Whitley College is a culturally diverse community of learners committed to practical expressions of God’s activity in the world. We wrestle together in spiritual formation through theological reflection, creative exploration and academic rigour.
Welcome
Whitley College is a culturally diverse community of learners committed to practical expressions of God’s activity in the world. We wrestle together in spiritual formation through theological reflection, creative exploration and academic rigour.
Shaped by the Bible, and drawing on our Baptist heritage, we are responsive to the contemporary needs of church and society, affirming liberty of conscience in conversation with other traditions of religion and spirituality.
Our educational ethos unifies heart, thought and hands, giving priority to personal and social transformation.
Reverend Professor René Erwich, Principal, Whitley College
History
Whitley College has been offering theological education in Victoria since 1891, originally as The Baptist College of Victoria, and since 1965 as Whitley College in Parkville. It was a founding member of the Melbourne College of Divinity in 1910, which in 2012 became Australia’s first specialist university: The University of Divinity (UD). Whitley College is an agency of the Baptist Union of Victoria.
Originally focused solely on the training of pastors for ordained ministry in what would later become the Baptist Union of Victoria, Whitley College now educates people from all walks of life, recognising the contribution of theological discourse to a wide range of endeavours. Formal courses of study are available from Diploma level through to postgraduate research at Doctoral level, enabling students to find a level and a pathway appropriate to their interests and pursuits. Whitley currently holds the distinction of having the most students enrolled at Diploma level in the UD, and is one of the leading colleges involved in postgraduate research awards. Alongside these formal academic programs, Whitley partners with Camp Wilkin in the delivery of education to their 12WATTS interns, runs programs for students from non-English speaking backgrounds (TransFormation), for school leavers (NEXT) and young adults (NEXT2), and for Indigenous studies (in conjunction with NAIITS). Our partnership with The WellSpring Centre brings a range of study options at post-graduate level in the areas of Spirituality and Spiritual Direction. In conjunction with Global Interaction, Rev Dr Ian Dicks serves as lecturer in Intercultural Studies while continuing work on a project in Malawi.
These developments seek to give concrete expression to Whitley’s stated purpose: Equipping leaders for a different world.
In 2018, the College embarked on a new era with the closure of the Residential College in December 2017, the appointment of Principal Reverend Professor René Erwich.
Whitley College on VOX
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Recent publications from the University of Divinity research community – 2022
The University of Divinity research community recently gathered in person for the annual Research Conference. During the conference, we celebrated publications written by our academics, honorary researchers and HDR students that had been published in the last 12 months (since the previous Research Conference). We invite you to explore the books below.
- Featured
Interview with Associate Professor Jason Goroncy
Associate Professor Jason Goroncy recently spoke with Vox about what he enjoys about teaching at the University, his own early theological studies, and why he thinks asking questions is a key component of theology.