Laidlaw College

Laidlaw College, formerly known as Bible College of New Zealand (BCNZ), is an evangelical theological college in New Zealand. The college offers tertiary courses in biblical, theological, historical and pastoral studies. It also offers teaching and counseling degrees. Some students go on to serve as pastors and missionaries, both full-time and part-time.

History

The college began in 1922 as the Bible Training Institute (BTI) under the leadership of Rev. Joseph Kemp, a Baptist preacher and pastor of the Auckland Baptist Tabernacle. In 1972 the Institute was renamed the Bible College of New Zealand. It has since grown to become one of the largest tertiary theological institutions in the South Pacific.^[1]

In June 2008, BCNZ announced it had acquired MASTERS Institute, a school of education for training primary school teachers. In August 2008, the enlarged college was renamed Laidlaw College in honour of Robert Laidlaw.^[2]

Along with the transition to a new name in August 2008, College programmes underwent a process of simplification and strengthening. All degree students at Laidlaw now study a core set of courses designed to ground students in the biblical story and bring them into "thoughtful dialogue with different perspectives" to prepare for "effective engagement with society."^[3] These courses are:

• Biblical Theology – learning the big story
• Ways of Knowing – laying down the core skills of thinking well
• Formation – building a faith of the heart and of the mind
• Worldview and Ways of Life – beginning to grapple with the big ideas

See also

• Christianity in New Zealand
• Education in New Zealand

References

External links

• Laidlaw College

Coordinates: 36°51′34″S 174°38′06″E / 36.85944°S 174.63500°E / -36.85944; 174.63500 (Laidlaw College Auckland Campus)