Melbourne College of Divinity
Encyclopedia
The Melbourne College of Divinity (MCD) is a theological education organisation located in Melbourne
, Victoria, Australia
.
The MCD is an ecumenical consortium of a number of theological colleges from a number of denominations. Its offices are located in Kew, Victoria
and is affiliated with the University of Melbourne
.
The college was constituted by a 1910 Act of the Parliament of Victoria
. The act was amended in 1956, 1972 and 1990.
The college is one of three in Australia that are self-accrediting issuers of degrees, while not also being a university. In 2010 the MCD applied to the Victorian Regulation and Qualifications Authority for "Specialist University Status". The Victorian government announced on 30 August 2011 that this application has been approved and that, subject to parliamentary approval, the MCD will become known as the "MCD University of Divinity".
in 1993. It retains its autonomy and degree conferring status.
The Higher Education Support Act (2003) (HESA 2003) listed the MCD as a Table B (Private, Self-regulating) Higher Education Provider, which allowed MCD students to access federally funded loans under the FEE-HELP scheme.
, St Mary's Seminary, Salesian Theological College and St Joseph of Cupertino Friary (OFM Conv
), St Dominic's Priory (Dominicans
).
Whitley College
, Parkville, Victoria
Churches of Christ Theological College
, Mulgrave, Victoria
Australian Lutheran College
, Adelaide, South Australia
United Faculty of Theology
, Parkville. Victoria. A co-operative venture of three independent theological colleges: Jesuit Theological College, Melbourne; Trinity Theological School (Anglican)
and the Uniting Church of Australia Theological College
Yarra Theological Union, Box Hill, Victoria. Comprises the religious institutes of the Blessed Sacrament Congregation, the Divine Word Missionaries
, the Discalced Carmelites
, the Franciscans (OFM), the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart
, the Pallottines
, the Passionists and the Redemptorists.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
The MCD is an ecumenical consortium of a number of theological colleges from a number of denominations. Its offices are located in Kew, Victoria
Kew, Victoria
Kew is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Boroondara. At the 2006 Census, Kew had a population of 22,516....
and is affiliated with the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
.
The college was constituted by a 1910 Act of the Parliament of Victoria
Parliament of Victoria
The Parliament of Victoria is the bicameral legislature of the Australian state of Victoria. It follows a Westminster-derived parliamentary system and consists of The Queen, represented by the Governor of Victoria; the Legislative Council ; and the Legislative Assembly...
. The act was amended in 1956, 1972 and 1990.
The college is one of three in Australia that are self-accrediting issuers of degrees, while not also being a university. In 2010 the MCD applied to the Victorian Regulation and Qualifications Authority for "Specialist University Status". The Victorian government announced on 30 August 2011 that this application has been approved and that, subject to parliamentary approval, the MCD will become known as the "MCD University of Divinity".
In 1910
- Church of EnglandAnglican Church of AustraliaThe Anglican Church of Australia is a member church of the Anglican Communion. It was previously officially known as the Church of England in Australia and Tasmania...
- BaptistBaptist Union of AustraliaThe Baptist Union of Australia is the oldest and largest national cooperative body of Baptists in Australia. Its current National President is Reverend Dr John Beasy. The BUA is now known as Australian Baptist Ministries - ABM...
- CongregationalUniting Church in AustraliaThe Uniting Church in Australia was formed on 22 June 1977 when many congregations of the Methodist Church of Australasia, the Presbyterian Church of Australia and the Congregational Union of Australia came together under the Basis of Union....
- MethodistUniting Church in AustraliaThe Uniting Church in Australia was formed on 22 June 1977 when many congregations of the Methodist Church of Australasia, the Presbyterian Church of Australia and the Congregational Union of Australia came together under the Basis of Union....
- PresbyterianUniting Church in AustraliaThe Uniting Church in Australia was formed on 22 June 1977 when many congregations of the Methodist Church of Australasia, the Presbyterian Church of Australia and the Congregational Union of Australia came together under the Basis of Union....
- Churches of ChristChurches of Christ in AustraliaThe Churches of Christ in Australia is a Christian movement in Australia. It is part of the Restoration Movement with historical influences from the United States of America and the United Kingdom....
by co-option
Present
- AnglicanAnglican Church of AustraliaThe Anglican Church of Australia is a member church of the Anglican Communion. It was previously officially known as the Church of England in Australia and Tasmania...
- BaptistBaptist Union of AustraliaThe Baptist Union of Australia is the oldest and largest national cooperative body of Baptists in Australia. Its current National President is Reverend Dr John Beasy. The BUA is now known as Australian Baptist Ministries - ABM...
- Churches of ChristChurches of Christ in AustraliaThe Churches of Christ in Australia is a Christian movement in Australia. It is part of the Restoration Movement with historical influences from the United States of America and the United Kingdom....
- Presbyterian Church of AustraliaPresbyterian Church of AustraliaThe Presbyterian Church of Australia is the largest Presbyterian denomination in Australia. .-Beginnings:...
