CHALLENGE AND ACHIEVEMENT: CELEBRATING 100 YEARS

A Brief Historical Sketch

of the

COLLEGE OF THE BIBLE,

known after 1989 as the

CHURCHES OF CHRIST THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE

Published by Churches of Christ Theological College 44-60 Jacksons Rd Mulgrave Melbourne 2006

 Copyright © 2006

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means; electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without permission.

Chapman, Graeme. Challenge & Achievement: Celebrating One Hundred Years A Brief Historical Sketch of the College of the Bible, known after 1989 as the Churches of Christ Theological College

ISBN No 0 9775902 0 8

Published in Australia by the Churches of Christ Theological College Melbourne 2006

 ­­Contents

Foreword...... 5

Introduction...... 7

Earlier Initiatives...... 9

Principal Harward (1907 - 1910)...... 11

Principal Main (1911 - 1938)...... 15

Principal Scambler (1939 - 1944)...... 21

Principal Williams (1944 - 1973)...... 25

Principal Bowes (1974 - 1980))...... 31

Principal Tabbernee (1981 - 1990)...... 37

Principal Elsdon (1993 - 1999)...... 47

Principal Kitchen (2000 - )...... 55

Into the Future...... 61

Enrolment Statistics ...... 63

  Foreword

am particularly grateful to those who helped with the production of this book.. CCTC placed at my disposal its historical records. Theresa Taylor, friend and office administrator at CCTC, answered endless queries, scanned photos, checked Ithrough the manuscript for omissions and errors, and, along with her husband Malcolm, accommodated me when I came to Melbourne to conduct research for the book. I am also indebted to Theresa for designing the layout and preparing the manuscript for publication. I am grateful to Arthur Titter for digging out and collating enrolment figures. Others to whom my gratitude is due are those who painstakingly worked their way through the manuscript—Dr. Merryl Blair, Dr. Keith Bowes, Dr. Stephen Curkpatrick, Dr. Greg Elsdon, Principal Merrill Kitchen, Dr. Alan Niven, Mr. Gordon Stirling, Dr. Bill Tabbernee, Mr. Graham Warne and Mr. Graeme Wigney.

Graeme Chapman

Ararat 2006

  Introduction

t was 100 years ago, on the 12 February 1907, that the College held its inaugural session. This year we celebrate the centenary of that event.

IOver the past one hundred years the College has not only been amazingly resilient, but has addressed itself to changing circumstances and challenging events, from the Depression of the 1930’s to current government regulation and facilitation. These challenges helped grow the College from a small, domestic school, designed to provide preachers for local churches, to a highly respected, ecumenical, educational institution.

Over the course of those hundred years, there has been a great broadening of the College’s offerings. The college initially offered a Diploma in Ministry, the recognition of which was confined to Churches of Christ. Through its association with the Melbourne College of Divinity, the College now offers undergraduate and post-graduate degrees, as well as double degrees with Monash University.

Furthermore, the college began as a live-in institution for mostly young, single males, who felt a call to local or overseas ministry. It has become a largely non-residential hub, not only for those responding to a call to full-time ministry within Churches of Christ, but to a broad spectrum of committed Christians from a range of denominational backgrounds, some headed for full-time ministry, and others desirous of increasing their knowledge of the faith and enhancing their capacity for service. The change in the name of the College, from College of the Bible to the Churches of Christ Theological College, reflected these changes. The name “The College of the Bible” was based on a sister institution in Lexington, USA, where the name distinguished it from other faculties, eg. The College of Medicine, in the university with which it was associated.

Throughout the course of the College’s history it has continued to serve the changing needs of the churches that brought it into existence. Its ministry to Churches of Christ has broadened in response to changes in church and society, changes reflected in the increasing number of women who have availed themselves of its offerings and served on its faculty. The fact that the current principal is a woman, which is a cause for celebration, would hardly have been anticipated, let alone theologically acceptable in 1907!

What follows is a brief sketch of major transitions in the College’s history, transitions

 that highlight the resilience, foresight and creativity of those who have guided the fortunes of the College over the years. For those interested in a more detailed history, All to the Glory of God, compiled by Ken Clinton and Keith Bowes, which brings the story up to 1981, is an excellent resource. The bulk of the earlier material in this review derives from this source. Because the history of the College since 1981 has not been written up, material from the Tabbernee years to the present is slightly more extensive than is the case with the eras covered in All to the Glory of God. An in-depth history of COB/CCTC, which has still to be written, awaits the energy of a future historian.

Many names are missing from this history. The college could not have survived and thrived without its staunch supporters—board members, donors, publicists and volunteers, of which there have been thousands over the years. Our buildings and grounds would not have been maintained, our library serviced, our kitchen kept operational, our functions held, or our presence recognized in States other than Victoria without an army of volunteers. The tasks that volunteers have attended to are too numerous to mention. It was impossible to include a complete list of volunteers in this brief sketch. This list would take up more space than the narrative. Those who have been mentioned have been included because of their length of service or because of the nature of their contribution. Because it was so difficult to draw the line, I was tempted to leave everyone out, but this would have been inappropriate. If your name does not appear in the record it is not because your contribution was not appreciated, but because a line had to be drawn somewhere. To those of you who are unnamed, accept my thanks, and that of the College for your vital contribution to the ministry of COB/ CCTC.

 Earlier­­Initiatives

he pioneers of Churches of Christ in Australia, largely laymen, recognized the need for full-time evangelists. The TAmerican, or American-trained evangelists, who arrived in Australia after 1865, tutored colonials in the basics of ministry, particularly preaching, often boarding them in their own homes.

Because of the esteem in which these Americans were held, young men wishing to train adequately for ministry began to turn their attention to American colleges that had played a part in educating their mentors. The bulk of those who went to America H.S.­­Earl­­MA to train did not return. They met and married American girls. Thus began a colonial “brain drain” that Australian churches could ill-afford. This predicament worsened as the nineteenth century drew to a close. In an attempt to arrest the exodus of young men, an attempt was made to establish a Bible College in Adelaide, but sufficient finance could not be raised despite the fact that appeals were made in Australia, America, and Britain. Some training was given, but on a part-time basis. An attempt to broaden the financial and management base of the Adelaide Bible College was aborted through lack of enthusiasm and financial support on the part of the other colonies. For its part, Victoria would have preferred the college to be located in Melbourne. O.A.­­Carr Victoria instigated several initiatives - the Victorian Biblical Training Institute, pioneered by J.K. Henshelwood, and later, The Australian College of the Bible, which developed from the work of W.C. Morro BA and J. Johnson MA. In Sydney, G.T. Walden MA set up a speakers training class, which had the support of R.C. Edwards, who offered to finance secretarial assistance to Walden. The latter, after 1902, became known as the Campbell Edwards Training Class.

While commendable, these training classes for preachers were inadequate. It was increasingly recognized that a more substantial institution, where young men could give their whole time to G.L.­­Surber

 preparing themselves for ministry, was a necessity. A more thorough investigation of the possibility of such an institution gathered pace in the new century, and resulted in 1906 in the adoption, by the Federal Conference, of a “Proposed Scheme for a College of the Bible”. This college, which had the support of all the States, was to be established in Melbourne.

G.T.­­Walden­­MA

James­­Johnston­­MA

W.C.­­Morro­­BA

10 Principal­­Harward (1907–1910)

hen the College of the Bible came into existence, in 1907, responsibility for the Wteaching was in the hands of H.G. Harward and J. Johnston. Towards the end of that first year a change was made. Johnston faded from the scene, Harward was appointed principal, and A.R. Main came on board as a lecturer. He had previously taught at the Australian College of the Bible. During the Harward era W.W. Mantell was responsible for matriculation subjects.

Henry George Harward, whose father was a stockbroker at the Bendigo Stock Exchange, and the director of several mines, was tutored in the faith at a Bible Christian Church and Sunday School. Harward’s ambition, as a youngster, was to be a temperance lecturer. In preparation for this he began reciting standard pieces. This helped him overcome a retiring disposition. H.­­G.­­Harward Harward had a variety of jobs as a youngster—delivering newspapers, coach- building, telephone exchange operator, and instrument fitter. Soon after commencing work with the Exchange in Melbourne, he came into contact with the Collingwood Church of Christ, where he was baptized in 1899 by H. Milner Black. After some years in Melbourne, Harward was transferred to Warrnambool, where he won first prize for a prepared speech at a Mutual Improvement Society, and, for six months, shouldered the preaching load at the local Church of Christ.

Sensing a call to ministry, Harward left for the USA in 1893 in company with Milner Black. Harward availed himself of preaching opportunities in Kansas, where he achieved considerable success, particularly at Newtown, which had a population of 7,000. Desirous of further educating himself for ministry, Harward resigned from the work at Newtown, and left for Eureka College in Illinois, a town of 2000, 120 miles from Chicago. While at Eureka, he won the Oratorical Championship of the state of Illinois, which delighted staff and students at the College. While at the college he

11 married Eliza (Lylia) Thompson, who had travelled from Melbourne for their wedding. They met at the Collingwood church.

While tempted by the offer of a church of 1,200 at Peoria, Illinois, Harward had set his mind on returning to Australia, where he was engaged by the Fitzroy Tabernacle. Convinced that his ministry lay in evangelism, Eureka­­College Harward moved into this area of work. He pioneered the use of Tent Missions, and was appointed the first State Evangelist for Victoria.

Those involved in the federal college initiative had hoped that the grand old man of South Australia, the American evangelist, T.J. Gore MA, would accept their invitation to be principal of the new college. He declined. The initiators of the scheme then looked to Harward and Johnston, appointing them teachers. After Johnston’s departure, Harward served as principal for three years, winning the esteem and affection of the students. He retired at the end of 1910, by which time A.R. Main, who had been concluding his studies at the University of Melbourne, was ready to take over. Harward missed being wholeheartedly immersed in evangelism during his time at the college and was keen to return to his passion, a work for which he was eminently suited.

For a personal glimpse into the character of H.G. Harward we are indebted to Gordon Stirling, who writes:

“My earliest memories of H.G. Harward are after his time as Principal when he stayed in my parents’ home at Bassendean in WA, where he was conducting a tent mission in 1921. In those days itinerant church leaders never expected four-star public accommodation, and were usually housed with the local minister’s family. H.G. Harward shared my bedroom. I was seven, and very impressed . A­­young­­H.G.­­Harward I went to the tent mission every night with my parents. Mr. Harward illustrated his addresses with a series of charts. My parents had given me a penny notebook and pencil to occupy myself during the services. I copied down the contents of all of the charts and knew them by heart.

One day I informed my parents that I intended to go forward the following night. They reported this to H.G., who was horrified. He had been preaching solidly against infant (child) baptism, and if a seven-year-old child was baptized it would give a wrong impression to the audience. He said, “Let me talk to him”. I think he had hoped that he would be able to report that I simply didn’t understand what was involved. But I had memorized his charts and answered all his questions. T.­­J.­­Gore­­MA

12 He reported to them that I knew more than some of the adults who had responded to the invitations. “But don’t let him do it please,” he said. So I was duly discouraged. Later I used to say that the first Principal of the College of the Bible postponed my eternal salvation for several years!”

Years later on my trips from the College of the Bible on vacation to Queensland I met him again during the day stopover in Sydney. The great man always had time for “just another student”.

The principal function of the college in this early period was to train men for ministry. This usually involved a matriculation year, for those without their matriculation, followed by three years of concentrated study of subjects relevant to ministry, 49­­Rathdown­­Street,­­ from Greek and Philosophy through to Preaching. The focus, however, was on a thorough study and exegesis of the Bible. Students, who demonstrated an appropriate capacity were encouraged to pursue university study. Shorter courses of study were designed for those wishing to serve on mission fields, or to prepare themselves “for usefulness in the Work of the Church for Positions other than Evangelists”. During these years those we would describe as “ministers” were called “evangelists”.

Classes initially met in the lecture hall of the Lygon Street church, which accommodated the sixteen-day students who were enrolled. The college shifted to a building in Rathdown Street, Carlton, and then moved back to the Lygon Street lecture hall, before making a final transition to a four and a half acre property at Glen Iris that had been acquired by R. Campbell Edwards, a tea merchant, who was also interested in real estate. Campbell Edwards, a committed member of Churches R.­­Campbell­­Edwards of Christ, alerted the College Board to the existence of this property. Through the generosity of Campbell Edwards, and of T.B. Verco of South Australia, the property at Glen Iris, on Gardiners Creek, some ten kilometers South-East of the city, was purchased by the Federal Conference of Churches of Christ in late 1908. It was tenanted at the time, but became available at the beginning of 1910, when the college community took up residence.

In the first year of its operation, the College saw twenty- one enrol. Subsequent new enrolments during Harward’s principalship were fifteen, six, and nine.

F.G. Dunn served as chairman of the College Board of Faculty­­1910 Management from the inception of the College until 1914. L­­to­­R:­­­­W.W.­­Mantell,­­ H.G.­­Harward,­­A.R.­­Main

13 Students­­1908

14 Principal­­Main (1911–1938)

he position of the College of the Bible from 1911 to 1938 was held by A. R, Main. TFor the Board, this consummate scholar was the obvious choice for Principal. For their part, the students made representation to the board, indicating that he was also their choice. It is interesting that, towards the close of his time at the college, Main, who ran a tight ship, theologically as well as administratively, came to be regarded by many whose university study he had encouraged as too conservative, too restrictive. This transition, from celebrated innovator to respected, but increasingly out- of-touch monument to a previous era, is so common an experience as to represent an almost universal trajectory. There is both a sadness and inevitability to it. We embody the formative influences of our youth and continue to honour and represent those influences into our senior years, by which time we find ourselves in a changed world. It is not that we are necessarily wrong, or that A.­­R.­­Main our wisdom is superseded; but we do find that time at least appears to make our ancient truth uncouth!

During most of the time he was at the college Main was also the editor of The Australian Christian, the federal journal of the Australian Churches of Christ. He enjoyed enormous influence, which he exercised with intelligence, wisdom, and balance. He moulded the thought of the Australian Churches of Christ, in a period of considerable theological transition, into a singularly uniform pattern.

