leadership and Ministry (Confoy) 7, 8, 9 October CT3020P/CT9020P Doctrine, Truth and Pluralism (Thompson) 23-25, 28-30 November DA/DS2/3/9029S The Nurture and Spiritual Guidance of Children (College of Theology and Ministry) To enrol, please contact our registrar, Erlinda Loverseed: 03 8340 8892 or registrar@pilgrim.edu.au
The 2016 Karl Barth Conference It was with some trepidation that I headed to Princeton Theological Seminary’s annual Barth conference, having been very generously given the opportunity by Pilgrim Theological College and the UCA. I went with “open, but empty mind.” I met people from various stages along many theological journeys, allaying much of my apprehension. The collegial and properly friendly context held the complex ideas and long days together and cannot be uncoupled from the learning experience as a whole. Lively conversations over meals, coffee and beer made the experience rich. The theme Barth’s Pneumatology and the Global Pentecostal Movement redoubled…
Wednesday, 11 May 2016
Dalton McCaughey Library staff will be delivering two presentations in May to assist library users to use their time more effectively and to find appropriate resources easily. Presentation 1: Where Do I start? An Overview of the Search Tools available at DML Presentation 2. Tips for More Effective Searching Discussion will include reference to all of the electronic resources available at DML including the new UDHub.   TIMES 1. Where Do I Start? Tuesday, 17 May at 1.10 pm. Repeated Thursday, 19 May at 1.10 pm 2. Tips for More Effective Searching. Tuesday, 24 May at 1.10 pm. Repeated Thursday, 26 May…
Monday, 11 Apr 2016
Semester Two’s Doctrine, Truth and Pluralism unit is being offered as an intensive unit, running over 5 Fridays in August, September and October, 2023. This makes it an ideal study opportunity for prospective students who may struggle to commit to a weekly lecture-style unit. Preparatory material equivalent to one day’s class will be available online for students to engage at their convenience.   Taken by Geoff Thompson, Doctrine, Truth and Pluralism, the unit will examine issues such as: “Doctrine divides experience unites.” | “All claims to truth are arrogant.” | “Pluralism is essential for a multi-faith society”. What kinds of truth claims can, or…
Friday, 4 Mar 2016
Pilgrim Theological College is calling for Expressions of Interest from currently enrolled Pilgrim students to join Co-ordinator of Studies – Missiology, Rev Dr John Flett, at the 2016 Karl Barth Conference to be held at Princeton Theological Seminary in New Jersey, USA, from 19-22 June, 2016. As part of Pilgrim Theological College’s wider commitment to post-graduate theological education, an opportunity has arisen for one student to accompany John as he delivers a keynote address at the conference.     Inclusions Return economy flights from Melbourne to New York Accommodation at Princeton from 19-22 June, 2016 Conference fees (NB all of these inclusions are…
Wednesday, 2 Mar 2016
Pilgrim Lunchtime Seminar Series Pilgrim Theological College’s Lunchtime Seminar Series returns on 7 April with Assoc Prof Robert Cousland (University of British Columbia) presenting: “The Infancy Gospel of Thomas.” Semester One’s seminars carry the overall theme Text from the Margins. PROGRAM Thursday 7 April: Assoc Prof Robert Cousland (University of British Columbia):  “The Infancy Gospel of Thomas” It is recommended that attendees complete some pre-lecture reading, which is available here. Thursday 14 April: Assoc Prof Sean Winter (Pilgrim Theological College): “The Schleitheim Confession” Recommended pre-lecture reading. Thursday 21 April: Rev Dr John Flett (Pilgrim Theological College): “Method in Mission Studies: Comparing World Christianity and…
Thursday, 4 Feb 2016
Last month I was teaching at Nanjing Union Theological Seminary – the national seminary of the Chinese Protestant Church. This stint of teaching was part of the unfolding relationship between the Uniting Church and the China Christian Council (CCC). Below are a few observations, reflections, learnings etc., prompted by the experience. Facts and Figures: Nanjing Seminary The CCC oversees 17 seminaries throughout the nation: 16 of them regional, and the one national seminary in Nanjing. The Nanjing seminary is the only one which teaches for postgraduate degrees – although only to Masters level. There are 400 students at the Nanjing…
What is ‘missiology’ and what are some of the current issues being debated in the discipline? I suspect that there will be as many answers to this question as people answering it. For me, missiology is foremost the study of who God is and so the nature of the Christian community called by this God. As God’s movement to us in Jesus Christ is not secondary to who God is in Godself, expressing instead God’s own perfection, so the Christian community finds its identity in moving beyond itself, not as something secondary to it, but in its calling in the…
Research and writing is often solitary work, so occasions when academics share perspectives and unfold new connections are especially valuable. In November 2014 a group of researchers who have been exploring the records of the Benedictine mission to the Yued people at New Norcia in Western Australia met to explore the various Ways of Telling the mission story. The symposium marked 200 years since the birth of New Norcia’s founder, Rosendo Salvado, and was designed to encourage conversation not only between researchers from different disciplines, but also to hear from the members of the wider community, including contemporary key stakeholders…