Southern Cross College

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Southern Cross College (formerly Commonwealth Bible College) the official ministry training college of Australian Christian Churches, the Assemblies of God in Australia. The college is located in Chester Hill, New South Wales, Australia and has programs running in various colleges and churches around Australia. Since the college was founded in 1948, about 2,500 students have been trained and the graduates are in ministry on every continent of the world.

It offers various programs, from certificate through to masters level study. The college ethos is based in a Pentecostal / Charismatic orientation. It offers Sydney College of Divinity awards, including: Bachelor of Theology, Master of Arts (Theological Studies), Master of Arts (Leadership), Master of Theology, Master of Divinity.

There is also a Korean Language program, and various vocational awards accredited with the NSW Vocational Education and Training Accreditation Board.

[edit] Faculty and research

The college is one of the first pentecostal colleges in Australia to develop a faculty with higher level academic qualifications. It now has a permanent faculty, eight with doctoral level qualifications, as well as other experienced teachers.

The college has set up the Australasian Pentecostal Heritage Centre, which includes an online repository of historical pentecostal journals - including issues of the Australian Evangel back to 1927. They have also created a refereed journal, Australasian Pentecostal Studies.

Southern Cross College - Chester Hill Campus

[edit] History

Southern Cross College began as "Commonwealth Bible College" in 1948 in Melbourne and has been in a number of locations since then. In 1949 it moved to Newfarm in Brisbane. A purpose built campus was established in 1961 at Graceville on the banks of the Brisbane River but was totally destroyed in the massive Brisbane floods of 1974.

For one interim year the college was conducted at Glad Tidings Tabernacle in Brisbane while a new campus was obtained and refurbished in Katoomba in the former Palais Royale guesthouse. A few years later the facilities of the Illawara Bible College were added to the campus and the college continued in Katoomba until 1995. In 1993 the name was changed to Southern Cross Bible College, and due to a new incorporation this name became Southern Cross College of the Assemblies of God in Australia Ltd. From the beginning of 1996 the college has been at Chester Hill.

The college has set up the Australasian Pentecostal Heritage Centre, which includes an online repository of historical pentecostal journals - including issues of the Australian Evangel back to 1927. They have also created a refereed journal, Australasian Pentecostal Studies.

[edit] Residential accommodation

As many colleges and universities do, Southern Cross College offers on-site residential accommodation. Previously, it was mandatory for all students to live on campus. Currently residential accommodation is available to both Southern Cross students and the general public. Residents are given a single or double room, which includes a desk and wardrobe. Residents may chose to have meals from the dining hall, prepared by the chef. There are three residential buildings located on the Chester Hill campus, they are;

[edit] Armstrong House

Armstrong house is named after Pastor Norman Armstrong. This building contains the most residents, ranging from college students to people simply living on campus. The third floor contains a kitchen and a common community room.

[edit] Houston House

Houston House is named after Pastor Frank Houston. Most of the people living in this building are married or are staff members. Houston House previously housed people in the Teen Challenge program, which was run from Southern Cross College.

[edit] Lancaster House

Lancaster House is named after Jane Lancaster, an early Australian Pentecostal figure. This building is generally empty and is used for accommodation for many conferences.

[edit] See also

• List of universities in Australia

[edit] External links

• Southern Cross College