Alexander Russell Main was born in Dumbartonshire, Scotland, on February 9, 1876, where his father owned a dairy. He attended a public school at Cumbernauld, and, as the result of a scholarship, A.­­B.­­Maston

15 attended night school in Glasgow. While studying, he remained on at Cumbernauld public school as pupil-teacher. The family attended the local Free Presbyterian Church. They migrated to Australia in 1892, settling in Drummond, Victoria. Alexander disliked farming, and made plans to return to Scotland, where he hoped to resume a teaching career. While at Drummond, however, he dedicated his life to Christ after a visit to the area by A.B. Maston, an American Evangelist working in Australia. Recognizing his potential, Maston persuaded him to go to Melbourne. Boarding him in his own home, Maston offered the lad employment as a compositor in the Austral Printing and Publishing Company, a publishing house associated with Churches of Christ, which had been established through Maston’s initiative.

It soon became obvious that Main was a young man of exceptional ability. His intellectual capacity and depth of spirituality was obvious in his preaching, and he began to find himself in great demand. He enjoyed sustained ministries at Hawthorn, Brisbane, and Footscray. Despite being hindered by illness, he excelled at his university studies, in his final honours year gaining first place and winning the Hastie Exhibition in Philosophy. It was reported that he was approached, Glen­­Iris­­1912 upon graduation, with the proposition that he accept the Chair of Philosophy at the University of Melbourne, where he had studied. He chose, instead, to become Principal of the small, newly-established College of the Bible.

Where Harward, with his raven hair and deep voice, was outgoing, Main was shy and diffident. Main lost two of his young children, one in 1908 and the other in 1910. It was suggested that contaminated milk could have been the culprit. This loss is likely to have exaggerated his withdrawnness.

To get a feel for the “Prof ” we will turn again to Gordon Stirling, who has the singular distinction of being personally acquainted with all of the Principals of the College of the Bible.

A.R. Main was accepted right across our churches as the authority on matters of doctrine and church life. It was said of him that all of the thinking and life of Australian Churches of Christ went through the “crucible of the mind of A.R. Main”. When local churches across Australia had conflicts on issues they would “write to Mr. Main”, and he would sort things out for them. The only ones who were not wholly for him were ardent Pre-Millennialists who were suspicious of his “A-Millennialism”. I have seen him in Conferences sitting quietly while contentious issues were being discussed at length. Gradually delegates becoming weary would begin to look to where Main was sitting. A­­young­­A.­­R.­­Main Then inevitably he would rise and with his soft Scottish

16 accent, make a statement that settled the matter so that peace could prevail. My closest association with Mr. Main of course was as a student of the College of the Bible in the early thirties. His life was very full. When any of us returned to the College late in the evening his study light would be on, and we would see it on again early in the morning.

The students held their Principal in awe. We felt sorry for any student who was taking daily devotions on the occasions when Mr. Main attended. When it was our turn we hoped he wouldn’t be there. On one occasion the genial Louis Smith was speaking on Galatians 6:15 “For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation” Mr. Main was present. Louis interpreted the verse as meaning “Neither baptism counts for anything nor infant baptism, but a new creation”. After the benediction Mr. Main hastened forward from his usual back seat and said, “Mr. Smith, I would like to see you in my study after lectures, please.”

One day when Mr. Main was not attending daily devotions the student speaker went on and on, well past the usual 8.50 a.m. He was still at it as 9 a.m. came up. So Mr. Main rang the bell as usual and opened the door and went to his place on the platform to begin his 9 a.m. New Testament lecture.

A.R. Main was an excellent lecturer. He always stood in one place behind a table on which he rested his protuberant middle alongside his Bible and his notes. He made the New Testament live as he gave students the sort of background that enabled them to be back there. He lectured for 50 minutes while students frantically wrote notes. High exam marks meant giving his material back to him as accurately as he had given it to us in class. There was no discussion in class.

But there was a human side to the shy Principal. He had placed a ban on eating in student dormitories (rooms with two or three beds with desks) for hygienic reasons. If students broke the rule there was a fine of one shilling for a charitable fund. One evening he knocked on a door, was greeted with an enthusiastic “Come in!” and walked in to very embarrassed students having toast made on a radiator. He said nothing, but took a piece of toast, buttered it and ate it. Then he collected the fines, added a shilling of his own and wished them “Goodnight!”

One night I was studying for an exam while some students who had already finished their exams were celebrating next door. So I took my books down to what was called the faculty room to study in peace and quietness. The room was very small with a desk, a couple of chairs and a cupboard. When not being used College­­Community­­early­­to­­mid­­1920’s

17 by the faculty it was used by students as a short cut from lecture rooms to the dining room, the laundry and “the slums” (three student rooms away from the rest of the student rooms). About 10 pm who should walk into the room but A.R. Main! He wanted to know what I was doing there. He accepted my explanation and sent me back to my own study.

The next morning he was supervising the exam that I was doing. As I handed in my paper he called to me to him. “Mr. Stirling,” he said, “I hope I didn’t upset you last night, but today’s exam papers were in the drawer just below where you were studying. I’m sorry!”

Towards the end of his Principalship Mr. and Mrs. Main went overseas for what is now called a “sabbatical”. They attended the World Convention of Churches of Christ and visited many of our churches in Britain and America. His Australian leadership of our churches was well known overseas, together with his scholarship and writing. So the Butler University, the most significant of the Disciples educational institutions, honoured him with a Doctor of Divinity degree. He accepted it graciously, but on his return to Australia refused to put D.D. after his MA, and he discouraged the public practice of prefixing his name with “Doctor”. He felt that he hadn’t really earned the honour “the hard way”.

When he returned from the US, Main gave the doctoral gown given to him by Butler to his daughter-in-law, Lil Main, suggesting she could make pillows for a couch from the material.

Books by A.R. Main, first serialized in theAustralian Christian, were First Principles, an influential classic, andBaptism: Our Lord’s Command, a reply to A. Madsen, a Methodist, written shortly after Main graduated from Melbourne University. It is written in a succinct, even terse style, reminiscent of a carefully crafted university essay! A further publication was Messages from the Word. Main’s major opus, however, will be found in years of editorials in the Australian Christian.

When Main was appointed Principal, C.M. Gordon took up the role of organizing secretary and lecturer. At the end of 1913 Con Gordon departed for the US and Reg Ennis took over his position as organizing secretary, continuing with this responsibility until 1924. He was housemaster at the college for a time, and lectured in practical church work. In 1925 Fred T. Saunders took over the role of organizing secretary, and continued with this responsibility until his death in 1947. H.E. Knott, who had trained in America, joined the faculty in 1914, and continued teaching at the college until 1921. He thereafter accepted the position of President of North-West Christian College in the US, but was killed in a road accident while on his way to take Faculty­­1913 up the appointment. Back:­­H­­Knott,­­R­­Enniss,­­H­­Ross,­­JS­­Taylor­­ Front:­­Miss­­Sims,­­AR­­Main,­­R­­Pittman

18 In 1915 R.T. Pittman, BA, DipEd, one of the first graduates of the college and an alumnus of the University of Melbourne, joined the faculty and remained at the college of forty nine years, retiring at the end of 1963. “Pitty” was much loved by students. During the Main era secular subjects were the responsibility, progressively, of F.H. Sampson, F.E. Thomas, Miss Sims, and J.S. Taylor BA, who carried out this responsibility for thirty-six years. Main­­Classroom­­1912

A.R. Main, in his first year as principal, formulated a Statement of Purpose, which has continued to be a reference point for subsequent reformulations. He wrote:

The chief purpose of the College of the Bible is to provide biblical instruction on liberal and scientific principles for students, and to furnish ample facilities in education Library­­1912 for the Christian ministry. It is also the purpose to encourage an impartial and unbiased investigation of the Christian Scriptures, and in the spirit of devout faith in the Divine Word, freely to lay under tribute every source of light and truth available to modern scholarship. The college seeks to train good men for great tasks, and to make them strong to meet the needs of the age in which they live. Pursuant to such Sports­­Day­­1922 ideals, the courses of study are selected, and in all departments of instruction, an evangelistic spirit is maintained in order that together the faith, and inspiration and the usefulness of the student may be cultivated.

There were significant physical developments during the Main era. In 1912, thanks again to the generosity of T.B. Verco, a two-storey building was erected north of the original homestead. On the ground floor there were ‘The­­Batch’­­Glen­­Iris­­1923 three classrooms, a library, and a small faculty room. The upstairs floor boasted eleven bedrooms. There was a bathroom and a storeroom in the basement. The original building was now reserved for a principal’s residence, accommodation for a housekeeper and domestic staff, as well as a kitchen and dining room for the students.

In 1924 a weatherboard structure, that had previously seen service as a private Roman Catholic chapel, was transported to the college and placed near an open-air gymnasium that had been set up several years previously. Women­­in­­1925 Over the years, this building served a variety of purposes

19 – a common room, a dormitory, a chapel, a hospital room and a room for a gardener, and a flat for students with families, by which time it was referred to as “The Slum”, as a consequence of having a sloping floor. This was to be distinguished from “The Slums”, rooms above the stables that were demolished to make way for the chapel. In 1914 land adjacent to the college property, and on the other side of Gardiners Creek, was purchased. In 1937 this land was sold to the Camberwell Council, following a request for land that could be used to provide sporting facilities for local youth. The­­Slum A development, more significant for the future than could have been realized at the time, was the admitting, in 1912, of women students. However, accommodation was not provided for women students until 1924, with the purchase of a hostel on the corner of Malvern Road and King Street, Glen Iris.

The college struggled during the depression years, with faculty salaries, low to begin with, being reduced, and with the suggestion being made, but not carried The­­Hostel­­Building through, that the Principal’s residence be turned into a secondary school, which would hopefully generate additional income.

Twenty-five enrolled in the College in the first year Main was Principal. During the Main era new enrolments varied from the mid-twenties to a low of six in 1937. The Depression took its toll, the most sustained decline being between 1931 and 1940.

Board Chairmen during the period of Main’s Chapel­­1937 principalship were F.G. Dunn, whose contribution was cut short in 1914 by his death, and Robert Lyall, who took over in 1914 and continued in this role till 1943.

College­­Community­­1935

20 Principal­­Scambler (1939–1944)

homas Henry Scambler was a country boy. He was born in 1879 near Newstead, Victoria, Twhere he joined the church. Sensing that God was calling him to the ministry, he shifted to Melbourne to further educate himself. After spending some time as student preacher at Ascot Vale, he was invited by the Victorian Home Missions Committee to the Echuca circuit. In 1903 he left for Perth and ministry with Western Australian churches. Recognizing he could benefit from further education, Scambler set sail for America. After graduating BA from Drake University, he returned to Western Australia to work with the church at Maylands. His next and most successful ministry was at Hawthorn, Victoria, where he remained for fourteen years. It was during this period that he secured a DipEd from Melbourne University.

In 1921 Scambler was invited to lecture at the College of the Bible. In 1929 he left Hawthorn for Box Hill, where he spent four years. This was followed by a T.H.­­Scambler five-year term at Swanston Street, Melbourne. During Main’s tour abroad in 1935, Scambler served as acting Principal, and upon Main’s retirement in 1938 was appointed Principal. Scambler served on various Committees and during the Conference year 1918–1919 was President of the Victorian Conference.

Scambler, whose interests ranged wider than those of Main, was a competent debater. His most notable encounter was with a representative of the Victorian Rationalist Association. The debate, over the question of the validity and integrity of the Christian faith, evoked widespread interest. Scambler had a ready pen. He wrote tracts and articles, a book on The Art of Sermon Construction, and Constant Stars, a religious novel. Drake­­University

21 While Main had spoken of the value of Christian unity, Scambler, acknowledging an affinity with Christians of other communions, involved himself more deeply in ecumenical discussions. He encouraged Churches of Christ to be honest about past failures, particularly the disposition to judge others harshly and the refusal to credit them with honesty. He argued that they should eschew the sort of “narrowness of vision and littleness of spirit” responsible for the persistence of division. No one group had all the truth. He argued, Greek­­with­­R.T.­­Pittman,­­1944 in 1916, that the Disciple “plea for Christian Union is a recognition as Christian of all who sincerely love and serve the Lord Jesus, whether they coincide with us in doctrine and ordinance or not.”

If A.R. Main was held in awe by students, T.H. Scambler enjoyed their respect and deep affection. Eric Hart, a student in the Scambler era, recalled Faculty­­1944 meeting a stranger on the street. As they were talking L­­to­­R:­­J.S.­­Taylor,­­T.H.­­Scambler,­­R.T.­­ Scambler walked past. The stranger commented, Pittmann,­­E.L.­­Williams “That’s Jesus Christ’s man!” Scambler was warm, friendly, humorous, but deeply hurt by unfair criticism, of which he received more than his fair share.

Scambler’s teaching style differed from that of Main. Students were encouraged to ask questions, and discuss issues. Scambler felt the need to contemporize the gospel. If Main had guided the college through the Great War, its aftermath, and the Depression years, Scambler’s principalship coincided with the prosecution of the Second World War.

Scambler died in 1944 of a heart attack on Gardiner Railway Station on his way to a service at Swanston Street. His sudden death came as a great shock to the churches and the college community.

For a personal vignette of the man we turn again to Gordon Stirling.

My experience with T.H. Scambler was as a student before he became Principal.

The general understanding of Mr. Scambler was that he was “graciousness personified”, the ideal Christian Gentleman. He presented well, dressed immaculately with moustache neatly trimmed. He was open-minded, accepting, understanding, warm and friendly.

“Scammy” was very popular among the students, probably the most popular faculty member. He was at his best when we could “draw red herrings across the trail” of his lectures, and he would open up with stories from his own experiences as a human being, as a theologian and as a minister. The students became expert in the “red herring” business. But unbeknown

22 to us he welcomed and encouraged these occasions when theory gave way to real life . I had a student ministry at St. Kilda and was horrified when the local undertaker phoned me and asked me to conduct the funeral of the mother of some of our Sunday School children. At that stage we hadn’t learned about funerals in Practical Church Work, so I went to Scammy. He spent several hours of his precious time with me exploring all of the details, especially the ministry to the grieving family both before and after the ceremony. He set me up with a copy of a funeral service and built up my confidence. This was indeed needed as it rained hard at the graveside, my notes got so wet I could hardly read them, the people were sobbing copiously and the A­­young­­T.H.­­Sacmbler undertaker was urging me to hurry in case the sides of the grave collapsed before the casket was lowered. I took Mr. Scambler’s advice and returned to the home of the family after the service, where I was warmly welcomed. While enjoying the hospitality the husband slipped quietly alongside me and whispered, “Wot’s the damages mate?” I explained that we didn’t take fees for funerals. Back at college I told Scammy the story and he listened with great interest, adding once again to my confidence.

