Perth College of Divinity Inc

The Murdoch University Worship Centre

President: Archbishop Peter Carnley

Registrar: Anne Watson

 
Participating institutions
  • The John Wollaston Theological College (Anglican)
  • The Perth Theological Hall of the Uniting Church in Australia
  • The College of Theology of the University of Notre Dame, Australia
Objects
  • to act in consultation with the participating institutions to award or arrange the award of such degrees and/or diplomas in theology and related disciplines as may from time to time be agreed on by the College
  • to arrange or record such cooperation between the participating institutions, such as joint teaching operations, as may from time to time be agreed upon
  • to facilitate research in theology and related disciplines

PCD Constitution 2

A brief history

The Perth College of Divinity Inc. (PCD) came into being in 1985 as result of an initiative taken in 1984 by the Western Australian chapter of the Australia and New Zealand Association of Theological Schools.  It brought together the Anglican Institute of Theology, the Baptist Theological College of Western Australia, the Catholic Institute for Adult and Tertiary Education and the Perth Theological Hall of the Uniting Church in Australia. During 1984-1985 the PCD opened negotiations with Murdoch University with a view establishing the teaching of Theology as an offering of the University. In 1986 the University commenced offering degrees in Theology on the basis of an Affiliation Agreement with the PCD: the University Academic Council approved courses, units and lecturers, and managed the Theology Programme through the Board of Theological Studies, which included representatives from the PCD. Theology staff continued to be employed solely by the PCD institutions and taught full time in the Murdoch Programme. As a result of an initiative of the University this changed. The University has sought and obtained normal funding for Theology places within its overall student load. The result is that from 1994 the University has jointly funded the Programme with the PCD. Staff teaching in Theology now have fractional contracts with both the University and the PCD institution on a 40:60% split (one at 49:51) and continue to teach full time in the Programme. The PCD contribution ensures that Theology remains able to offer the full range of units which are considered integral to the discipline. In 1994 the Theology Programme was fully integrated into the then School of Social Sciences and is now part of the School of Social Sciences and Humanities. 

Staff of the participating institutions

The Anglican Institute of Theology and Religious Education Dr John Dunnill  - New Testament
Dr Rowan Strong - Church History
Dr James Trotter - Old Testament
The Perth Theological Hall of the Uniting Church in Australia Dr Nancy Ault - Practical Theology
Dr Suzanne Boorer - Old Testament
Professor Bill Loader (Principal) - New Testament
Vacant - Systematic Theology
The College of Theology of the University of Notre Dame, Australia NDA now offers its own degree programmes so that cooperation is on an inter-university basis

The ecumenical nature of the programme is reflected not only in the three institutions which are contributing but also in the range of affiliations among full time staff:
Anglican, Catholic, Churches of Christ, Uniting Church in Australia.

The Perth College of Divinity also offers certificate and diploma courses through the John Wollaston Theological College.

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