- Roman CatholicRoman Catholic Church in AustraliaThe Catholic Church in Australia is part of the worldwide Catholic Church under the spiritual and administrative leadership of the Pope.Australia is a majority Christian but pluralistic society with no established religion. There are approximately 5.1 million Australian Catholics . Catholicism...
- Uniting Church in AustraliaUniting Church in AustraliaThe Uniting Church in Australia was formed on 22 June 1977 when many congregations of the Methodist Church of Australasia, the Presbyterian Church of Australia and the Congregational Union of Australia came together under the Basis of Union....
- The Salvation ArmySalvation ArmyThe Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
is also involved in the teaching program.
Relationship with the University of Melbourne
The MCD was affiliated with the University of MelbourneUniversity of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
in 1993. It retains its autonomy and degree conferring status.
Accreditations and affiliations
In 2001 the college was listed as a Schedule 1 Higher Education Institution by the Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training. It is now eligible to receive federal funding for research, Australian Postgraduate Research Awards and International Postgraduate Research Scholarships.The Higher Education Support Act (2003) (HESA 2003) listed the MCD as a Table B (Private, Self-regulating) Higher Education Provider, which allowed MCD students to access federally funded loans under the FEE-HELP scheme.
Recognised teaching institutions
Catholic Theological College, East Melbourne, Victoria. A federation of autonomous seminaries: Corpus Christi CollegeCorpus Christi College, Melbourne
Corpus Christi College is the regional seminary of the Roman Catholic dioceses in Victoria and Tasmania, Australia. The seminary is administered by a board of Episcopal Trustees comprising the Archbishops of Melbourne and Hobart, the Bishops of Ballarat, Sandhurst and Sale, and the Auxiliary...
, St Mary's Seminary, Salesian Theological College and St Joseph of Cupertino Friary (OFM Conv
Conventual Franciscans
The Order of Friars Minor Conventual , commonly known as the Conventual Franciscans, is a branch of the order of Catholic Friars founded by Francis of Assisi in 1209.-History:...
), St Dominic's Priory (Dominicans
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
).
Whitley College
Whitley College
Whitley College is one of the twelve residential colleges of the University of Melbourne. Unlike most colleges, Whitley College is not located on college crescent but rather is placed slightly further north at 271 Royal Parade, Victoria, Australia...
, Parkville, Victoria
Churches of Christ Theological College
Churches of Christ Theological College
Stirling Theological College is the national ministry and theological teaching college for the Conference of Churches of Christ in Australia. It was established in 1907 in Carlton, Victoria by HG Harward as the College of the Bible. Between 1910 and 1988 the college was located in Glen Iris...
, Mulgrave, Victoria
Australian Lutheran College
Australian Lutheran College
Australian Lutheran College is a higher education institution serving the Lutheran Church of Australia. It is located in North Adelaide, South Australia on the corner of Ward and Jeffcott streets...
, Adelaide, South Australia
United Faculty of Theology
United Faculty of Theology
The United Faculty of Theology is an informal association of theological colleges founded in 1969 to provide an ecumenical setting for theological education and to support research...
, Parkville. Victoria. A co-operative venture of three independent theological colleges: Jesuit Theological College, Melbourne; Trinity Theological School (Anglican)
Trinity Theological School, Melbourne
Trinity College Theological School is part of Trinity College, the oldest college of the University of Melbourne. The school was founded in 1877 by Bishop James Moorhouse for the purpose of training a "learned and dedicated clergy"...
and the Uniting Church of Australia Theological College
Yarra Theological Union, Box Hill, Victoria. Comprises the religious institutes of the Blessed Sacrament Congregation, the Divine Word Missionaries
Divine Word Missionaries
The Society of the Divine Word , popularly called the Divine Word Missionaries, and sometimes the Steyler Missionaries, is a missionary religious congregation in the Latin Church, one of the 23 sui iuris churches which make up the Catholic Church. As of 2006 it consisted of 6,102 members composed...
, the Discalced Carmelites
Discalced Carmelites
The Discalced Carmelites, or Barefoot Carmelites, is a Catholic mendicant order with roots in the eremitic tradition of the Desert Fathers and Mothers...
, the Franciscans (OFM), the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart
Missionaries of the Sacred Heart
The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart is a missionary congregation in the Latin Church,one of the 23 sui iuris churches which make up the Catholic Church led by the Bishop of Rome...
, the Pallottines
Pallottines
The Society of the Catholic Apostolate , better known as the Pallottines, are a Society of Apostolic Life within the Roman Catholic Church, founded in 1835 by the Roman priest Saint Vincent Pallotti. Pallottines are part of the Union of Catholic Apostolate and are present in 45 countries on six...
, the Passionists and the Redemptorists.
MCD and associated colleges
- Catholic Theological College
- Churches of Christ Theological College
- United Faculty of Theology
- Whitley College: the Baptist College of Victoria
- Yarra Theological Union
- Australian Lutheran College
- Pacifica