The value of T.H. Scambler’s teaching became evident in the years of my ministries, in that in real situations I found myself recalling things that “Scammy” had said in class. Other former students have told me of similar experiences.

Randall T. Pittman and J.S. Taylor continued contributing as Chown­­Chapel faculty during the Scambler era. The new face on the faculty was that of E.L. Williams MA, another country boy, who grew up in Kaniva. Williams warmed to Scambler during his student days, and, with his inclusion in the faculty, the friendship deepened. Both were passionately committed to ecumenism.

The most significant building development during the Scambler years was the construction of the Chown Memorial Chapel in the area previously occupied by “The Slums” and other structures that had housed a washroom, laundry, and coal room. The buildings resulted from a bequest of £2000 from Edmund H. Chown. Featured in the chapel were two stained glass windows, one of Luke and the other of Paul, which helped distract students’ attention from the biting cold of winter, with no heating at all in the chapel.

The desire on the part of many to improve standards of Chown­­Chapel­­Interior

23 training for ministry led to the setting up of a commission that made several recommendations, which were not carried through. What was begun, however, was the preparation of students for the LTh (Licentiate in Theology) from the Melbourne College of Divinity. The College Board took the initiative in getting together a delegation of all theological colleges in Melbourne that presented a proposal to the Ministry for the Army that intending theological students be exempt from compulsory military service. A number availed themselves of this option. During the Scambler era the debt on the college was wiped out, in spite of the establishment of a sister college at Woolwich in New South Wales, and the consequent inability of the College of the Bible to raise money in that State.

In the year Scambler became Principal new enrolments were low. Eight applied for admission. They picked up in 1941, when seventeen were accepted. Chown­­Chapel­­ Windows During the Scambler principalship, the chairmanship of the College Board was the responsibility of R. Lyall, till 1943, and thereafter of Dr. W.A. Kemp.

24 Principal­­Williams (1944–1973)

n 1906 E. Lyall Williams was born at Sandmere, near Kaniva, Victoria. However, it was from Ballarat, where his parents had retired, that Ihe entered college. At the time Williams was in membership with the Dawson Street church. Williams exhibited physical, intellectual, and moral strength. He helped support himself through College by playing for Camberwell in the Victorian Football Association and for Hawthorn in the Victorian Football League. He graduated from the College of the Bible in 1928 and qualified for the MA at Melbourne University in 1935. Following ministries in Australia and New Zealand, he became a lecturer at Glen Iris in 1939. He was at Ponsonby Road in Auckland, when the call came. He had not been in this charge long and was reluctant to resign. He felt it unfair to ask the church to release him. However, recognizing his potential, church leaders convinced him that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, offered to release him, and urged him to accept the appointment. Williams consequently replied E.L.­­Williams to the college invitation in the affirmative, joining the faculty under Scambler. He was appointed Principal in 1945 and continued in office until his retirement in 1973.

Williams was President of the Victorian Conference from 1944–1945 and President of the Federal Conference from 1950–1952. He also served as a member of the Central Study Committee of the World Convention of Churches of Christ.

With the death of Scambler, and on becoming principal, Williams took up the mantle of ecumenical visionary and advocate, for which, like Scambler, he came in for criticism from ultra-conservative elements in the Australian Churches of Christ, who felt he was compromising core tenets of the Movement. His exploration of these tenets, in his preaching, lecturing, and writing, demonstrated that he was exemplifying and further developing aspects of the traditional “plea” of Churches of Christ that tended to be overlooked.

25 Scambler had argued that dialogue was essential to ecumenical progress. Williams thoroughly endorsed this position. “If we are so sure that we have something to give, we ought to give it. Here is our opportunity to make our plea known in the highest places. It is also an area of responsible listening. We have to be prepared to listen as well as to contribute.” Following his own advice, Williams was Chairman of the Victorian Committee for the Promotion of Christian Union in the Victorian Conference of Churches of Christ from 1945 to 1972. From 1948 this Committee also served as the Federal Department of Christian Union. Williams was a member of the Australian Commission for Inter-Church Aid from 1951 as its first Chairman, and Chairman of its Executive from 1962 to 1966. With the transfer of the Commission to Sydney, he continued on in the Victorian Committee for Inter-Church Aid (now World Christian Action) as Deputy Chairman until 1976, when the office was terminated. He served for many years as a representative of Churches of Christ in annual meetings of the Australian Council of Churches. During 1971–1972 he was Chairman of the Victorian Council of Churches. He represented Australian Churches of Christ at annual meetings of the Australian Council of Churches, and at World Council of Churches meetings at Evanston in 1954 and New Delhi in 1961. He was also an observer in union discussions leading to the formation of the Uniting Church in Australia. Williams was also one of six Australian churchmen, representing Methodist, Presbyterian, and Baptist churches, and Churches of Christ who paid a fraternal visit in 1959 to churches in Russia, Czechoslovakia, and China.

Williams wrote a host of pamphlets, and several books. His Biblical Approach to Unity is regarded by scholars of the movement’s history as a classic exposition of the ethos of the movement. Churches of Christ, An Interpretation, was a reworking of this material for a later generation. Living Responsibly, which contains an interesting biographical introduction by Alf White, is a summation of Williams’ passionately held ethical concerns.

Practicing a disciplined stewardship of his resources, Williams gave generously to those in need, but in such a way that did not draw attention to himself. He also ensured that missionaries had a serviced car available to them when on furlough.

Lyall Williams, like Harward, Main, and Scambler before him, saw the primary role of the college as the furnishing of adequate preparation for potential candidates for ministry. A secondary purpose was to offer training for those serving the church in a voluntary capacity, those we would today have no hesitation calling “lay” leaders. Preparation for ministry involved theological education and ministry training. A studious exploration of the Bible, the application of the principles embodied in the life of Christ to the personal, cultural, social, economic and political dimensions of life, and the fostering of Christian maturity were all involved in these inter-related aims. According to Williams, it was also important to explore the particular contribution of Churches of Christ to the church ecumenical. Affiliation with the Melbourne College of Divinity was seen as a practical expression of the ecumenical commitment of Churches of Christ.

As with former principals, Gordon Stirling provides us with personal recollections of E.L. Williams.

E.L. Williams grew up in one of the leading families of the Kaniva church. His rural background stayed with him all of his life. While at College he

26 introduced cows to keep the acres of College grass trim and to provide milk for the College. Faculty members who desired to do likewise for their own milk supplies were also encouraged to do so. Some five years before his retirement he moved from the Principal’s residence at 1 Elm Road to a small farm at Narre Warren and commuted daily to College while getting ready for a farm retirement. When retirement came he shared his farm life with interim ministries and a very active involvement in the replacement of the church plant at Boronia. Tragically his life on the farm was ended by the stroke that necessitated a more limited life-style.

Very self-disciplined himself, Lyall Williams maintained the traditional student disciplines that he inherited, in a firm but gracious way. Student dress involved the wearing of a tie. There were no first names available for faculty members. In class students were called “Mr” or “Miss”. Marriage during the College course was not permitted.

One of the “disciplines” was Wednesday afternoon Sport, which was an essential part of the College curriculum. While this had always been so, Lyall’s former experience as a Hawthorn football player probably made him even more enthusiastic about its importance. In the football season one would see a few non-sporty types lining up for the game in their overcoats and moving up and down the field without getting too near to the ball.

E.L.W. disliked committee meetings. Monthly College Board meetings seldom took longer than an hour. His ally was Board member, Will Atkin, whose main function seemed to be to interrupt discussion on a matter by moving “that we refer this matter to the faculty”. The faculty seldom met for a formal session. Business was done in the small faculty room in the ten-minute break between lectures.

E.L. Williams was active in the leadership of the Ecumenical Movement in Australia. Unfortunately some members of our churches at the time had heeded a strong American Fundamentalist, Pre-Millennial opposition to the Ecumenical Movement, which said that the World Council of Churches was “The Beast” of Revelation, and that it was not true to the Bible. E.L.W.’s strong support of the Ecumenical Movement made him suspect. The time came when in some quarters there grew up negativity about the College and its Principal. For instance in WA a self appointed group would hear of a prospective student coming to the College of the Bible, and took it on themselves to try to persuade the student to go to another College. People would take out of context statements made by the Principal to accuse him of heresy. One group would tape some of his public statements in order to try to find evidence of his theological deviations.

His absolute honesty made things difficult. People would deliberately ask him if he believed that the Bible was the Word of God. He would reply that as the Bible also contained the words of Satan and the words of evil people, he could only honestly say that the Bible contains the Word of God. This led to his opponents advertising that the Principal of the College of the Bible doesn’t believe that the Bible is the Word of God. Faculty members used to say to him that effectively the Bible is the Word of God, even allowing for the fact that minor bits of it are not, so as to avoid misunderstanding, why can’t he say, “The Bible is the Word of God.” “That wouldn’t be honest,” he’d say.

27 E.L. Williams was a model Christian gentleman, kindly, gracious, accepting and friendly, but by nature he was reserved. He would have liked a feeling of “mate-ship” between himself and the students, but within the traditional leader-student relationship. Mr. Williams was a great encourager of students. With the rest of the faculty he sat at the back of the chapel while students conducted “daily devotions” on a roster system. He accepted their offerings without comment even if at times they were “outlandish”. And I have seen him sing heartily the hymns and songs chosen by the students, even though their theology was suspect . I was one of the exceptions to the rule of faculty addressing him as “Mr”. We had been fellow ministers years before and used “Christian names”. But among students I always called him “Mr”. But one of the privileges of my life was to have Lyall Williams as a friend

When Scambler died, the Board of Management divided up his work among visiting lectures, including T. Hagger, A.W. Stephenson, MA, C.G. Taylor, BA(Hons), R.L. Williams, BA, BD, L.A. Trezise, W.R. Hibburt, S.H. Wilson, and J.E. Brooke.

Over time, Lyall Williams worked at Faculty­­1955:­­ building up a strong team of lecturers, and at L­­to­­R:­­L.A.­­Trezise,­­K.A.­­Jones,­­A.E­­.White,­­ ensuring that they were able to devote their J.E.­­Brooke,­­ full-time to the college. When he first joined Seated:­­E.L.­­Williams,­­R.T.­­Pittman­­ the faculty all lecturers were part time. He encouraged his team to do further study in Australia and overseas. He also suggested they accept interim Sunday ministries to keep them in touch with the sorts of tasks for which they were preparing students.

Randall Pittman continued on the faculty till the end of 1963, when he retired after forty-nine years service. J.S. Taylor resigned at the end of 1949 because of ill health. He had contributed to the teaching of secular subjects for 36 years. Full-time appointments to the faculty during the Williams years were K.J. Clinton BA, BD, DipRE (Ken later secured a Master of Sacred theology (STM) from Yale), K.R. Bowes, MA, STM, PhD, G.R. Stirling, BA, and W. Tabbernee TPTC, LTh, DipRE. Gordon Stirling was appointed Vice-Principal. Besides lecturing, he had responsibility for administration, the counselling of students, and public relations, as well as being Secretary of the Board of Management. A.E. White BA was appointed a part-time faculty member in 1951.

F.T. Saunders, who had served the college as organizing secretary for 23 years, died in 1947. W.R. Hibburt filled in temporarily in a part-time capacity until K.A. Jones picked up the responsibilities of organizing secretary and housemaster in 1948. Quiet and helpful, Keith Jones worked tirelessly in these roles till ill-health dictated his retirement Past­­Principals’­­Memorial­­Wing­­ in March 1967. He assisted part-time with financial records 1955 for several more years.

28 Among the building projects undertaken during the thirty-nine years of E.L. Williams’ principalship were the construction of a principal’s residence on the college grounds, the conversion of the original principal’s residence in the original homestead to accommodate women students, and later married students, the building of a seven room dormitory block, designated the Past-Principals’ Memorial Wing, as accommodation for married students, the Remodelled­­Kitchen­­1946 provision of a new dining room and toilet block, an upgrading of the kitchen, the erection of four self- contained flats between the original building and the tennis courts, and the provision of an addition to the library, made possible by the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. E.L. Williams in honour of their parents. This wing included a room for the archives of the Australian Churches of Christ Historical Society, a memorial to Randall T. Pittman. One of the lecture rooms was also divided to provide for a seminar room and a principal’s study. The latter was named the R. Campbell Edwards Memorial Room. Flats­­1­­-­­4

There were twenty new enrollees in 1945. The following year twenty-one students were receiving help from the Commonwealth Government’s Post-War Reconstruction Scheme. That same year the board required students to apply to continue their course after an initial probationary year.

Because of pressure from conservative elements in the churches, and in spite of students performing Seminar­­in­­Room­­1 well in Melbourne College of Divinity exams, the Board of Management reluctantly severed what had been a fruitful association with the MCD. This hiatus persisted for a decade and a half. However, in 1963 E.L. Williams was invited to become a co-opted member of the MCD, and the following year students were once again being prepared for LTh, DipTheol, and BD Examinations. In 1961 the ministry course was Dining­­Room­­1955 extended from three to four years, a move mutually agreed upon by COB and the New South Wales Bible College. From the mid-sixties students were required to pass in at least ten LTh subjects to be qualified to receive the college diploma. In spite of these moves, however, a strain of anti-intellectualism persisted. Anti-intellectualism was characteristic of the Australian Churches of Christ from the beginning, and reflective of the social origins of the pioneers of the Australian Movement. It was also part of the national ethos. Many churches did not encourage their ministers to avail themselves of the T.E. Rofe Scholarship Fund to pursue university education. There were exceptions, of course, but the disinclination was obvious.

