Click here to download the registration brochure. [1.34MB]

It is our delight to have Don Carson as our expositor and Andrew Reid as our Australian trainer for 2010.
We will be sinking our teeth into "Can these Songs Live? Reviving the Psalms in Christian Preaching"

The Conference begins on Monday 16 and concludes Thursday 19 August 2010.
Please take note of the date for your diary and those whom you believe would benefit spending some time developing the craft of preaching.

There are a number of critical elements which combine together to make the Ridley Melbourne Annual Preachers’ Conference unique. A residential conference designed to encourage preachers in an environment of fellowship, discussion and mutual encouragement with like-minded peers to develop skills in preaching and teaching God's word with the modelling from well known expositors.

Some accommodation will be offsite.

This conference will be a significant part of the celebrations of Ridley's centenary and also a significant contribution toward continuing the heritage of the College through training future generations of gospel-focused leaders and preachers.

PA / Administrative Assistant

Responsible for providing PA, administrative and secretarial support to a Dean and the Centenary Appeal.

Click here to download Position Description and application details.

A centenary is a great opportunity to celebrate and it provides the opportunity for all associated with Ridley to join together to reminisce and to pray that the ministry of Ridley Melbourne will continue to flourish and God's Kingdom will grow through equipping and forming men and women for God's mission in the world.

Click here to download the Centenary Calendar of Events planned for 2010.

Register for one or more of these events by:

Email
Our central events email address events@ridley.edu.au

Answering machine messge
Leave a message on our dedicated events extension 03 9207 4800 ext 955

There may be a cost associated to some of these events or an offering to be donated to support the ministry of the college to our future.

but it must be a dwelling on them by meditation.’ Edmund Calamy

This article was published in the EFAC magazine, Essentials. A second article was also published and is avaliable to download.

Jill Firth is Associate Minister at St John’s West Brunswick and an adjunct lecturer in Theology and a tutor in Old Testament at Ridley Melbourne.

but it must be a dwelling on them by meditation.’ Edmund Calamy

This article was published in the EFAC magazine, Essentials. A second article was also published and is avaliable to download.

Jill Firth is Associate Minister at St John’s West Brunswick and an adjunct lecturer in Theology and a tutor in Old Testament at Ridley Melbourne.

 Ridley University College: A very short history 1965-2005

Chapters 1-3 

 by Audrey N Grant

‘Something exceedingly precious’ - these words by Dr Leon Morris resonate for generations of students and staff who have lived, studied and worked at Ridley College, University of Melbourne, between 1965 and 2005. ‘Something exceedingly precious’ certainly resonates for the many Ridleyans, who have accepted my invitation to contribute through individual interviews and written reflections and given generously of their time and experience, to become the research participants for this short history project. Taken together, their direct personal associations with Ridley as a residential college serving both theological and university students span from the early 1930s to 2005. Dr Morris was speaking of ‘what it means to belong to the University family’ during the first full year of Affiliation, 1966 - and of the privilege bestowed (by government Statute, December 1965) upon Ridley College, University of Melbourne. As the Principal (1964-1979) he shaped Ridley, Melbourne’s 10th Affiliate University College, over its initial fourteen years, imparting the vision of a ‘balanced’, ‘caring community’ enriched by ‘fruitful interplay’ between the two kinds of students Ridley College was founded to serve - the ‘theologs’ and the ‘seculars’.

A history of ‘Ridley University College’ has multiple chapters, told in this monograph as a story unfolding across three main parts. In Part 1, Chapters 1-3, the story traces the history of Ridley as a place of residence providing a home for both theological and university students from 1910 to its establishment as Melbourne’s 10th Affiliate University College, during the Morris era (1965-1979). Chapter 1, Prelude (1908-1963), follows on from an opening history lesson given in 1954 by former Principal Dr Barton Babbage (1953-1963) to an audience of  three enterprising residential students. Chapter 2, Belonging: Ridley College, University of Melbourne - ‘A developing work’ - traces major Council initiatives and College developments during the early Morris years, 1964-1970, ‘a time...ripe for action’ - for launching Ridley’s five-year Appeal, building the Chapel, joining the University Intercollegiate family and expanding Ridley’s residential community, buildings and Avenue properties to meet the growing demands of a diverse student body. Chapter 3, Establishing Ridley University College in the 1970s, the later Morris period, begins with several significant turning points including provision for student representation, and for administrative and financial transformation with the appointment of the first Deputy Principal, Bishop Alfred Stanway (1971-75). Another first for Ridley’s University College - Going Co-Educational - ‘began in a small way’ late 1971, yet from early 1972 led ‘the social revolution of the 1970s’. Our diverse research participants introduce us to Ridley’s vibrant collegiate life; in Part 1 from 1964 to the Principal’s farewells in 1978/79, providing many clues about “the best years of your life”.

The above chapters have not been printed, the remainder of the book Proclaiming Christ: Ridley College Melbourne 1910-2010 can be purchased for $35 online from the Ridley Bookshop ph (03) 9207 4999            bookshop@ridley.edu.au

Dean of Global Mission APPOINTMENT

We want a leader for our Learning Community to equip people for global mission. You will provide specialist training, recruit potential candidates, and raise awareness of global mission and cross-cultural ministry within the college.

The position is 0.6 EFT or three days.

