Pilgrim Theological College is an Australian theological college and a member college of the

University of Divinity The University of Divinity is an Australian collegiate university of specialisation in divinity. It is constituted by eleven theological colleges from eight denominations. The University of Divinity is the direct successor of the second oldest ...

. It is part of the

Uniting Church in Australia The Uniting Church in Australia (UCA) was founded on 22 June 1977, when most congregations of the Methodist Church of Australasia, about two-thirds of the Presbyterian Church of Australia and almost all the churches of the Congregational Union ...

Synod of Victoria and Tasmania The Synod of Victoria and Tasmania is the entity of the Uniting Church in Australia covering the states of Victoria and Tasmania. It is one of six geographically-based synods A synod () is a council of a Christian denomination, usually convene ...

's Centre for Theology & Ministry.

Overview and history

Pilgrim Theological College reflects the multi-denominational background of the Uniting Church and is a provider of ecumenical theological studies, offering undergraduate, post-graduate and audit courses that are focused on

theology Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the ...

ministry Ministry may refer to: Government * Ministry (collective executive), the complete body of government ministers under the leadership of a prime minister * Ministry (government department), a department of a government Religion * Christian ...

pastoral care Pastoral care is an ancient model of emotional, social and spiritual support that can be found in all cultures and traditions. The term is considered inclusive of distinctly non-religious forms of support, as well as support for people from rel ...

, philosophy and research methodology. Additionally, the college focuses on preparing students seeking ordained ministry in the Uniting Church or another denomination as a lay preacher or pastor and providing higher education and continuing professional development for ordained ministers. Field education has been a focus of the college's formation program. Pilgrim Theological College was opened in 2015. It was previously known as the Uniting Church Theological College, which formed part of the

United Faculty of Theology The United Faculty of Theology (UFT) was a recognised teaching institution of the University of Divinity in Melbourne, Australia. It was founded in 1969 as an informal association of theological colleges and ceased operating in December 2014. The U ...

- a co-operative venture of the Anglican, Jesuit and Uniting theological colleges that closed in 2014. Until its closure, the Uniting Church Theological College was a member school of the Melbourne College of Divinity which had been in operation since 1910, becoming the

in 2011. The change to university status followed the decision by the Melbourne College of Divinity to apply to the Victorian Regulation and Qualifications Authority to operate as an "Australian University of Specialisation". In 2012 the college began operating as a university. Uniting Church Theological College alumni are considered alumni of Pilgrim Theological College.

Location

Pilgrim Theological College operates from the Centre for Theology & Ministry building in the grounds of

Ormond College Ormond College is the largest of the residential colleges of the University of Melbourne located in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is home to around 350 undergraduates, 90 graduates and 35 professorial and academic residents. Hi ...

in Parkville, Melbourne. The building was designed by

Williams Boag Architects Williams Boag, now known under the name WILLIAMS BOAG architects (WBa), is a Melbourne-based architectural practice that describes itself as a socially responsible design practice with a focus on modernist principles. Aesthetically Williams Bo ...

and won the

Australian Institute of Architects (United we advance architecture) , predecessor = , merged = , successor = , formation = , extinction = , status = Professional body; members association , headquarters = L1/41 Exhibition St, Melbourne , leader_title = CEO , leader_ ...

Award for Heritage Architecture (Vic) in 2008. The building also houses the Dalton McCaughey Library - home to the combined collections of the Jesuit Theological College and Ormond Theological Hall as well as additional material from Queen's College and the theological hall of the Victorian Congregational Church following the inception of the Uniting Church in Australia in 1977.

References

External links

Official websiteCentre for Theology & Ministry website
{{authority control Seminaries and theological colleges in Australia Education in Melbourne Uniting Church in Australia Universities and colleges established in 2015 2015 establishments in Australia University of Divinity Buildings and structures in the City of Melbourne (LGA)