29 The first ordination of graduating students, first raised by Thomas Hagger and a group of graduating students, was conducted in 1941 at a service separate from the graduation service. The ordination service later became part of the graduation service, and then later again was conducted by the Federal Conference Executive immediately after the graduation service.

From the earliest years of the college’s history, students Women­­in­­1972 had worked on student magazines. Footsteps, published during the Williams era, became a worthy successor to B.C. Magazine and Swot.

During the 1950’s and early 1960’s there was considerable debate within Churches of Christ over the question of the degree to which the Movement should be committed to wider ecumenical initiatives. There was Faculty­­1973:­­ a pronounced divide between enthusiasts and opponents. L­­to­­R:­­G.R.­­Stirling,­­K.J.­­Clinton,­­ Feeling ran high and Principal Williams and the college E.L.­­Williams,­­K.R.­­Bowes occasionally came under attack. Furthermore, the 1960s were marked by both unprecedented affluence and social unrest, which also impacted on the college, both faculty and students. There were some among the student body, fuelled by the often arrogant idealism of youth, a vein of anti- authoritarianism, and the energy of a developing anti-war movement, who considered that the Principal, who had evoked in them a passion for social justice, was not himself following through sufficiently. He dealt with the situation judiciously, but found himself in the unenviable position of being the target of cannonades from both conservatives and radicals. These were exciting but difficult years and a further illustration of pioneers, in their later years, being regarded as reactionary!

During the period E.L. Williams was Principal new enrolments varied from the low to the high teens. The highest figure was twenty in 1945.

During the Williams era college finances gradually improved, allowing provision to be made for faculty superannuation and more generous library acquisitions. Dr. W.A. Kemp continued as chairman until 1964, when he was succeeded by F.G. Chipperfield.

College­­ Community­­ c1969

30 Principal­­Bowes (1974–1980)

hen E.L. Williams retired, it was obvious to all that his appropriate successor was Keith WRussell Bowes. Keith was seen to possess the maturity, academic qualification, teaching skills, and leadership potential required of a Principal.

Keith Bowes was born in Adelaide, South Australia in April, 1933. It was at the Park St., Unley, Church that his Christian faith and commitment were nurtured.

Keith’s academic ability showed itself early. He graduated from the University of Adelaide with an undergraduate degree and then an MA, in the Department of History and Political Science, when he was awarded the Tinline Scholarship in History. This was to be followed by a PhD from the Australian National University. His doctoral dissertation, Land Settlement in South Australia 1857–1890, was published in 1968. Dr.­­K.R.­­Bowes While in Canberra, Keith was active in the newly formed Canberra Church, where G. R. Stirling was the minister. Mutual respect and friendship developed between the two men, who later worked together at the college during Gordon Stirling’s time as Vice-Principal (1969–1980).

In 1959, and before completing his doctoral studies, Keith Bowes entered the College of the Bible. Because he was married, and had a considerable student-church involvement, the Board decided that he should spread the normal three-year course over four years. After completing two terms of his fourth year, Bowes left for the United States in September, 1962, by which time he had already been appointed to the faculty. Keith graduated from Yale Divinity School with an STM. While in North America, he attended, as the delegate of Australian Churches of Christ, the Faith and Order Conference held in Montreal, Canada, in 1963.

Bowes had a brief ministry at the Camberwell church before taking up his appointment

31 as Lecturer at the College at the beginning of 1964. In addition to his full-time duties at COB, Keith had a number of part-time interim ministries in local churches over the years. In 1968–69 he was a part-time consultant for the Victorian-Tasmanian Department of Christian Education while the Department was without a director. This involved him in the promotion of the Christian Life Curriculum.

Committed to Christian Unity, Bowes was a member and later chairman of the Department of Christian Union, and was a Churches of Christ observer at the negotiations that led to the establishment of the Uniting Church in Australia. He was Vice-President of the World Convention 1970–1974.

Keith Bowes’ academic and leadership abilities were recognized beyond Churches of Christ. In 1976 he was College­­from­­the­­air­­1978 Founding President of the newly-formed Evangelical Theological Association (ETA), a joint venture with the Baptist Theological College. He was the President of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Theological Schools (ANZATS) 1976–1978, and was the first Churches of Christ member to be President of the Melbourne College of Divinity (MCD) 1978–1980.

Dr. Bowes resigned as Principal for personal reasons in 1980, after seven years in the position. He stayed at the college for a further year as a faculty member.

Keith Bowes, like Lyall Williams, elucidated the aims of the college in the light of contemporary understandings and culture. The focus continued to be on the interlocking aims of theological education and ministry training. This was seen to involve, as well as academic and skills training, the cultivation of one’s commitment to God, together with the development of an understanding of oneself, of others, of the nature of relationships, and of the world in which the College­­Football­­Match church was situated. It included an appreciation of the fundamentals and fullness of the gospel, an exploration of one’s giftedness, as well as the cultivation of an openness to new expressions of ministry. Under Keith Bowes’ guidance the college furnished an environment within which students’ growth towards personal maturity was fostered. This provision included an orientation camp, appropriate curriculum offerings, optional courses in personal development, training in group work, the provision of a faculty adviser for each student, the appointment of a faculty member with counselling skills, the scheduling of spiritual formation days, and the inclusion of student representatives in decision-making. An instance of the latter was the contribution of the student president and secretary at faculty meetings.

32 During the Bowes era the range of pastoral care offerings on the curriculum expanded, support groups for students were formed, made up of individuals in churches from where they ministered, final year students were given regular contact with minsters, and members from the student’s church participated in the preparation and evaluation of the student’s preaching.

The most significant development during these Children’s­­Playground­­built­­by­­ years was the formation of the Evangelical Theological students Association, comprising Whitley College, that is, the Victorian Baptist College, and the College of the Bible. Joint classes began in 1976. The degree program, under the auspices of the Melbourne College of Divinity, of which the ETA was an Associated Teaching Institution, was initially conducted alongside the diploma level (LTh) program. However, students soon demonstrated that they were able to cope with subjects pegged at degree level.

Gordon Stirling, who enjoyed a long association with Keith Bowes, offers the following reminiscence:

Dr. Keith Bowes is a descendant, from both sides of his lineage, of families that have a creditable record with SA Churches of Christ. In spite of his heavy university student workload, Keith became a valued youth leader at Unley, assisted by his future wife, Rae. After shifting to Canberra they joined the Ainslie Church where I happened to be in ministry.

As former Youth Director in South Australia I had been well aware of this young couple at Unley and tentatively approached them to see if they could do the same at Ainslie, being fully aware of what Keith’s academic commitments were. Once again he volunteered to do the job along with his studies, and at the same time he and Rae strongly supported the work and worship of a rapidly developing church. Alongside his degree program he led a strong and growing youth work.

The time came when Keith felt a sense of calling to the ministry, which I encouraged. He had wide opportunities open to him in the academic world, but made application to the College of the Bible. It was going to be a struggle. Keith and Rae came to Canberra with little or nothing and had no opportunity to “feather the nest” while there. They had started a family. I took the opportunity of contacting E.L. Williams and telling him Keith’s story, making it clear that here was a unique opportunity with a young man who could become a future College Principal, and asking him to clear the way for Keith to have a reasonably well paid student church appointment for his first year, rather than waiting for the second year. Lyall got the message and Keith and Rae moved into the South Melbourne manse and ministered there. At the end of his student years Keith was appointed to the College Faculty, with E.L. Williams already planning an eventual retirement with Keith as his successor. It was soon after Keith’s appointment to the faculty that I completed my Canberra ministry and joined the faculty myself as Vice-Principal.

33 E.L. Williams retired with confidence that he could leave ministry training in the capable hands of Dr. Keith Bowes. So the appointment was made. It was popular amongst faculty and students and across the churches, as Keith became better known. It is probably not appropriate to refer to my former Principal as a “workaholic”, but he was. He gave himself without reserve to the life of the College, not only continuing the excellent program of his predecessors, but expanding it, adding to it and initiating many changes in it that were due as the church was moving into the turbulent times of change.

The formalities of earlier times gradually changed. Compulsory ties and suits for men gave way to neat G.R.­­Stirling informality. “Mr” and “Miss” used by faculty to address students in class were replaced by Christian names. Later both faculty and students were to be on a first name basis.

Throughout the history of the College almost all students were single and were not permitted to marry during their courses. And dormitories were provided for them by the College, such community living being considered to be part of their training for ministry. By the time of Keith’s Principalship some married students had been admitted, a few of whom were housed at the College and others in spare manses among the churches. Soon there were to be more married students than single, and some of these married students were much younger than their single contemporaries. So it was decided that marriage during the College course be permitted with a little informal counselling by the Principal as seemed necessary. Actually in such cases of marriage the working wife made it much easier for the student to continue his course. And many wives joined ministry and other courses while associated with the College.

Keith and Rae had a son and three daughters and moved into the Principal’s Residence on Keith’s appointment. Inevitably this drew Rae into involvements that placed a heavy burden on a young mother struggling to be a perfect mentor for her children and at the same time to fulfil the role images that people had of what a Principal’s wife should be. The strain proved too much for Rae. That Keith should go into other work was unthinkable for Rae. The only way that she could see was to take her children with her and to live a separate life. Keith did all that he could to save the marriage but had to accept the inevitable. He and Rae are still friends and have a common interest in the family. But what about Keith’s future as Principal in the light of the domestic situation? The faculty met and decided that Keith should continue to do what God had called him to do. The College Board was of the same conviction. Keith was asked to continue. He asked for time for consideration. Part of that consideration included conversation with his mentor E.L. Williams. Lyall believed that while it could be in order in some circumstances for ministers whose marriages had ended to continue in ministry, the College Principalship was of a higher order, held in such high esteem by our churches that nothing should be allowed to discredit it. The conversation was very brief as he found that Keith had come to the same conclusion. He resigned shortly after.

It is interesting to note that some years later Keith was welcomed back

34 enthusiastically into the role of Acting- Principal while the College was awaiting the appointment of a new Principal. Several years after Keith’s resignation he entered marriage with a former College graduate and faculty member, Robin Haskell. They live in WA where Keith has made helpful contributions to ministry training in our churches there.

1974 and 1975 saw major renovations made to the original building to provide flats for married couples. Dining­­Room This structure, after the $60,000 refit, was renamed ­­Campbell­­Edwards­­House Campbell Edwards House. During the Bowes era the library was considerably augmented and the catalogue system improved.

Ken Clinton, who, as Senior Lecturer, later became foundation holder of the H.G. Harward lectureship in New Testament Studies, continued to make a valuable contribution during the Bowes era, as did Gordon Stirling. Scheduled to retire in 1978, Gordon relinquished his administrative responsibilities, but kept lecturing. During the first semester of 1980 he became Flat­­5a (honorary) Acting Principal, allowing Dr. Bowes to ­­Campbell­­Edwards­­House take overseas study leave. When G.R. Stirling shed his administrative load, it was taken over by Miss Robin Haskell, a graduate of the college, who commenced in 1979. Robin, besides being secretary of the Board of Management, also co-ordinated the college office and lectured in ministry subjects. Bill Tabbernee became a full-time member of faculty in 1973. During the Bowes era, Keith Farmer B.Com, BA(Hons), a Woolwich graduate and trained psychologist, was appointed part-time lecturer in pastoral studies. He also ministered part-time at the Doncaster church. Faculty­­Consulting­­ While at the college, Farmer completed a DMin degree L­­to­­R:­­K.R.­­Bowes,­­G.R.­­Stirling,­­ from Fuller Theological Seminary in the US. When W.­­Tabbernee,­­K.J.­­Clinton Rex Ellis, Principal of the Churches of Christ (NSW) Bible College, died in 1980, Dr. Farmer was regretfully released by the College of the Bible to take up the principalship of the New South Wales Bible College. Mr. Lindsay Smith, who had been Principal of Monash High School, became an honorary member of staff in 1980, accepting responsibility for the library.

The Bowes era saw continuing change. Restrictions on students marrying during the course were relaxed, the average age of students increased, and the number Lindsay­­Smith

35 of women students increased as a percentage of the overall student body. In earlier years single students had contributed to their keep, which included the employment of a housekeeper. This system began to break down because there were less single students. Through the years housekeepers have been an important dimension of college life. In this regard, mention should be made of Misses E & A Jermyn, Mrs. Ewers, Mrs. Arnold, Miss Russell, Mrs. Waterman, Mrs. Holmes, Miss Dorothy Young, Mrs. Alice Lawrence, and Mrs. Clarice Verco. Meal­­Preparation­­ Mrs­­C­­Verco­­&­­Mrs.­­I.­­Spencer After the introduction of the BTheol degree students became more mobile, often spending two half-days a week at Whitley, whose students spent a comparable time at COB. Because of the increasing demands of study and church work, sport was dropped from the college program, except for an annual football match between COB and the Bible College of Victoria, formerly MBI. During these years the college also accepted responsibility, in the absence of an outside body responsible for this task, for assessing the suitability of students for ordained ministry.

Despite the pressures of inflation, the college managed to keep college finances in the “black”, except for the final year of Dr. Bowes’ principalship. This involved considerable effort and significant generosity on the part of individuals and churches, as well as an increase in fees and rents paid by students.

The year Keith Bowes became Principal eleven new students enrolled in the College. In subsequent years of the Bowes era there was anything from fifteen to thirty-three new enrollees.

During this period F.G. Chipperfield served as chairman of the board.

36 Principal­­Tabbernee (1981–1990)

illiam Tabbernee took over as principal a few months after Dr. Bowes indicated that Whe was resigning. An excellent teacher and administrator, Bill was the logical choice.

Born in Rotterdam in the Netherlands in 1944, Bill Tabbernee came with his parents to Australia in 1955. He left Box Hill Tech after Form 4 to work in his father’s bricklaying/stonemasonry business. In 1964, after a year of private study for the Leaving Certificate, he began a Trained Primary Teacher’s Certificate at Coburg Teachers’ College in 1964. In his first year Bill was dux of the College both in academic subjects and teaching practice. In 1966, following graduation, Tabbernee was appointed Head Teacher at the small Swan Reach Primary School in Gippsland. That year he also gained the Higher School Certificate and half completed his LTh with the Melbourne College of Dr.­­W.­­Tabbernee Divinity. With University study in mind, he returned to Melbourne to teach at Newlands High School. During the next two years he completed his LTh and the DipRE of the MCD (by private study) and began a BA at the University of Melbourne. Because of his desire to become a School Chaplain, he entered the College of the Bible in 1969. Because of his previous theological studies, he was granted two years’ credit. This meant he was able to graduate at the end of 1970. In addition to his College course and a student ministry at his home church of Ivanhoe, Tabbernee continued university studies.

