A Celebration Service for the Perth College of Divinity will be held on Sunday 19 September, 2.30pm, at the Murdoch University Worship Centre. The service will give thanks for the 35-year partnership, and mark the closure of Murdoch University’s theology program.
The Presbytery of WA resolved to withdraw the Perth Theological Hall from the Perth College of Divinity back in 2017. Prior to this, the Perth College of Divinity was a joint Anglican/Uniting Church in Australia body, which oversaw the theological program at Murdoch University. Originally, the college also included the Roman Catholic and Baptist churches.
The Perth College of Divinity has been active since 1985. Since this time, many students have spent their ministry formation at the college.
Rev Dr Anne Wright, Director of Education and Formation for the Uniting Church WA, and Principal of the Perth Theological Hall, said the developments will bring mixed emotions for many.
“I am excited to be part of such an august event as this one, bringing together so many who trained at Perth College of Divinity and with Perth Theological Hall over those 35 years,” Anne said. “It will be a special occasion, both nostalgic for the changes which have occurred, some sadness that we have had to deeply renovate Perth Theological Hall to make way for new things in education for the Uniting Church WA, and joy in being together again with friends both past and present.
“John Dunnill and I would like it to be a celebration, of all that has been achieved. A celebration of the many who have passed through its halls and taught there, and a recognition that we have moved into a new era.
“We celebrate that theological education continues on in different forms, working on new ways of being church in mission to the world, participating together in the Missio Dei [Mission of God].”
Rev Dr Sue Boorer will preach at the service. For more information email cedal@wa.uca.org.au.
Top image: Staff and students of the Perth Theological Hall, back in the early 1990s.