Moore Theological College
Since 1856, , otherwise simply known as Moore College, has been providing in-depth theological training in order to prepare men and women for Christian ministry and mission. It is based in Newtown, Sydney. Moore College’s vision is evangelical and international, training gospel workers in multiple denominations and various locations.
The College’s role is expanding. There are enormous opportunities for outreach, church planting and fresh theological course development in new and emerging nations. Students come to study from a wide range of church and cultural contexts, for enrolment in diploma, graduate and postgraduate courses. In turn, graduates serve in over 100 locations, throughout Australia, South-East Asia, China, Africa, Europe and South America.
The College is a Christian community where men and women learn to love the Lord Jesus, teach the Word of God, and carry the gospel of salvation to the ends of the earth. To this end, it is:
Biblical – the Bible is at the centre of everything it does. College students are trained to read the text in depth, understand it in light of the unfolding message of Scripture as a whole, and learn to teach what it teaches.
Theological – College trains students to think theologically. This means understanding how everything connects to God and his great plan so that our graduates can apply biblical truth to any current and future situation.
Reformed-evangelical – the Bible’s good news is that salvation comes through Christ alone, grounded in grace alone, leading to justification by faith alone, on the authority of Scripture alone, all to the glory of God alone. Everything the College does is characterised by this gospel.
Missional – the global mission of the Lord Jesus Christ drives everything the College does. It prepares men and women to faithfully proclaim the gospel of salvation and new life in Christ throughout the world.
Communal – the College is committed to ministry education and character formation based on learning in community. Formal learning is just the beginning: students are shaped as Christian disciples, as they learn and grow together in community.
History
Moore College opened at Liverpool, NSW in 1856. It owed its existence to several people. One was an early settler in Sydney, Thomas Moore, who left his estate for educational purposes. Another was the Anglican Bishop of Sydney, Frederic Barker.During its long history, the College has had thirteen Principals and over four thousand graduates.
The College moved from Liverpool to Newtown in 1891 in order to be near the University of Sydney.
Since the late 1950s the College has seen a significant extension of the college campus, the growth of a major theological library, an increase in the numbers and qualifications of the faculty, and the introduction of the four year course.
Purchases of property on the southern side of Carillon Avenue have made it possible over the years to expand the Library, Administration and Dining Room facilities and to provide housing for married students and faculty. 1994 saw the opening of the Broughton Knox Teaching Centre. Further development and expansion of the College campus is planned from late 2014.
The College has rendered its chief service to the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, the majority of whose clergy train at the College. However, the College has also been instrumental in educating many men and women who have served in other parts of Australia and beyond and in other Protestant denominations.
The College has a vital interest in the training of women for gospel ministry. For much of its history there was a close partnership between Moore College and Deaconness House. In 2008 the College took full responsibility for the training and pastoral care of the women who study alongside men in each of the College’s programs of study. Since then the Dean of Women and the Director of the Priscilla and Aquila Centre have led this critical part of the College’s work. The support of Anglican Deaconness Ministries in all of this has been indispensable.
The Reverend was appointed the College’s 13th principal on November 30th 2012. He was installed by the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Peter F Jensen, on June 6th 2013.
Departments
Moore College teaches subjects in three key areas: Biblical studies, Christian thought and Christian ministry.Annual events
In 1977 the College began to host an annual lecture series, the Annual Moore College Lectures which have been a showcase of contemporary biblical and theological scholarship. Among the Annual Moore College Lecturers, there have been many world-wide guest speakers, such as J.I. Packer, F.F. Bruce, D.A. Carson, Kenneth Kantzer, Henri Blocher, M.J. Ovey, Ashley Null, Gerald Bray, Kevin Van Hoozer, James Hely Hutchinson and Carl Trueman.Also in the late 1970s, a school of theology began to be held which enabled faculty and graduates to explore subjects of interest and important in the wider Christian community. Subjects treated have included the church, the Spirit, the ethics of life and death, biblical theology, justification, emotions in the Christian life, a celebration of the John Calvin Quincentenary, various books of the Bible and the doctrine of declaration.