Besides the student ministry at Ivanhoe, Tabbernee had ministries at The Patch (1971–1972), Mitcham (1973), Malvern-Caulfield (1974), Doncaster (1975–1978), Brighton (1979), Doncaster (1980). He also served St. John Devine Baptist Church in New Haven, Connecticut in 1972/73.

It was not surprising that Bill Tabbernee was invited the join the faculty. His potential was recognized from the beginning. He commenced lecturing responsibilities in 1971. In spite of what was virtually a full lecture load, he completed his BA (Hons.) in 1971 and began his MA. To gain overseas experience, he and his family went to USA, where

37 he graduated STM from Yale Divinity School. Returning to Australia, he was invited to transfer his uncompleted MA to a PhD, which was awarded in 1979. His thesis, in early church history, was Opposition to Montanism from Church and State.

The extra responsibilities of the principalship, which in the late 1980’s were overwhelming, did not curtail Tabbernee’s teaching role, nor his wider commitments. These included his involvement in the Evangelical Theological Association, the Melbourne College of Divinity, the Australian and New Zealand Association of Theological Schools, and the Australian and New Zealand Society for Theological Studies. He served a term as president of the MCD. He was Deputy Chair of the Victorian Council of Churches Commission on Faith and Order, and Chair of the Australian Council of Churches Commission on Faith and Order. He was also a member of the Victorian History Institute and of the Australian Society for Biblical Studies.

In 1982 Tabbernee edited Marriage in Australian Churches, in 1984, Initiation in Australian Churches, and, in 1987, Ministry in Australian Churches. These were initiatives of the Victorian Council of Churches. In 1986 he edited Australian Churches’ Response to Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry, which was published by the Australian Council of Churches. These represent a fraction of his output, which included, as well, journal articles, contributions to encyclopedias, and chapters in books edited by others.

As part of his involvement in ecumenical affairs, Bill was involved in separate national bi-lateral discussions with representatives of the Uniting, Anglican, and Catholic churches. He was also Chairman of the Council for Christian Education in Schools.

Towards the end of 1990, Dr. Tabbernee indicated that he would be resigning to take up an appointment as President of Phillips Graduate Seminary, formerly the Graduate Seminary of Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma. Phillips Seminary was one of the leading Disciples Seminaries. His resignation came as a complete surprise to the Board, and to his colleagues. He had led the college through a relocation and rebuilding program, and, as a consequence, board members, students and faculty were looking with great optimism to the future, with Bill at the helm.

Dr. Tabbernee’s subsequent career justified the expectations of the trustees of PGS. He resurrected an institution that was in serious financial difficulty, expanded its program, suggested a name change to Phillips Theological Seminary, transferred the institution from Enid to Tulsa, and oversaw the provision of new premises. In 1993 he was awarded an honorary DD by Phillips University, and in 2002, he graduated from The University of Melbourne with a DLitt by examination for work on Greek and Latin epigraphy. A major publication, subsequent to his departure from Mulgrave, has been Montanist Inscriptions and Testimonia: Epigraphic Sources Illustrating the History of Montanism (Macon, Ga.: Mercer University Press, 1997). Books in process are Pepouza and Tymion: The Discovery and Archaeological Exploration of a Lost Ancient City and an Imperial Estate in Phrygia (with Peter Lampe) (Berlin, Walter de Gruyter), Fake Prophesy and Polluted Sacraments: Ecclesiastical and Imperial Reaction to Montanism (Leiden, Brill), The New Prophecy: A Narrative History of Montanism (Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson), and Early Christianity in Contexts (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Academic). Bill has also initiated archaeological exploration in Turkey, in which he is involved each year, and has expanded his administrative

38 and ecumenical commitments. He remains President of Phillips and Stephen J. England Distinguished Professor of the History of Christianity.

It is obvious, on reflection, that CCTC could not have offered Tabbernee the challenges and opportunities that would have continued to draw forth untapped potential. Those of us who worked closely with him missed him, but we suspected, despite our loss, that the move was appropriate and necessary. Faculty­­1981 Back:­­Alan­­Niven,­­Gordon­­Stirling,­­Lindsay­­ There was a changeover of staff during Smith,­­Peter­­Nelson the Tabbernee years. Dr. John Roffey, the son Seated:­­Keith­­Bowes,­­Ken­­Clinton,­­Bill­­ of Ed. and Gwen Roffey, who had done his Tabbernee,­­Robyn­­Haskell,­­John­­Roffey post-graduate work in the US—MDiv (Lexington Theological Seminary), STM (Yale Divinity School), MSc and PhD (University of Kentucky), was invited onto the faculty, commencing in the second term in 1981. In 1984 John Roffey also took over the role of Dean of the Evangelical Theological Association. In July 1981 it was announced that Harvey Miller, the first COB student to graduate with a BTheol, would become a full-time member of faculty from Jan 1 1982, replacing Dr. Keith Farmer. He would also become the college’s business manager, for which his accountancy qualifications (A.A.S.A Senior) equipped him well. He would take over some of the administrative duties of Robin Haskell, freeing Robin to take responsibility for the part-time role of Director of Field Education. She would continue to be Registrar.

At the same time Dr. Keith Bowes indicated that he would not continue on as lecturer beyond the end of the year. At the beginning of 1984 Ian Allsop BA, MBA, Secretary of Federal Conference and Chairman of the Department of Christian Union and Ecumenical Affairs, and Graeme Chapman MA, BD, TheolM, DipEd, minister of the Dawson St. Ballarat Church, joined the faculty, Ian as Dean. Mid-way through 1984 it was announced that Dianne Feeney, who had been for ten years registrar and lecturer at the Churches of Christ (NSW.) Theological College at Carlingford, would join the COB faculty in 1988 as lecturer in moral theology, sociology, and anthropology. She was in the process of completing her PhD in anthropology, and planned to go to Yale for further theological study in 1987. In 1985 she was tragically killed in a plane crash in New Guinea, while checking final details for her thesis.

In 1984 Dr. John Roffey indicated that he would not be accepting a further invitation at the completion of his present term, which concluded at the end of 1985. John later sought ordination as an Anglican priest and became Principal of St. Barnabas College, the College­­Community­­1985

39 Anglican Theological College in South Australia. In 1987, Harvey Miller, who had been appointed Campbell Edwards Lecturer in Pastoral Studies in 1982, and Director of Field Education in 1984, left for several years’ study leave in the USA to complete a PhD in Religion and Personality. Half way through 1988 Ian Allsop resigned from the position of Secretary of National Conference, and for a period of six months from CCTC, to work full-time on his PhD thesis.

That same year two further appointments were made to the faculty. It was announced that Greg Elsdon, BTheol, ThM, a Baptist minister, had been appointed H.G. Harward Lecturer in New Testament Studies, to take over from Ken Clinton, who was honoured at a retirement dinner in Faculty­­1990 Don­­Russell,­­Greg­­Elsdon,­­Alan­­ 1990. After retiring, Ken was invited to take up the role Niven of Minister to Ministers in Victoria, a position pioneered Ian­­Allsop,­­Graeme­­Chapman,­­ by Helen Chapman, and later shared by Peter Burnham. Ken­­Clinton,­­Bill­­Tabbernee Alan Niven BA(Hons), BD, DipEd, a former student who had been lecturing sessionally since 1985 while he was pioneering a ministry at Werribee, was appointed in 1990 in a dual part-time positions of Lecturer in Practical Ministry and Minister of the new church that was to be formed on the Mulgrave campus through college initiative. Alan was born in Scotland, and had lived in Ireland, the Isle of Man, and various parts of England. He was a language teacher, who had spent two years in France and Italy. In February 1991 Ian Allsop resigned from the faculty to take up the joint roles of Secretary of the Victorian-Tasmanian and National Conferences.

Part-time, sessional, appointments were also important. In 1987 Don Russell, a primary school teacher, who had spent many years lecturing in teacher-training institutions, was appointed Director of Field Education to cover the period during which Harvey Miller was overseas. Other sessional lecturers offering their expertise during this time were A. Ball, J. Beard, D. Brooker, M. Gray, P. Greig, Dr. P. Moore, G. Rose, and G. Steele.

Visiting scholars, associated with the American Disciples, who contributed to the lecturing program during the Tabbernee principalship were Hiram Lester, Dr. Will Moore, an Australian who had lived many years in the US, and Dr. Ron Graham, another Australian who found a home in America and was lecturer in New Testament and Dean of Lexington Theological Seminary. This American contribution was a continuation of earlier initiatives. Will Moore, for instance, spent a semester at COB in the late 1970s.

During the Tabbernee years the office staff was augmented. When Robin Haskell retired as office Graeme­­Wigney

40 administrator, her place was taken by Cathy Bradley, the wife of a ministry candidate. Margaret Watkins came on board as a volunteer in the office. Gail Martin was added to the staff as secretary to the Federal Conference Secretary, Ian Allsop, replacing Joan Jenkins, who had been with Ian, as administrative secretary, prior to and for a period following his part-time appointment to COB. Others later joining the secretarial staff were Kendra Boyd, as personal secretary to the principal, Christine Hammat, Margaret Meehan, Lyn Miller, Bev Wilson, Pat Burch, Margaret Goddard, Cheryl Allen, and Di Shillitoe, who remained for ten years.

One of the most significant appointments made during the Tabbernee years was that of Graeme Wigney as Registrar. A distinguished primary school principal and author, Graeme took over from Cathy Bradley and Gail Martin, as well as assuming some of Ian Allsop’s responsibilities. This creative dynamo, who gave his time free to the college until his resignation in June 1998, soon had the administration humming in its new premises at Mulgave. Graeme had a capacity for seeking out and encouraging potential students, and for engaging with the business world in promoting the use of the college facilities at a time when the college was in desperate need of funds.

With the construction of the new Mulgrave Campus, Bob and Shirley Clymer shifted onto campus, having arranged for the construction of a self-funded unit. Bob was appointed CCTC chaplain, while Shirley took responsibility for watering and maintaining the pot plants. Both gave themselves to a multitude of tasks around the college, including a keen involvement in the Mulgrave church. Bob retired as chaplain in 2002.

The most significant development during the Bob­­Clymer college’s history was its relocation from Glen Iris to Mulgrave. There had been talk for many years of the possibility of the college needing to relocate as the consequence of a proposed addition to the South- Eastern Freeway. In 1986 it was announced that this relocation would occur in 1988. Negotiations began with the Victorian Road Construction Authority, and concluded in 1987 with the settlement of the final compensation amount of $3,383,700, considerable more than was first offered, but insufficient to cover the total cost of re-locating. Campbell­­Edwards­­House­­Glen­­Iris

Bill Tabbernee took responsibility for these tortuous negotiations, and should be credited with achieving this result. He was also responsible for finding a site, choosing the general design of the new campus, for negotiating with architects and builders, and for developing a capital campaign to raise an extra $1,000,000 in gifts and $150,000 in loans to cover the short-fall. He was supported to the hilt by board members, general and CWF Conference personnel, friends and supporters of the college, churches, who enthusiastically endorsed his vision, offered time and expertise, and gave generously to the project.

41 On a rainy day in a bare paddock, some 23 kilometers South-East of Melbourne’s CBD, the first sod was turned by Sir Geoffrey Foote. The contract for the first stage, the main campus, was signed early in 1988, for a fixed price of $2,866,285. The land on which the buildings were erected in Mulgrave, which was opposite gate 6 of V.F.L. Park, had previously belonged to the Oblate Order. It was Dr. Austin Cooper, Rector of St. Mary’s Seminary, previous The­­Site­­for­­the­­New­­College provincial of the Oblates, and fellow historian, who suggested to Bill that he consider relocating on several paddocks adjacent to and belonging to the seminary. The land was secured on generous terms. This was after dozens of sites had been researched but found unsuitable. A farewell service was held at which Principal Williams spoke on November 18, 1988. Faculty, staff, and many friends of the college helped with the transfer of physical effects from Glen Iris to Mulgrave. The new buildings were opened and dedicated on 11 Feb 1989 by the Governor of Victoria, Dr. Davis McCaughey. This same year the college changed its name to Churches of Christ Theological College to reflect its association with Churches of Christ and to reflect its function as a ministerial and theological Sir­­Geoffrey­­Foote­­ training institution. turning the first sod In order to help with the Capital Campaign, Claiming the Vision, Glynthea Finger, a graduate of the College and minister at The Patch Church, was employed as development officer. At the end of 1988, Glynthea discovered that she had been awarded the Crestonby Fellowship, an award of $13,000, for 1989. This amount covered tuition and board at the Irish School of Ecumenics in Dublin, where she would study for her MPhil in Ecumenics. Helen Killmier was appointed to take Glynthea’s place as development officer in May 1990. Helen resigned from this position later in the year, when certain aspects of her workload were picked up by Kendra Boyd. To free Dr. Tabbernee to concentrate on relocation and fund-raising, Ken Clinton was appointed Vice- Principal in 1988. A further unprecedented appointment in 1989 was E.L­­Williams­­ the engagement of Ray Alabaster, an accountant, as business manager. speaking­­at­­the­­ Ray’s role was to assist Bill with financial and business management, Farewell­­to­­Glen­­Iris including fund-raising. Through an agreement between CCTC and the Churches of Christ Department of Community Care, Ray was employed part-time by both bodies. He worked closely with Bill in making practical decisions regarding furnishing.

During the Tabbernee years, and particularly after the shift to Mulgrave, Lindsay Smith gathered together a crew of library volunteers who worked with him to ensure that library resources were in order and available to students when needed, among whom Volunteers­­moving­­the­­Library were Lindsay and Judy Chapman, Merv Symes, Val

42 Smith, and Alan Mudge. Alan was responsible for heading up a group of volunteers, who, in an Arbor Day in 1989, planted 572 trees and shrubs around the property. Jack Dow was also involved during this time, ensuring that the buildings were properly maintained and assisting with improvements.