For a Position Description and Application procedures, please contact:
Nicole Harvey on +61 3 92074800 ext 904
n.harvey@ridley.edu.au

Old Testament Lecturer APPOINTMENT

Ridley Melbourne is seeking a person who has proven abilities in theological education, pastoral care, personal and ministry formation, and community leadership.

The Ridley Vision: men and women equipped for God’s mission in the church and the world, ready to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future.

We are seeking to fill this position from July 2010, or later by negotiation.

For a Position Description and Application procedures, please contact:
Nicole Harvey on +61 3 92074800 ext 904
n.harvey@ridley.edu.au

Whatever your background and direction, there are a few ideas that can set us on the right track.  Here are some thoughts on how to make your theological education count, which I've summarised from Andrew Reid.

What’s the point?

• Brain education. Theological education is about preparing for a lifetime of serving others.  Sure, it involves learning, but it's about personal formation.  It's also just the beginning in a whole lifetime of theological thinking.  It won't leave you fully formed but, as a period of dedicated study, it's designed to set you on the right trajectory.
• Tools, not answers. The point is not to collect ‘the right answers’ but to develop a set of tools and skills with which you can think coherently about the big questions of life and ministry.  After all, the questions will never dry up!
• Ministry networks. This season of study provides invaluable contact with others who are thinking through the same stuff.  Take hold of this as a wonderful support for your future ministry life.

Making the most of it

1. Establish a spiritual life in the midst of study. Don’t assume that something will change later -- there will be no magical day when you’ll suddenly ‘have time’ for God!  Work hard to develop devotional habits that stick.  There is no danger of legalism here, only the nutritional value of discipline.  Consider how your attempts tie in with your personality -- don’t try to force yourself into unmanageable habits.
2. Read your Bible well and widely. Your personal Bible reading will shape your prayer life and form your single best resource for ministry.  Your reading might take any number of forms: it might be a book a week or a chapter a week, it might be an audio Bible at the gym, it might be via e-mail with a friend.  Whatever the case, ensure that you are regularly covering the whole Bible and making your reading count. 
3. Choose essay and exam topics carefully. Choose broad topics rather than ones with a narrow focus -- even if they are more difficult and will lower your result!  The reason: this is the level on which ministry happens.  You are far more likely to encounter a big question like ‘What are the Gospels?’ than to be asked to explain whether 'logos' attributes deity to Jesus!
4. Make friends for life. Commit to people with whom you will continue to share relationships.  This is especially significant for men.
5. Start writing your own gravestone. Epitaphs are only short.  ‘A good husband.’  ‘A prayerful woman.’  What will you be remembered for?  Well, what will shape your life?  What will your values be?  What goals will you set?  Importantly, this is a question about who you will be, not what you will do -- and it is of course who you will be that drives what you will do.
6. Choose subjects for skills. Where possible, pick subjects that will develop the skills you need.  Do you need to work on evangelism?  Do you need to be a clearer thinker?  Let those considerations drive your subject choices.
7. Develop reading habits. If you don't consider yourself to be a reader, prepare to be an adequate reader.  Christianity is a ‘book faith’ and will inevitably involve reading of some kind.
   
   a) Read more broadly than your subjects and set texts require.  This will keep your head ticking over alongside your subjects, adding to your formation.
   
   b) Choose a few key books to read that are not required for essays.  By the time you’ve finished your degree, plan to have covered five types of ‘extra’ books: (1) a history of Israel and/or the church, (2) a book on doctrine/theology, (3) a NT introduction, (4) an OT introduction, and (5) a book on the area of ministry you’re heading towards.
   
   c) Choose one thing to be your area of expertise -- a topic or ministry area that you will become most well-versed in.  Why?  It makes your learning manageable and satisfying.  Trying to keep up with everything in detail is a burden that leads to anxiety and feelings of failure (unless you have a Carson-sized brain or Carson-sized study leave!).  This is for your own wellbeing more than anything, providing something about which you can be particularly alive and purposeful.  While broad expertise certainly promotes intellectual alertness, it probably has less ministry significance.

Who will you be?

There are perhaps three types of people in ministry.

Some people take a haphazard approach because they lack self-reflection and a rationale.

Some rare people are broadly multiskilled, having above-average skills across a wide range of areas (eg, admin + preaching + pastoring).

Some people are single-skilled people who know how to do one or two things well, even exceptionally.

The point is t his: make sure you self-reflect so that you and others may benefit and grow.

There are some more ideas like these on UCCF's Theology Network and how to waste your theological education.

This post first appeared at Cyberpunk + Blue Twin go back to uni.

I am absolutely fascinated by his work.  He brings together the social sciences and theology in a way that I've never seen before.  What I'm wondering is: am I being swept away in a trajectory away from a Biblical theology?  Away from the Gospel?  Away from an historic faith?  I don't think so, from what I've read it seems pretty consistent with an evangelical Christian faith.  Granted, he doesn't come at theology from the same direction as perhaps a traditional Biblical theologian would, it's like he uses his theory observed in human cultures as his hermeneutic for reading the Biblical text, but I think he's onto something that's been 'hidden since the foundation of the world' - as one of his key books is titled.

The most succinct article I've found on his work which focuses primarily on justifying it from a Biblical/theological perspective can be found here: http://www.firstthings.com/article/2007/10/002-are-the-gospels-mythical-11

I'd love to hear if anyone has dived into his theory and reflected on it from a theological perspective.  And if you haven't, it is definitely worth reading the somewhat dense and academic article linked above!