Stirling Theological College is a former Australian
Christian
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
theological
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 ...
college
A college (Latin: ''collegium'') is an educational institution or a constituent part of one. A college may be a degree-awarding tertiary educational institution, a part of a collegiate or federal university, an institution offering ...
located in
Mulgrave, a south eastern suburb of
Melbourne
Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
,
Victoria
Victoria most commonly refers to:
* Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia
* Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada
* Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory
* Victoria, Seychelle ...
.
History
The college was established in 1907 in
Carlton
Carlton may refer to:
People
* Carlton (name), a list of those with the given name or surname
* Carlton (singer), English soul singer Carlton McCarthy
* Carlton, a pen name used by Joseph Caldwell (1773–1835), American educator, Presbyterian ...
,
Victoria
Victoria most commonly refers to:
* Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia
* Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada
* Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory
* Victoria, Seychelle ...
, by H. G. Harward as the College of the Bible. By 1912, there were "44 students in residence, including two women students".
''The Argus''
13 April 1912. From 1910 to 1988 it was located in Glen Iris Glen Iris may refer to:
*Glen Iris, Victoria, Australia
*Glen Iris, Western Australia
A glen is a valley, typically one that is long and bounded by gently sloped concave sides, unlike a ravine, which is deep and bounded by steep slopes. Whit ...
. It changed its name to Churches of Christ Theological College in 1989 when it moved to its current location at 44-60 Jacksons Road, Mulgrave and in September 2011 changed its name to Stirling Theological College. Stirling Theological College was named in honour of former graduate and vice-principal, Gordon R. Stirling. Stirling 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 for an estimated $25,000,000AUD. In November 2022 the college announced that it was leaving the University of Divinity on December 31st 2022 and seeking to become a Registered Teaching Institute of Sydney College of Divinity
The Sydney College of Divinity (SCD) is a consortium of Christian theological educational institutions and Bible colleges based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The college is structured as a federation of member institutions, each of which ...
and was also in merger discussions with the Australian College of Ministries
The Australian College of Ministries (ACOM) is an interdenominational Evangelical theological institute (75% owned by Churches of Christ in NSW/ACT and 25% owned by the Christian and Missionary Alliance) based in Rhodes, New South Wales, Sydney, ...
(ACOM). The college has not gained accreditation with any higher education institution in 2023 and is closed as an accredited higher education institution, referring students to ACOM.
Notable alumni
* Ernest Aderman
Rev. Ernest Philip Aderman (né Adermann; 22 May 1894 – 27 February 1968) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.
Biography Early life and family
Aderman was born in Queensland, Australia, in 1894. He was one of eight children b ...
OBE (1894–1968) - Member of Parliament in New Zealand
* Kate Gilmore, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights of the United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and international security, security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be ...
* Andrew Hughes - missionary, minister, politician, actor
* Terry Lane
Terry Lane (born 1939) is a retired Australian radio broadcaster and newspaper columnist based in Melbourne.
Lane was born at Williamstown in South Australia and was educated at Gawler High School. After studying for the ministry at the Chu ...
- noted atheist, radio broadcaster and newspaper columnist
* Gordon Moyes
Gordon Keith Mackenzie Moyes AC (17 November 1938 – 5 April 2015) was an Australian Christian evangelist, broadcaster and politician. From 2002 to 2011, he was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council, initially representing the Ch ...
AC - Head of Wesley Mission in Sydney and Member of Parliament in New South Wales
Principals
Three presidents of the council 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 ...
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
References
External links
Official website
{{authority control
Seminaries and theological colleges in Australia
Education in Melbourne
Educational institutions established in 1907
1907 establishments in Australia
Buildings and structures in the City of Monash