There were other significant developments, apart from the relocation to the new campus, during Dr. Tabbernee’s principalship. In 1986 the Board of Arbor­­Day Management was restructured to ensure that there were representatives from South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, and the ACT, and off-campus centres were established in South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania. Off-campus directors during this time were Dr. Keith Bowes, Phil Bradley, Jeff Weston, Richard Lawton, and John Clapp. A CCTC Department was established, which assisted with and initiated college functions, and reported to the Vic/Tas Conference as a department of that The­­New­­Campus­­under­­construction conference.

In 1988 all three Churches of Christ colleges were subject to review by a Theological Education Task Force that was set up by Federal Conference to inquire into the nature, direction, facilities, and funding of theological education and ministry training within the Australian Churches of Christ. Throughout this period, as in the previous era, some students and faculty of the three Australian Churches of Christ Colleges met, usually once each The­­Construction­­of ­­the­­New­­Units year, to help promote better understanding of each other. Deputational visits to churches in all states except New South Wales and Queensland, continued to be a feature of this era.

In 1987 the college began offering a Graduate Diploma in Ministry to provide continuing education for ministers. A Graduate Diploma had been previously developed by the Institute for Continuing Education in Ministry, of which Ian Allsop was The­­Governor,­­Dr.­­Davis­­McCaughey­­ Director, and which drew on the resources of opening­­the­­New­­Campus all three Australian Churches of Christ colleges. CCTC’s Graduate Diploma in Ministry was eventually replaced by the MMin degree of the MCD. Other new awards offered during Bill’s principalship were the Diploma in Ministry (Youth Work), the Certificate in Youth Work, the Certificate in Lay Ministry specifically designed for early retirees, and the Certificate in Missions. These years also saw the development of six-week short courses, conducted mostly in the evenings, which were

43 designed to share the expertise of college lecturers, and occasionally adjunct lecturers, with churches. They were held both at the College and at local churches. The ETA also experimented with teaching base level BTheol courses at strategic local churches. It was during these years that the study of Spirituality was introduced to the curriculum, first as a pre-sessional for ministry students, and later as a BTheol subject. In the Tabbernee era arrangements were put in place to allow for the exchange of students between CCTC and Disciple Colleges in the US, particularly Lexington Theological Seminary. The first exchange student to spend a year at CCTC was James Robert Brooks Eileen­­Graham from LTS. Michelle Martine and Greg Illingworth, from CCTC, later spent time at Phillips Theological Seminary.

When Clarice Verco retired as cook, her place was taken by Mrs. Marj Newman, a professional caterer and member from Boronia. Marj was farewelled on the last day of second term, 1985, due to her impending marriage. Responsibility for the kitchen was then assumed by June Wesley, and then by Hazel Thornton, a student. Others who filled in from time to time were Tony and Lynette Armstrong, and Cheryl Allen. Shortly after the shift to Mulgrave, the college, anticipating that outside groups Bob­­Rogerson­­and­­Kevin­­Mitchell would use the premises, in addition to students, employed Eileen Graham, a retired dietitian, as caterer.

After moving into the new college Greg Elsdon, and students living on campus, accepted responsibility for keeping lawns mowed and for security. If the alarm went off in the middle of the night, or the early hours of the morning, they flew out of bed and raced to the main buildings to check for intruders and to turn off the alarm. Over the years students and volunteers, like Alan Bennie, have kept the lawns cut and the property tidy. Ray Davis has done a superb job with trees and flower beds in the courtyard. Jack Dow, Bob Rogerson, Kevin Mitchell, and Neil McDonald kept the buildings in order, responding to requests for assistance when things went wrong. Ian Birkett has Ian­­Birkett done a great job cleaning the premises. The college would not have been able to survive without its army of volunteers over the years, volunteers who are too numerous to mention.

Orientation camps continued to fulfil an important role, as did college deputation teams that travelled interstate. Prospective Student Seminars were also a feature of these years. In 1989 it was reported that there were one hundred and sixty-three students enrolled in courses, forty-five full-time and one hundred and eleven part-time. At the same time it was noted that there were fifteen regular volunteers working in the library. A significant development in 1988 was the enrolment of Marj Buckingham as a student for the BTheol at age Marj­­Buckingham seventy. Marj, an author, administrator, and lecturer, shared her

44 wisdom with fellow students and lecturers. The development of the Mulgrave Church, on college premises, was a college initiative. The first service was held on the 4th February 1990. The official opening, the induction and commissioning service for Alan Niven, and the three student who were assisting him—David Thompson, Paul Turton, and David Reynolds—was held on April 29.

During the Tabbernee years emphasis was placed, as previously, on developing Cloister­­and­­Quadrangle the personal, spiritual, and intellectual gifts for Christian ministry. While the primary focus tended to be local pastoral ministry, training was also offered for other ministries, including chaplaincies and ministries with indigenous churches overseas. The college aimed to develop personal Christian maturity, a thorough understanding of faith in the contemporary world, a capacity to access the whole resources of the church, historical and current, and the opportunity to develop Spirit-given gifts and skills in a range of ministry areas. Retreats were an important feature of this initiative. While drawing the bulk of its student body from Churches of Christ, the college also offered educational and training opportunities to ministers, and potential ministers, from other denominations, particularly Salvation Army officers. The number of laypersons availing themselves of the opportunity of furthering their understanding of the faith and equipping themselves for Ray­­Davis­­with­­student,­­ lay involvement in their local churches also increased. Anthony­­Risson Gordon Stirling again offers as a personal glimpse into the principalship of Bill Tabbernee.

His personality, his comparative youth and his lecture style made Bill a “hit” with the student body. He was able to achieve easily what Lyall Williams longed to achieve, that is, a feeling of mutual “mateship” with the students. Each year, just before Commencement, a weekend retreat was held for the faculty and the incoming students. During “free time” the students were able to enjoy themselves together as a means of becoming more aware of each other. Wherever the students were at those times, there was Bill, at their invitation, often giving an exciting lead to their adventures. When Keith Bowes resigned in 1981 there was no doubt that his ideal replacement would be Bill Tabbernee. He had the scholarship, the vision, the versatility and the personality that were attractive to both the students and the churches. He was also an insightful administrator.

Working with William Tabbernee, who was the first principal under whom I served, was a pleasure, and inspiring. Bill treated those of us who worked with him as equals. He trusted us with our lecturing portfolios and administrative responsibilities, encouraging

45 College­­Community­­1990

us to think laterally. He was warm, gregarious, and took us into his confidence. We were awed by his competence, but not intimidated. He carried responsibility with such an easy grace. He could take on a multitude of complex tasks without ever losing his cool. I don’t ever remember seeing him phased!

The year Bill Tabbernee took over as Principal there were twelve new enrolments. As records of new enrolments were not featured beyond 1983, when the size of the total student body became the focus of attention, it is difficult to draw comparisons between the earlier and later years of Bill’s principalship. What complicates the picture still further is that an increasing number of students coming to study at the College did not necessarily have pastoral ministry in mind. They were enhancing their capacity as lay leaders. Nevertheless, it needs to be noted that the total enrolment in 1984 was one hundred and eight. The figure gradually climbed to two hundred and five in 1990.

The board had great confidence in Bill, and trusted his judgment, particularly with the re-location. Board Chairmen during Bill’s tenure as principal were Frank Chipperfield, who continued in the position till February 1984, Russell Williams (1984–1990), and Dr. John Bailey, who took over a year before Dr. Tabbernee’s departure.

46 Principal­­Elsdon (1993–1999)

ollowing the resignation of Dr. Bill Tabbernee, Dr. Keith Bowes, the previous principal, was Finvited to take over the principalship in an interim capacity for twelve months to allow time for a search to be made for a new principal. He began in January 1991. The Brighton (SA) church, where Keith was ministering, willingly released him, recognizing the college’s need. Keith accepted the invitation, keeping a steady hand on the helm until a new principal was appointed. This was not an easy time for Keith, who suffered a heart attack while in harness. He needed to resign in August 1992. Following this resignation, Keith continued in a part-time capacity, with some of his duties being shared among the remaining faculty. As the board was keen to give the new principal the opportunity to complete his DTheol in the first six- months of his tenure, this arrangement continued through the first semester of 1993. During this period, Graeme Chapman was the only full-time member of faculty. He was supported by Alan Niven, who Greg­­Elsdon contributed in a part-time capacity.

The board solicited applications for principal, finally deciding to invite Gregory Ormond Elsdon to accept the position. Elsdon had been a member of faculty since 1989. Greg was 38 when he took over the principalship. It was at this age that E.L. Williams had entered upon the principalship. A.R. Main, at 35, was even younger!

Greg was born on 3 May, 1954. His secondary schooling was at Coburg Technical School and Coburg High School. He later studied at Melbourne Bible Institute (now BCV), graduating with that college’s Advanced Diploma in Biblical Studies, as well as the LTh from the MCD He next completed ministerial and theological studies at Whitley College, graduating with a BTheol from the MCD. During 1985–1986 he pursued post- graduate studies at the Baptist Theological Seminary, Rüschlikon, Switzerland, graduating with a MTh(magna cum lauda). When he was appointed Principal he was working on his ThD, the thesis topic being, Affirmation and Reorientation: An Investigation of Composition

47 and Intention in Matthew 9: 35 – 11:1. The doctorate was awarded in 1994.

Greg had worked as associate pastor at Glenbervie Baptist Church, and as youth pastor at Mooroolbark Baptist Church. In 1982 he was ordained as a minister in the Baptist Church of Victoria. He had ministries in the Coburg and North Carlton Baptist churches. During 1998 Greg was associate minister at the Dandenong Church of Christ and part-time lecturer in New Testament at CCTC. The following year he was appointed H.G. Harward Lecturer in New Testament Studies at CCTC. Since his association with CCTC, Greg has enjoyed joint ministerial accreditation in both the Baptist Church and Churches of Christ. In 1995 Greg spent time at the Banmatmat Bible College in Vanuatu offering a New Testament refresher course to pastors.

Harvey Miller returned from the US, where he had been working on his PhD, late in 1990. He needed to complete the writing up of his thesis, which was later submitted, and accepted. Harvey resigned from the faculty at the end of 1992. In 1994 four new faculty members were added to the team. Alan Niven, who had been associated with the college for many years as a sessional lecturer and had assumed part- time responsibility for Pastoral Studies in 1990, after the departure of Harvey Miller, was appointed full-time Lecturer in Pastoral Studies. Stephen­­Curkpatrick Stephen Curkpatrick LTh, MTh, GradDipEd, a COB graduate who had spent time in local ministry as well as in Papua New Guinea, was appointed lecturer in New Testament and Theology. Stephen was working on a doctorate at the time of his appointment. He was later awarded a PhD from Flinders University. He graduated MA from Monash in 2001, which consequently employed him to co-ordinate one of its post-graduate programs. Between 2001–2003, Stephen was joint co-ordinator of the subject, The Authority of the Text, a graduate and post-graduate course offered by the Centre for Studies in Religion and Theology, School of Historical Studies, Monash University. He provided a majority of the teaching supervision, undertaking this responsibility in addition to his full-time work at CCTC. In 1996 Stephen was appointed Dean of Studies at CCTC, Merryl­­Blair a position he held until 2001. That year he was awarded Honorary Research Status, School of Historical Studies, in the Arts Faculty at Monash University.

Merryl Blair, BTheol(Hons), another graduate, whose MTheol project was similarly upgraded to doctoral level, was appointed part- time Lecturer in Old Testament Studies, later designated Hebrew Bible. Merryl was later awarded her DTheol from the MCD. Merryl had previously been a charge sister with teaching responsibilities in the Operating Theatre Suite at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital. She continued nursing at the RVEEH on night duty while completing BTheol(Hons), after which she began youth ministry at Hartwell Church of Christ. John­­Gilmore

48 John Gilmore BTheol, a third graduate of COB/CCTC, took over responsibility from Alan Niven for the Mulgrave Church when Alan’s college appointment became full-time. John also took charge of CCTC’s Supervised Field Education program, a role that was becoming increasingly complex, as professional and government regulations required higher standards of accountability. This role eventually took over more of his time. John had originally been engaged for one day a week. In 1997 John resigned from the Mulgrave church, to be succeeded by Mark Butler. Thereafter, he divided his time between his Faculty­­at­­Mulgrave­­in­­the­­Elsdon­­Era­­ roles as Director of Ministry Division of the Vic- Back:­­G.,­­G.­­Chapman,­­A.­­Niven Tas Conference and Director of Supervised Field Front:­­J.­­Gilmore,­­M.­­Blair,­­S.­­Curkpatrick Education at CCTC. As of July 1, 1999, John was employed full-time by the conference. An interim arrangement was made for CCTC to contract his services for the equivalent of one day a week to teach and oversee the SFE program, and to prepare for a successor in this role.

In 1998, due to a financial crisis, Graeme Chapman was asked to accept a reduction in hours from full to half-time from the beginning of semester 2. During first semester 1995, Chapman, on study leave, was Visiting Professor of Christian Spirituality at Phillips Graduate Seminary in Enid, Oklahoma.

There were also changes in sessional faculty during the Elsdon era. Don Russell relinquished the position of Director of Field Education at the end of 1991, and Jack McCormick, a retired minister, was invited to take over this responsibility. Jack retired after two years, when John Gilmore took responsibility for this expanding role. During 1996, when Greg Elsdon was Vic/Tas Conference President, Mark Butler BTheol, minister at Mitcham Church of Christ, and Gerald Rose, LTh, DipDiv, BA, MA(Qual), BTheol, Senior Minister of Southern Community Church of Christ, taught Greek to relieve Greg of this responsibility. In 1997, in a joint initiative with Youth Vision, Tim Corney, an Anglican, was employed sessionally to offer training in youth leadership. Tim­­Corney A significant development during the Elsdon years was the initiation of a program of visiting scholars that was part of the missionary thrust of the US Department of Combined Global Ministries Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ. The first contributors to this program were Charles and Wendy Bayer, who engaged faculty, students, and churches. The Bayers became an integral part of the life of the college. Charles Bayer BA, BD imbued students with his passion for social justice. He was fearless and uncompromising. Wendy, an ex-Australian, who had an MA Charles­­&­­Wendy­­Bayer

49 in English, and was a delight to have on campus, assisted students with their essays. The Bayers set the pattern for future visiting scholars. When they returned to the US, after four years’ service, they were succeeded by Doug and Kathy Dornhecker, who served for a year. Charles­­Bayer­­teaching Another initiative was the invitation to Dr. Darrell Guder, Professor of Evangelism and Global Mission at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, in Louisville Kentucky, to offer an intensive BTheol course on Incarnational Witness, the subject of a book he had written that was soon to be published. Dr. Guder accepted the invitation and offered the intensive in the mid-semester break in 1996. Dr. Guder is currently Princeton Theological Seminary’s Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor of Missional and Ecumenical Theology.

