Establishment
The Sydney College of Divinity was formed in 1983 when six theological Colleges in Sydney constituted themselves as a federation with a view to providing an accredited tertiary education award in theology. The colleges constituted the Member Institutions of the Sydney College of Divinity.
From its outset, the Sydney College of Divinity has been more than an arrangement for the purposes of accreditation. The founding Member Institutions were committed to a genuinely ecumenical endeavour in which, while retaining their autonomy and ecclesial traditions, they would collaborate with, and support each other, as a College. The Member Institutions have found that our mutual encouragement and accountability to one another as members of the College both enhances the academic standing of our teaching and learning, and strengthens our Christian ministry and witness in Sydney and beyond.
In the years since 1983 the membership of the Sydney College of Divinity has changed. The current Member Institutions are
- Australian College of Christian Studies (Sydney and Perth Campuses)
- Australian College of Ministries
- Catholic Institute of Sydney
- Nazarene Theological College
- Nisibis Assyrian Theological College
- NSW College of Clinical Pastoral Education
- Planetshakers College
- St Andrew's Greek Orthodox Theological College
- St Cyril's Coptic Orthodox Theological College
The responsibilities of the College’s central administration rests with the Office of the Dean. The staff of the Member Institutions serve on SCD boards and committees.
The SCD Bachelor of Theology was accredited by the New South Wales Higher Education Board in February 1984. Today, though we offer a full range of awards from diploma to research degrees, the Bachelor of Theology remains a central award which embodies the College’s mission to provide both theological education and ministerial preparation.
The Sydney College of Divinity welcomes the admission of new Member Institutions which embrace our aims, ethos, and educational philosophy.