Brisbane School of Theology
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Motto | Shaped by His word; serving His world |
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Type | Bible College |
Established | 1943 |
Chairperson | Mr Terry Leister |
Principal | Rev Dr Richard Gibson |
Location | Toowong, Queensland |
Website | www.bst.qld.edu.au |
Brisbane School of Theology is a Bible college in Toowong, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
BST is a Bible-centred, interdenominational and formational training college. It welcomes residential, non-residential, full-time and part-time students. The college operates on the Toowong Campus, and is situated in the foothills of Mount Coot-tha, close to the Brisbane CBD.
The college is an affiliated college of the Australian College of Theology (ACT). It offers degrees and diplomas accredited by the Australian College of Theology. It is also linked with other significant educational bodies in the interest of maintaining high academic standards.
The curriculum is designed to achieve the outcomes described in the College’s Graduate Attributes. It provides a holistic and integrated program of theological education, encompassing the development of the heart (i.e. formation of Christian character for ministry), the head (i.e. acquiring knowledge for ministry), and the hand (i.e. gaining practical skills for ministry). The college’s program especially emphasises biblical studies and mission. Other important components of the curriculum are spiritual formation and field education.
History[]
BST has a history that dates back to 1943. The college was known previously by other names that include Crossway College, Bible College of Queensland (BCQ), and Queensland Bible Institute (QBI).
The Toowong campus was established by the QBI Council in 1947 at Silky Oaks, an historic property situated at Cross Street, Toowong.[1] The home was built by Mr J. S. Thomas and owned for many years by Sir Alfred Cowley (cane farmer, industrialist and parliamentarian), who sold it to L.K. Addison in 1940.
The property became the Silky Oaks Children's Haven in 1940 before they relocated this facility to Manly.[2] The QBI Council rented the property from Mr Addison. The college was able to accommodate 30-40 students at the new site.[3]
Current faculty[]
Faculty at the college include:[4]
- Rev Dr R. Gibson, Principal and CEO, Lecturer in Church History and Greek
- J. Coulson, Deputy Principal and Academic Dean, Lecturer in Bible
- Rev Dr. A. Prince, Lecturer in Ministry and Mission
- Rev Dr B. Pass, Director of Postgraduate Studies, Lecturer in Church History and Theology
- K. Nivala, Lecturer in New Testament Greek
- Dr W. Wang, Director Chinese Program, Lecturer in Christian Thought (Chinese program)
- Dr V. Soesilo, Lecturer in Practice and Ministry(Chinese program)
- Rev Dr M. Tan, Sessional Lecturer (Chinese program)
Principals[]
College principals include:[3]
- Rev Dr Gwilym J. Morgans (1943-1944)
- Rev J. Egerton Jacob (1944-1948)
- Rev Eric E. Potter (1948-1949, 1950-1956)
- Rev John H. Watson (1949)
- Rev C. Harold Nicholls (1957-1969)
- Rev Geoffrey J. Paxton (1971-1976)
- Rev Keith V. Warren (1976-1977)
- Dr Ken J. Newton (1977-2002)
- Dr Peter Ralphs (2002-2008)
- Dr J. Ferreira (2009-2013)
- Rev Dr Richard Gibson (2014-current)[4]
Distinguished Graduates Honour Roll[]
The graduates recognised by the college Board for their significant Christian service include:
- Harry Kleinschmidt, in recognition of more than 30 years serving amongst Aboriginal communities in Australia
- Betty Black, in recognition of 20 years as a missionary in Africa including the translation of the New Testament in the Nuba, Moro language
- Graham Staines, in recognition of more than 30 years as a missionary to India. He and his two sons were killed in 1999 by Hindu extremists.
- Joan Eley, in recognition of more than 40 years as a missionary to Venezuela
- Frank and Robyn Hawkes, in recognition of their 25 years of missionary service in Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Australia
- Robert Harvey, in recognition of more than 40 years missionary service to Brazil
- Rev Brian Willerdorf, in recognition of more than 30 years of service in youth ministry and evangelism
- Noel Newton, in recognition of 30 years in pastoral ministry
- Gwyneth Thorne, in recognition of more than 30 years in church ministry
- Graham Chalker, in recognition of 17 years missionary service to the Ivory Coast
References[]
- ^ Cowley, Don C. (2005). The Griffith and Cowley families in Toowong In Chamberlain, Leigh. Toowong: snapshots in time. Toowong, Queensland: Toowong and District Historical Society Inc. pp. 17–23. ISBN 0975798006.
- ^ "Our History". Silky Oaks Children’s Haven. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Parker, D 1981, The Story of the Queensland Bible Institute, Top of the Mount, Queensland Bible Institute, Brisbane.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Our staff - Brisbane School of Theology". Archived from the original on 22 May 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
External links[]
- Education in Queensland
- Bible colleges
- Australian College of Theology
- Educational institutions established in 1943
- 1943 establishments in Australia