Trinity College Theological School, Melbourne

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Trinity College Theological School (TCTS) is part of Trinity College,[1] the oldest college of the University of Melbourne. The school was founded in 1878 by Bishop James Moorhouse for the purpose of training a 'learned and dedicated clergy'.[2] This founding vision has been the core of the school's contribution to the church and its focus has now broadened to forms of theological education and formation including lay persons as well as ordination candidates.

TCTS is committed to shaping men and women in ordained and lay ministry in the Anglican tradition. It represents a Catholic breadth in theology, worship and spirituality and seeks to embody the Anglican way in a critical, reflective and articulate style in dialogue with the contemporary world[citation needed].

The school community today consists of nine full-time and part-time staff and over 40 students who take part in the Ministry Formation Program, many of whom are preparing for ordination. More than 60 students participate in the Theology Online program which reaches all over Australia and internationally. In addition there are over 30 parish groups in regional and metropolitan Australia using the Trinity Certificate in Theology and Ministry.

In 1969 TCTS was a foundation member of the ecumenical United Faculty of Theology (UFT). This partnership with the Jesuit Theological College and the Uniting Church Theological Hall offers Trinity students an ecumenical context for learning. The UFT has a combined strength of some 25 staff and 380 students. Its three colleges (located in Parkville, adjacent to the University of Melbourne) are served by the Dalton-McCaughey Library, with one of the finest theological collections in the southern hemisphere. The UFT is a recognised teaching institution of the Melbourne College of Divinity.

TCTS staff and students have access to all the facilities of Trinity College, including the chapel, dining hall, tutorial rooms, library and grounds.

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[edit] Dean

Leadership of theological education at Trinity was originally the responsibility of the college chaplains under the supervision of the warden. The faculty were largely drawn from learned clergy volunteers. Since the 1970s there have been lecturers specifically appointed to teach in and lead the school, holding the title of director and more recently of dean.

The current Dean of the TCTS (2007) is the Revd Dr Timothy Gaden. In an interview with The Melbourne Anglican, Dr Gaden responded to a question concerning the Anglo-Catholic tradition of Trinity College:

"The tricky thing is that there are at least three different ways people think of being Anglo-Catholic! Catholicity is about inclusiveness and wholeness, and it’s about developing a way of doing theology according to the whole, so that everyone gets to have a voice. The challenge which faces all Anglicans is about whether to collapse into one side of the other of that divide. That polarisation inevitably leads to a kind of impoverishment. The challenge for the theological school is to be a place where a whole variety of different voices are heard and feel they have a place, and where no one position or tradition dominates. If my deanship meant I could keep Trinity a place where there are many voices, I’d feel that I’d done a good job."[3]

[edit] Academic staff (faculty)

At present TCTS has six academic staff formally appointed to named lectureships in addition to adjunct teachers, tutors and administrators.

Tim Gaden (PhD, Monash) is Dean and Stewart Lecturer and teaches in New Testament, ethics and on Anglicanism.

Dorothy Lee (PhD, Sydney) is Woods Distinguished Lecturer and teaches in New Testament.

Ross Fishburn (MTheol, MelbCollDiv) is Maynard Lecturer and Director of Studies and teaches in systematic theology.

Ruwan Palapathwala (PhD, Victoria Univ of Wellington) is Carter Lecturer and teaches in pastoral theology and world religions.

David O'Brien (DPhil, Oxon) is McMullin Lecturer and Registrar and teaches patristics.

Andrew McGowan (PhD, Notre Dame) is Munro Lecturer and Warden of Trinity College and teaches in early church history and liturgy.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Trinity College - The University of Melbourne
  2. ^ James Grant, Perspective of a Century (Melbourne: Trinity College, 1973)
  3. ^ Jane Still (2007-10-08). Unlocking theology in a new generation. The Melbourne Anglican.