Stirling Theological College

Stirling Theological College
Former names	Churches of Christ Theological College (CCTC); The College of the Bible
Motto	Forming God's people for leadership, mission and ministry.
Type	Christian theological and counselling education
Established	1907-2022 (closed)
Accreditation	none
Religious affiliation	Churches of Christ
Faculty	0
Students	0
Location	Melbourne, Australia
Campus	Mulgrave, Victoria, Melbourne CBD, (former);
Website	stirling.edu.au

Stirling Theological College is a former Australian Christian theological college located in Mulgrave, a south eastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria.

History

The Bible College, Melbourne was established by the Churches of Christ in 1907 in Carlton, Victoria, by Henry George Harward (died 12 April 1944),^[1] with Alexander Russell Main, MA (died 13 October 1945),^[2] as lecturer.^[3] Main was previously pastor of the Brisbane Church of Christ.

In 1910 the college moved to a new building on a 5 acres (2.0 ha) property in the township of Glen Iris, re-established as the College of the Bible, a wholly owned institution of the Churches of Christ. Its initial intake was around 40 students. Two courses were offered: a three-year Bible course, from which successful students were issued with a Certificate of Proficiency, and a five-year course, entry for which required matriculation, after which successful students would be granted a Degree issued by the University of Melbourne, which body conducted various course modules.^[4] By 1912 there were "44 students in residence, including two women students".^[5]

The second principal of the college was A. R. Main. He was succeeded around 1938 by one of the lecturers, Thomas Henry Scambler (died 31 October 1944)^[6] and in 1945 by E. L. Williams, MA.

It changed its name to Churches of Christ Theological College in 1989 when it moved to 44-60 Jacksons Road, Mulgrave and in September 2011 changed its name to Stirling Theological College in honour of former graduate and vice-principal, Gordon R. Stirling, who ministered in all Australian states and in New Zealand; after retiring he became editor of The Australian Christian.

The college board sold the Mulgrave campus in 2020.^{[citation needed]} In November 2022 the college announced that it was leaving the University of Divinity on December 31, 2022.^{[citation needed]} It subsequently announced merger discussions with the Australian College of Ministries which is a Member Institute of Sydney College of Divinity.^{[citation needed]} The substantial proceeds from the sale of the Mulgrave property are administered by the Stirling Theological College Trust, details of which can be located on the ACNC website.

Notable alumni

Ernest Aderman OBE (1894–1968) - Member of Parliament in New Zealand^[7]
Andrew Hughes - missionary, minister, politician, actor^{[citation needed]}
Terry Lane - noted atheist, radio broadcaster and newspaper columnist^{[citation needed]}
Gordon Moyes AC - Head of Wesley Mission in Sydney and Member of Parliament in New South Wales^{[citation needed]}

Principals

Three presidents of the council of the University of Divinity and its predecessors, the Melbourne College of Divinity and MCD University of Divinity, came from Stirling Theological College: K. R. Bowes (1978–79), W. Tabbernee (1986-1987) and M. A. Kitchen (2004-05). A. F. Menzies served as Deputy Chancellor of the University of Divinity from 2012 to 2020.

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 - 2020: A. F. Menzies
2020 - 2022: G. J. Hill
2022 - : S. Sutton (Final Interim Principal)

References

↑ "Obituary". The Age. No. 27771. Victoria, Australia. 24 April 1944. p. 3. Retrieved 7 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
↑ "Obituary". The Age. No. 28, 230. Victoria, Australia. 15 October 1945. p. 2. Retrieved 6 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
↑ "Church of Christ Conference". The Observer (Adelaide). Vol. LXIV, no. 3, 442. South Australia. 21 September 1907. p. 46. Retrieved 7 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
↑ "College of the Bible". Darling Downs Gazette. Vol. LIII, no. 9152. Queensland, Australia. 20 January 1911. p. 5. Retrieved 6 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
↑ The Argus, 13 April 1912.
↑ "Obituary: Principal T. H. Scambler". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 30, 633. Victoria, Australia. 1 November 1944. p. 6. Retrieved 6 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
↑ 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

Official website

37°55′41″S 145°11′42″E / 37.928°S 145.195°E / -37.928; 145.195

[1] "Obituary". The Age. No. 27771. Victoria, Australia. 24 April 1944. p. 3. Retrieved 7 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.

[2] "Obituary". The Age. No. 28, 230. Victoria, Australia. 15 October 1945. p. 2. Retrieved 6 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.

[3] "Church of Christ Conference". The Observer (Adelaide). Vol. LXIV, no. 3, 442. South Australia. 21 September 1907. p. 46. Retrieved 7 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.

[4] "College of the Bible". Darling Downs Gazette. Vol. LIII, no. 9152. Queensland, Australia. 20 January 1911. p. 5. Retrieved 6 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.

[5] The Argus, 13 April 1912.

[6] "Obituary: Principal T. H. Scambler". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 30, 633. Victoria, Australia. 1 November 1944. p. 6. Retrieved 6 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.

[Gustafson-7] 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.

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