Accreditation and courses
Moore College courses are designed to equip you to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. All courses keep the Bible at the centre and are designed to help students apply this biblical truth to any current and future situation.While Moore offers a suite of courses that allow for flexibility off campus, the central awards are committed to ministry education and character formation that is based on learning in community.
The College offers the following accredited courses: , , , , , , .
Moore College Distance
The Moore College Distance course is known as the . It grew out of training for lay preachers for the Anglican Diocese of Sydney.In 1941 Archdeacon T.C. Hammond started lecturing a small group of lay preachers at Newtown. Twenty four people sat for the first exam. From this small beginning, the demand for solid Bible teaching grew. The original PTC notes were a copy of T.C. Hammond’s lecture notes that were sent to those who had missed a lecture. From these humble beginnings the PTC began. The PTC is now online and Moore College has PTC students in many countries.
The PTC has been designed to provide an affordable way for commencing theological studies. It aims to give students a solid introduction to the biblical, theological and historical foundations of the Christian faith. The first two units, Introduction to the Bible and Promise to Fulfilment provide the framework for the whole course, that of the unfolding revelation of God in the Old and New Testaments and God’s work in this world focused on the Lord Jesus Christ.
The PTC units are arranged into three levels. There are six units in each level and students receive a certificate after the successful completion of each level.
Although it is recommended to start with Introduction to the Bible and Promise to Fulfilment, students are free to enrol in any PTC unit at any time. There is no requirement to complete all the PTC units in level 1 before attempting a level 2 or 3 PTC unit.
Students can enrol and/or subscribe to study. Either or both options can be chosen.
- PTC Enrolment – for those wanting to formally study, take exams to consolidate their learning and work towards a certificate.
- PTC Subscription – for those wanting extended access to unit material or who do not want to take exams. This option would especially suit Group Leaders and former students.
- Those who have enroled will be given access to the which contains the online PTC course materials, including online PTC notes, quizzes and feedback.
The is responsible for taking the PTC materials, translating them into other languages and applying them to various contexts. The Centre’s role is to support the training of gospel workers world-wide by building a bridge between the academic heart of Moore College and the world.
Notable alumni
- Greg Anderson, Bishop of the Northern Territory
- Paul Barnett, former Bishop of North Sydney, New Testament scholar, ancient historian
- Peter Brain, former Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Armidale
- John Chapman, evangelist
- Glenn Davies, Anglican Archbishop of Sydney
- Peter Jensen, former Anglican Archbishop of Sydney
- Phillip Jensen, former Dean of St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney, founder of .
- Bernard Judd, Member of the Order of the British Empire and Order of Australia.
- Ivan Lee former Bishop of Western Sydney
- Marcus Loane, Anglican Archbishop of Sydney from 1966–1982 and Primate of Australia from 1978–1982. He was the first Australian-born Archbishop of Sydney and also the first Australian-born archbishop within the Anglican Church of Australia.
- Peter O'Brien, author, New Testament scholar, former head of New Testament at Moore
- David G. Peterson, former principal of Oak Hill Theological College, London, author and New Testament scholar
- Michael Raiter, former principal of Melbourne School of Theology
- Stuart Robinson, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn
- Al Stewart, former Anglican Bishop of Wollongong
- Barry Webb, Old Testament scholar, author, former head of Old Testament at Moore
- Michael Youssef, founding pastor of Church of the Apostles in Atlanta, Georgia. Founder of Leading the Way television and radio ministry
Principals
- William Hodgson
- Robert Lethbridge King
- Arthur Lukyn Williams
- Thomas Ernest Hill
- Bernard Schleicher
- Nathaniel Jones
- David John Davies
- Thomas Chatterton Hammond
- Marcus Laurence Loane
- David Broughton Knox
- Peter Frederick Jensen
- John William Woodhouse
- Mark Donald Thompson