Theological Colleges

Have you heard these questions about theological colleges, or even asked them yourself?

• ‘Why consider formal theological training?

• ‘Isn't on the job training more valuable, especially if the pastor you work with is a good teacher?'

• ‘Isn't full-time theological training an unnecessary luxury?'

• ‘Haven't people lost their zeal and vision through becoming too academic?'

• ‘Don't theological colleges ‘kill the church'?'

David Peterson, principal of Oak Hill College in London, outlines the answers to these questions in his chapter in the 9:38 book, ‘Workers for the Harvest Field', entitled, ‘Training for ministry'.

After deciding to go to college, the big question is which one to go to?

What to look for in a training institution?

Here's an extract from the same chapter with some helpful pointers.

A colleague of mine has rightly argued that effective training for gospel ministry can be summed up in three words: knowledge, skills, and personal formation.

You need to have the necessary knowledge and skills to apply the Bible, entailing exegesis (how to understand texts), hermeneutics (how to interpret those texts), and the appropriate skills for delivering the Bible's message to your particular context. You need to understand how the church, guided by the Holy Spirit, has wrestled with these issues through history. You need a sensitive and robust systematic theology, so that you can make sense of the all the biblical data. You need to be able to understand people and the contexts in which they live, so that you can minister to them more effectively. And, above all, you need to be fashioned as a man or woman into one who is godly and prayerful, whose gifts are not exercised except with a servant heart.

Find out what knowledge and skills are being offered by the institution you are investigating, and ask how they propose to help you in your personal formation for Christian ministry. Look at the faculty profiles and discover their areas of expertise and experience. Check out the resources of the institution, especially the library, accommodation and study facilities. What opportunities do they give for practical on-the-job learning? But, above all, pay careful attention to the contents and structure of the course, its compulsory and optional elements, and how the various strands integrate and hold together.

The rest of this section of the chapter develops and expands many of the sections above.

Recommended Theological Colleges

It would be worthwhile chatting through various options with your church leaders to see what they suggest for you.

There are many good theological colleges across the UK including:

Wales Evangelical School of Theology

www.west.org.uk
admin@west.org.uk
WEST, Bryntirion House, Bridgend, CF31 4DX
01656 645411

Highland Theological College

www.htc.uhi.ac.uk
htc@uhi.ac.uk
Highland Theological College, High Street, Dingwall, IV15 9HA, Scotland
01349 780 000

Oak Hill College

www.oakhill.ac.uk
clareo@oakhill.ac.uk
Oak Hill College, Chase Side, Southgate, London, N14 4PS
020 8449 0467

Wycliffe Hall

www.wycliffe.ox.ac.uk
 Wycliffe Hall, 54 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 6PW
01865 274200

There are also many excellent theological colleges overseas, which can have the benefit of lower fees. Amongst others, we would recommend:

George Whitefield College

www.gwc.ac.za
info@gwc.ac.za
Physical: 34 Beach Road, Muizenberg, Cape Town, South Africa, 7945
Postal: PO Box 64, Muizenberg, 7950, South Africa

Moore College

www.moore.edu.au
info@moore.edu.au
Moore Theological College, 1 King Street, Newtown NSW 2042, AUSTRALIA
0061 29577 9999