When Ray Alabaster resigned as business manager, Neil Smith helped out voluntarily for a period. A more permanent arrangement Colleen­­Davies was put in place in 1993, when Miss Colleen Hughes, BBus, GradDipEd, joined the office staff as Business Manager. Colleen married Scott Davies in May 1998. Theresa Taylor, who later gained a BTheol, the wife of a ministry student, began as a volunteer in the office in 1998. In February of the following year she was appointed part-time (3 days) Office Administrator during Colleen’s first maternity leave, when Natalie Roberts was employed (2 days) to fill in as Business manager. Theresa took over the additional role of Business Manager when Colleen was on maternity leave before her second child was born and Christine Peake was employed (3days) to assist with office administration. Theresa continues to fulfil the valuable role as Office Manager.

Theresa­­Taylor When Graeme Wigney resigned from the position of Registrar and secretary of the Board in 1988, Graham Warne, MA, BD, DipRE, who had been principal at Banmatmat Bible College in New Hebrides (Vanuatu) and lecturer for 15 years including Vice-Principal for 11 at Kenmore Christian College, was appointed to the joint roles of Registrar and Assistant to the Principal. He took over some of the responsibilities that Graeme Wigney had shouldered, particularly those of registrar. He commenced in January, 1999. For one year Graham assumed responsibility for teaching Greek from Mark Butler. During Graham’s period of service the college web site was established.

At the end of 1993, Lindsay Smith retired after thirteen and a half Graham­­Warne years of voluntary service as librarian and grounds’ co-ordinator. He

50 was replaced by Lynn Pryor BTh(Hons), GradDipInfServ, a trained librarian, who was invited to accept a part-time appointment. Dot Alabaster and Jeanette Warne worked closely with Lynn in a voluntary capacity.

Eileen Graham, now Eileen Chapman, resigned the position of college caterer at the end of 1994. Subsequent college caterers during this period were Pauline Sharrock, Elaine Elsdon and Virginia Curkpatrick, Nick Touhy, Lynn­­Pryor Fiona Marantelli, Nicole Combridge, Bonnie Tyas, and Maryann Rivett.

During the Elsdon years the college’s Diploma in Ministry, and other internal awards, were phased out as a consequence of government pressure on smaller institutions offering their own awards outside the ambit of government regulation. Additional factors were the opportunity presented by legislative and regulatory changes of gaining government accreditation that would allow students to receive financial assistance from the government for their courses, and the desire to give external credibility to internal college units. This initiative was channelled through the MCD, whose diplomas began to be awarded to students. Since 1996, undergraduate and graduate degrees, awarded to students of the Associated Teaching Institutions of the MCD, were Volunteers­­keeping­­the­­ MCD Degrees. What had been supplementary “internal” diplomas buildings­­spruced­­up became, with some degree of flexibility, diplomas of the MCD. In 1999 the College began offering a supplementary award, a Diploma in Ministerial Formation, which indicated that the student had been accepted for ministry in Churches of Christ, having completed the requisite training and being judged suitable.

One of the challenges facing the college during Greg Elsdon’s principalship was financial. The transition from Glen Iris to Mulgrave, for which Bill Tabbernee raised nearly $1,000,000 to supplement government compensation for the Glen Iris property, necessitated close financial management. As a consequence of a financial hiatus that was almost an inevitable accompaniment of the transition, the college found itself facing a cash flow problem. The result of this Di­­Shillitoe dilemma was that Ray Alabaster, who had reduced his involvement at CCTC to one week in four, offered to cease drawing a salary. Faculty members were asked to accept a reduction in salary, and it was decided to reduce the office staff. The student response to the latter was magnificent. After consulting together, they offered to cover the salary of Di. Shillitoe.

Keith Bowes spent considerable time during 1991 visiting churches and talking to them about the college. Graeme Wigney began selling our services, buildings, and catering facilities to outside commercial interests such as ITIM, World Vision, Dandenong Taxation Office, RMIT, and Motorola. Ian Allsop, guided by John Bailey, used his qualifications and expertise, working as a business consultant, funnelling

51 payment to the college. It was also at this time that we began holding Spring Festivals on the premises to help raise money for the on-going work of the college.

As the college gradually regained financial equilibrium, a tennis court, for which money had been previously given, and which honoured Colin Curtis, and a BBQ area at the rear of the student lounge, were built. CCTC­­from­­the­­air One major initiative designed to set the college on a firmer footing was the establishment of a Child Care Centre on the property. Much time and money was expended in attempting to establish this facility. In the end, the project proved too expensive. CCTC needed to pull out of the venture. This was fortunate, as, shortly afterwards, the federal government changed its policy on Child Care Centres, which left many of them in a precarious position financially. An alternative plan to raise money was initiated in 1997, when the board began looking into the possibility of selling the unused land at the northern and eastern sections of the college property. The contract for sale was signed in October 1999.

In May 1991 the board investigated the possibility of phone Rhubarb­­at­­the­­Spring­­ conferencing to include interstate Board members in meetings of Fair the board other than the extended mid-year conference, which they attended in person. These tele-conferences proved beneficial.

After volunteering to step down as business manager, following the financial crisis, Ray Alabaster remained board treasurer until July 1993, when he resigned. Clive Ward took over this role. Off-Campus directors, or, later, in WA, Directors of the WA Ministry Training Centre, during this period were Robert Leane, John. Gilmore, John Clapp, and Brian Holliday. In 1997 the SA Off campus Program Committee applied for affiliation with the recently established Adelaide College of Divinity.

Clive­­Ward Towards the end of 1995 the college launched a journal dealing with issues of ministry and theology. Initiated and edited by Graeme and Merryl Blair, and, from the 6th edition in 1997, by Stephen Curkpatrick, reo fulfilled a need for a stimulating, scholarly, but not dense production, which dealt creatively with theological and practical issues. It was designed for ministers and thoughtful laypeople. It sought to steer a middle course between publications aimed at academics and more popular productions that lacked substance. Theresa Taylor began to co-edit the journal in 2003. reo ceased to be published in hard copy after 2004, and became an electronic production.

In addition to his college responsibilities, Alan Niven was chairman of INSTEP, a

52 church-based clinical pastoral education program. Towards the end of 1997 the college agreed to house the office and director of the program, Sister Mary Farrell, in its buildings. It also arranged for Mary to rent one of the one-bedroom units on campus. Mary was a welcome addition to the community.

During the Elsdon years, the emphasis on the personal and professional nurture and pastoral care of students, which included the appointment of faculty/pastoral advisers, continued and was augmented. In Keith Bowes’ interim principalship certain ministers were invited to spend a week at the college as Ministers in Residence. They made themselves available to students as encouragers and sounding boards. In 1991 Dr. Bowes went to Carlingford for a week as minister-in-residence, while Dr. Farmer, principal at Carlingford, came to Mulgrave in the same capacity. In 1997, Dr. Carol Preston, dean of the Institute for Contemporary Church Leadership at the Wollongong Church of Christ, which was associated with Carlingford, spent time as minister-in- residence at Mulgrave.

I have not thus far mentioned particular students in this brief historical review. I will make an exception for Moffat Zimba, who commenced at CCTC in 1993. Moffat had come to Australia to study at another college, but found the academic standard inadequate. Moffat, an accountancy graduate, and his wife Doreen, had a passion for their fellow Zambians, particularly the young, who had few opportunities for education or work. While he and his wife took what work they could while at CCTC, in addition to the grind of study, they had little money, but looked to God to supply their needs. What was needed always came. We were surprised at the regularity and timing of this provision. After graduating, Moffat and Doreen set out for Fuller Theological Seminary in the US, again, with no money. It was a repetition of the same story! Moffat graduated with a DMin, and Doreen with an MBA in computing. They Doreen­­and­­ returned eventually to Zambia, after a ministry in California, Moffat­­Zimba where they continued dreaming and planning. Boards were formed in the US, Zambia, and Australia to help them plan and realize their vision. It was their desire to “establish a Christ-centred Zambian university that transforms and equips men and women to serve in ministry and business, working in unison for the spiritual and economic health of Zambians”. The Zambian government, through the local council, set 742 acres aside for the enterprise. Northrise University eventually took shape, with the construction of buildings, incorporation, and the commencement of a diploma course in Computer Studies and a Christian Ministries Department. In April 2004 Moffat reported that, in its opening year, the university had 51 students, 40 in Information Systems, and 11 in Christian Ministries. A garden to serve the needs of students and faculty had been established, and development of a software company was in the planning stages.

Dr. Greg Elsdon indicated, in April, 1999, that he would be resigning from the principalship at the end of the year. He had been under considerable strain, not only as a consequence of responsibilities at CCTC, but also as a result of unprecedented developments during his year as Vic-Tas Conference President, when cases of sexual abuse by ministers, some of them stretching back many years, needed to be dealt

53 with. This was a difficult time, not only for churches, but for a range of professional organizations. Redress for abuse was overdue, but strained the resources and energy of those involved.

Gordon Stirling knew Greg, but was not as intimately acquainted with him as he had been with previous principals. Nevertheless, his comments were pertinent, particularly the following.

“Greg’s genius was in building relationships, not only amongst the students but also with the College’s constituent churches. He was soon elected President of the Conference of Victorian- Tasmanian churches. The Principalship alone is more than a full time job, but Greg committed himself commendably in both callings. Greg was becoming increasingly known across the churches as a warm, friendly, humble, conscientious scholar and human being. For many of us it was too soon for him to resign from the College to answer a call to the historic Blackwood church in South Australia.

I enjoyed working with Greg, who was considerably younger than I was. This was a new experience for me. Greg was a careful scholar, creative, personable, gregarious, supportive, and fun to be with. Students loved him, faculty enjoyed his company and respected him, and churches came to trust him. This was quite an accomplishment for an ex-Baptist! He was also highly regarded by colleagues at the MCD.”

Total enrolments during Greg’s principalship varied from one hundred and fifteen and one hundred and thirty-two. In the previous two years, when Keith Bowes was Acting Principal, the total number of enrollees was one hundred and fifty-four and one hundred and sixty.

Chairpersons during this rather dramatic era were Dr. John Bailey (1990–1997), who retired after 25 years on the Board, Dr. Don Mansell (1997–1999), and David Brooker (1999– )

College­­Community­­in­­the­­Elsdon­­Era

54 Principal­­Kitchen (2000– )

errill Kitchen enjoys the distinction, among other things, of being the first Mwoman Principal of Churches of Christ Theological College. This circumstance reflects changing community attitudes, as well as the esteem in which Merrill is held in theological circles.

Merrill was born in 1943. Between 1961–1965 she studied at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and the University of Melbourne, gaining a Diploma of Medical Technology and becoming an Associate of the Australian Institute of Medical Technology. In 1980 she graduated from RMIT with a BAppSc (Medical Science). Between 1986 and 1990 Merrill studied at the MCD, graduating with a BTheol. In 1993 she was awarded a TheolM from the MCD, for a thesis entitled The parable of the pounds: A reading of Luke 19: 11–28 within the social and narrative framework of the Gospel of Luke. Merrill­­Kitchen

In 1973 Merrill, along with her surgeon husband Paul, sponsored by the Swanston Street Church of Christ, travelled to Israel to serve the local Israeli-Arab population at the Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society Hospital in Nazareth. She also undertook a short-term assignment at the Anglican Hospital in Gaza. After returning to Australia, she lectured in Microbiology and Pathology at the Phillip Institute of Technology, and in Microbiology and Bioscience at the Australian Catholic University. She has also been Tutor-demonstrator in Histopathology at RMIT, and tutor in the Department of Anatomy at the University of Melbourne. It was questions thrown up by experiences during her time in Palestine that stimulated the desire for theological exploration.

From 1986 to 1990 Merrill was chaplain to residential students at Whitley College. She conducted an interim ministry at Kew Baptist Church in 1994–1995. From 1991 to 1999 Merrill was Dean and Lecturer in New Testament at the Evangelical Theological Association. She had the singular distinction of serving as President of the MCD from 2003–2005, the first women to be so honoured in the 93 years of the institution’s history. Merrill is an endorsed minister of Churches of Christ.

55 Over the past thirteen years Merrill and her husband have led seven work-study groups to the Middle East. These groups live and work alongside the Palestinian population of the Galilee region, learning both from experts in the region, as well as the local population.

Merrill has co-authored a Lenten Study Booklet for 2006 with Michael Trainor and completed a number of chapters in volumes designed to make Christian literature accessible to Islamic Readers. This New Testament project is based in Beirut.

Penny­­Galbraith In 1999, Alan Niven, who had graduated with a MSocSc from the Australian Catholic University, and who was working on his PhD from the same institution, was appointed Vice-Principal of the college, with the additional responsibility of liaising with the churches. In 2005 he joined the board of the Churches of Christ Department of Community Care in Victoria to strengthen ties between CCTC and DCC. In 2000, Penny Galbraith, BTheol (Hons), a graduate of CCTC who was to commence an MMin in 2002, took over from Tim Corney as Lecturer in Youth Ministry, and Ron Buckland DipRE, BA, BD, ThL(Hons), MA(Th), who for many years had been a leader in Scripture Union, was appointed adjunct lecturer Ron­­Buckland responsible for contributing two children’s’ ministry units. Penny resigned her part-time position in November, 2004, but continued to lecture in youth ministry.

Avril Regan BA (Hons), DipEd, MAPS joined the faculty as an adjunct in 2002 and assisted Alan Niven as a support teacher in CCTC’s Pastoral Studies program until 2005 when her illness led to her untimely death on 9th November 2005. Avril had practiced for over 20 years as a psychologist, teaching at University, Bible College and even Funeral Companies. She had a significant influence on the lives of many CCTC students through her teaching in the classroom and her lively companionship on campus. One student delivered a card after her death that read Avril­­Regan Thanks for the mark you have left on my humanity and my faith. I wish I could write the words that just said “silence” sitting in the presence of each other and of God. Thank you for leading our group this year in the simple art of listening with ears, heart and mind. Your LIFE is a gift to me. Thank you for the steps we took together.

In 2002 the college was invited by Monash University to appoint a representative to their Board for the Centre for Studies in Religion and Theology. Dr. Curkpatrick was chosen to represent CCTC. During 2000, Graeme Chapman, who had been a member of the MCD Centre for Christian Spirituality since its inception, took over responsibility for co-ordinating the MCD’s MA in Spirituality. He spent a day a week at the Yarra Theological Colin­­Hunter Union in Box Hill.

56 In 2001, after John Gilmore accepted full-time employment with the Vic/Tas Conference, Colin Hunter, DipEE, BTheol, MMin, a Baptist Minister responsible for Supervised Field Education at Whitley College, was inducted as part-time Director of Supervised Field Education at CCTC. Colin, who in 2003 was awarded a DMinStuds from the MCD, concluded his term with CCTC when his role at Whitley became full-time. Anne Mallaby, BA, GradDipEd, BD, MMin, a Baptist who had ministered at The Patch Church of Christ and earlier joined the ministry studies team, succeeded Dr. Hunter at the beginning of 2006. In 2002 further faculty members, from Baptist backgrounds, were added to the team, both as part-time appointments. Tim McCowan, BArch, BTh, MDiv, DMin, who had spent time in the Philippines with Asia’s Servants, and with UNOH, was engaged to teach Christian Spirituality. He was also involved at Wellsprings, a spirituality centre attached to the Baptist Church at Ashburton. Anne­­Mallaby Doug & Kathy Dornhecker, who, following the departure of the Bayers, came to Australia under the auspices of Combined Global Ministries Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ, were inducted in March, 2002. In August of the following year, after the return of the Dornheckers to the US, Tod Gobledale, BA, MDiv, and Ana Gobledale, AA, BA, MAT, MADiv, EdD, who had served in South Africa, Zimbabwe, as well as the US, were welcomed in their place. In 2004 Dr. Ana Gobledale Doug­­&­­Kathy­­Dornhecker accepted a two day-a-week position as Resource Education and Development Co-ordinator for Urban Neighbourhood of Hope (UNOH) at Springvale, a burgeoning initiative springing from the passionate initiative of Ashley and Anji Barker.

At the end of 2003, Graham Warne retired and John Williamson, BA(Hons), BTh, DipMin, was appointed to take over his position as Registrar. John had studied for his degree at Flinders University in SA, and for his diploma Tod­­and­­Ana­­Gobledale at CCTC. He was a product of a necessary devolution of CCTC’s educational program, which involved students studying for their degrees at universities and Colleges of Divinity/ Theology in SA and WA, while attending CCTC for intensive ministry training at Mulgrave. Graham and John worked together for a number of months as John familiarized himself with the role of Registrar.

During 2006 Lynn Pryor, the college librarian, was in Egypt volunteering her skills. During her absence, Chew Nang, a student at the college, took over her role.

Two elements to impact on administrative procedures, and John­­Williamson

57 to increase the office workload during 2002, were privacy legislation and the GST.

In mid 2000, CCTC participated in a National Symposium on Theological Education, which the college initiated. Other participants were theological educators from the Australian College of Ministries (ACOM), which had resulted from the merging of Churches of Christ (NSW) Theological College and Alan­­Niven­­lecturing Kenmore Christian College in Queensland, as well as interested ministers and leaders in Churches of Christ in Australia. The symposium was held in Adelaide.

Two new developments in 2004 were the creation of Kids Ministry and Aged Care Internships. Ron Buckland, who was honoured the following year by the Vic/Tas Conference for his work with children over the years, was engaged to head up the Kid’s Min. training program.

In 2005 Dr. Tim McCowan initiated and supervised a ground- breaking interfaith dialogue between students from Carey Baptist Grammar, Bailik College (a Jewish School), and King Khalid Islamic School of Victoria. Students from the three schools met at set times for dialogue and vegetarian pizza, a food acceptable to all.

Since 1942, when the Woolwich Bible College was established, COB/CCTC found itself in competition for potential students. With the establishment of Kenmore Christian College in Queensland in 1964, the process accelerated. Two additional developments placed Tim­­McCowan CCTC under further pressure. ACOM, wishing to become an Australia- wide college (which CCTC was, by virtue of its establishment, constitution, and accountability to Federal/National Conference), in consultation with State Conferences and in dialogue with CCTC throughout the process, established Ministry Centres in all states. The second development was that students desirous of entering ministry within Churches of Christ did not necessarily choose a Churches of Christ College, whether COB/CCTC, CC(NSW)TC, KCC, or later ACOM, in which to train. At the end of 2004 ACOM, Tabor, and the Bible College of Victoria (BCV) had obtained Higher Education Provider status and were able to offer government fee assistance to their students in 2005.

So many in ministry within Churches of Christ today have little familiarity with the history and theology of Churches of Christ. State Conferences, in consultation with CCTC and ACOM, have sought to remedy this deficiency, but the trend continues. As the Task Force on Theological Education and Ministry Training observed, the market is becoming increasingly open. A National Audit on Theological Education within Churches of Christ was conducted in 2002. The dimensions of the issue of non-Churches of Christ trained ministers employed by local Churches of Christ was evident in the comment of Graham Carslake in 2004, that, despite Dr. Keith Bowes seminars on “The History and Thought of Churches of Christ”, it is difficult to maintain

58 the traditions and heritage of Churches of Christ in WA. Over 50% of those seeking ministerial endorsement were training in non-Churches of Christ institutions.

Since the MCD became a teaching, rather than merely an examining body, in 1976, CCTC had been teaching the BTheol. Stretching back to the Tabbernee and Elsdon eras, CCTC has, via the MCD and in conjunction with Melbourne and Monash Universities, been offering the combined BA/BTheol degrees. By 2005, as a consequence of burgeoning Post-Graduate initiatives by the MCD, CCTC was able to accommodate students wishing to enrol in the Graduate Diploma in Theology, the MA, the MDiv, and the MTS. Students could also enrol in doctoral programs: DTheol, PhD and DMinStuds.

There have been other changes at the MCD during Merrill Kitchen’s principalship that impacted on student options and fees. In 2002 the government’s Post-Graduate Education Loans Scheme became available to post-graduate students of the MCD and its affiliated institutions. In 2005 this assistance was extended to undergraduate students, replacing HECS.

The composition of the student body at CCTC during this period was becoming increasingly diverse. It is interesting to look at the breakdown of student statistics in 2004. There was an almost equal number of men and women – 51.5% female to 48.5% males. In terms of denominational affiliation, the figures indicated that there were Churches of Christ (50.8%), Baptist (13.5%), Pentecostal (8.78%), Roman Catholic (4.8%), UCA & Reformed churches (each 4%). The remaining 15.2% were divided between Anglican, Truth and Liberation Concern (each 4%), Salvation Army, Care and Communication Concern, the Vietnam Evangelical Church, Seventh Day Adventists, Greek Orthodox, and Wesleyan Methodists. Students were evenly spread between undergraduate and post-graduate courses.

Probably the most significant development to occur during Merrill Kitchen’s principalship related to the collegial structure of the MCD. When it became a teaching institution in 1976 the MCD was structured into a number of Associated Teaching Institutions (ATIs), which were associations of theological colleges that worked together ecumenically with joint faculties to teach and examine the BTheol (for example, Baptists and Churches of Christ in the ETA). Following amendments to the Victorian MCD Act of Parliament, the ATIs were dissolved at the end of 2005, when the Churches of Christ Theological College, along with some of the other theological colleges, became a Recognized Teaching Institution (RTI) in its own right. Smoking­­Ceremony­­ acknowledging­­Indigenous­­ In line with an emerging consciousness of the original Heritage inhabitants of our land, CCTC took steps, early in the new millennium, to research and recognize the local Aboriginal heritage. In 2005 an appropriate plaque was affixed to the walls of the college.

59 Entrance­­to­­the­­Churches­­of ­­Christ­­Theological­­college­­(CCTC)

During Merrill Kitchen’s principalship the college has continued—as seems always to have been the case – to struggle financially. The college is not endowed, in spite of bequests, because the latter have needed to be used to keep the institution afloat, in spite of the desire to salt them away into an endowment fund. A recent, major bequest has allowed a brief breathing spell and the opportunity for the college to begin building up the sort of endowment it has never had. Theological education and ministry training is an increasingly expensive endeavour.

Gordon Stirling has commented that Merrill Kitchen

“has moved among our churches across Australia and become known for her graciousness and warmth of personality, as well as her ability to present profound biblical truth in the language of the people.” My association with Merrill was as student, ETA Dean, and Principal. Throughout this association I have been impressed by her profound scholarship, informed by her experience in Palestine, which she carries with an easy grace. She has a firm mastery of administrative detail, and has not been intimidated by male peers. Merrill has a deep aversion to inequality and injustice, and sets about in quiet, but very deliberate ways to contribute to righting the imbalance. Head and heart work together in a unique combination. I loved working with Merrill, who was always open, consultative, and appreciative of the contribution of others. My only disappointment was that, shortly after Merrill became Principal, I considered it time to call it quits!”

In 2000, when Merrill Kitchen became Principal, there were 103 enrolled at CCTC. After slipping to 91 in 2002, numbers have climbed progressively to 154 in 2005.

David Brooker, who took over as chairman in the closing stages of the Elsdon Principalship, continues as chairman of the Board throughout the principalship of Merrill Kitchen.

60 Into­­the­­Future

he college was brought into existence as a result of individuals rising to a challenge. Challenges, some of which have threatened the college’s very existence, Thave continued to grow it. The challenges we face today are considerable.

On the one hand we live in an increasingly individualistic, materialistic, post-Christian world, in which churches, rather than making headway, are falling behind. On the other hand, people are looking for deeper answers, and for a foundation to inform and support their efforts at making the world, often their local community, a healthier place. This leaves institutions, like CCTC, in an invidious predicament. As the need becomes greater, the resources become fewer.

Not only is the giving of churches, who are concentrating more on their own needs than was the case forty years ago, a diminishing fraction of the overall budget, but an older generation, who have supported the college through bequests, are passing from the scene. It is these bequests that have kept CCTC financially viable. The college, which is no different from any other institutions in the community, including state and national conferences, knows that if it is to survive into the future it must generate its own income, or the bulk of it. Government assistance is available in a way in which it wasn’t in the past, but with this largess, in the nature of student loans, comes increasing regulation.

CCTC, like other theological institutions, is no longer exclusively concerned with students associated with its own denomination, and there has been a strong Baptist component on the faculty for a number of years now. There is a richness to the blending of traditions among the student body and lecturing staff. The gender balance is also creative. On the other hand, with the paring back of an exclusive denominational focus, both at the College and in Churches of Christ generally, there is a diminishing awareness of the distinctives of Churches of Christ. In the current scene it is difficult to sustain a fruitful tension between honouring the creative traditions of Churches of Christ and celebrating ecumenical diversity. The college has a role in fostering both imperatives. One of the realities that CCTC faces is that, if it is to maintain its existence and fulfil its mandate, it must market itself to the broadest possible constituency. To do this, however, will mean that those belonging to Churches of Christ will become a decreasing percentage of the student body.

61 A further factor that needs to be contended with is that the vocation of Christian ministry does not have the appeal it once did. We live in a post-Christian world, where the church, sullied by instances of abuse, is no longer held with the respect in which it once was. There is also a greater recognition of the value of other religious traditions, and an awareness of the fact that Christians are not the only ones who have access to God. With the consequent moderation of the fundamentalist element in many denominations, people are less likely to respond to a call to ministry that is driven by the desire to “evangelize the heathen”. Those that are, are unlikely to consider CCTC as a ministry training option! On the other hand, those whose faith is more considered and open are just as likely to choose to train for a helping profession, which is not associated with formal religion, and which is better accepted and more adequately remunerated than Christian ministry. All this means that, while the education of ministry students remains a central focus of the college, less and less potential students are coming forward to offer themselves for ministry. Those who do can choose from a wide range of providers, of which CCTC is only one. Competition is stiff, and marketing vigorous.

If challenges have grown us in the past, they will continue to grow us into the future, provided we don’t lose our nerve, provided our ears are open to discern the appropriate guidance, that is, provided we have “ears to hear”!

62 Enrolment­­Statistics

New Student Enrolments at the College of the Bible 1907—1983

Year Students Year Students Year Students Year Students 1907 21 1927 15 1947 12 1967 14 1908 15 1928 14 1948 10 1968 16 1909 6 1929 12 1949 14 1969 17 1910 9 1930 13 1950 10 1970 12 1911 25 1931 11 1951 17 1971 15 1912 20 1932 7 1952 11 1972 18 1913 22 1933 13 1953 12 1973 11 1914 16 1934 11 1954 6 1974 17 1915 10 1935 7 1955 10 1975 15 1916 13 1936 10 1956 17 1976 23 1917 13 1937 6 1957 18 1977 33 1918 15 1938 9 1958 16 1978 30 1919 12 1939 8 1959 14 1979 18 1920 19 1940 7 1960 15 1980 12 1921 17 1941 17 1961 12 1981 7 1922 21 1942 10 1962 12 1982 10 1923 22 1943 13 1963 10 1983 108 1924 14 1944 15 1964 17 1925 18 1945 20 1965 14 1926 20 1946 12 1966 11

Total Number of Students 1984—2006

Year Students Year Students Year Students Year Students 1984 ­­96 1990 154 1996 No­­Record 2002 110 1985 90 1991 160 1997 115 2003 140 1986 107 1992 132 1998 122 2004 154 1987 134 1993 125 1999 103 2005 119 1988 163 1994 No­­Record 2000 No­­Record 2006 121 1989 205 1995 115 2001 91

63 64