Federal College of the Bible, Report of the Board of Management in Churches of Christ in

      11. Inter-College Discussion. In order to promote the best interests of our brotherhood in our training programmes, the Board made an approach to the Board of the Bible College, Woolwich, N.S.W., for a conference on matters of mutual interest. The Board in N.S.W. agreed and in early February, 1958, we met at Woolwich. Discussion ensued on (1) The possibility of common action to maintain and promote standards of education and training for the ministry. (2) The task of the Colleges in preparing students to lead our churches with consistency and effectiveness. (3) The relationship of the Colleges in the fulfilment of their task of education and training. A profitable time was spent in discussing various issues. There was common consent that unworthy comparisons and criticisms made by some people in the brotherhood be discountenanced and that a spirit of mutual good will should always prevail.

Report of Federal Executive in Churches of Christ in Australia 32nd Federal Conference,

      Federal Conference of 1966 passed a resolution that the Executive convene a meeting from all States and the A.C.T. to conduct a consultation concerning the relationship of theological education to Federal Conference and the Australian brotherhood.

      This Consultation was held at Woolwich, N.S.W. in January, 1968. It included representation from all State Conferences and the A.C.T. and from each of the Colleges. The Federal Vice-President for N.S.W., P. H. Morton chaired the Consultation and M. H. A. Pieper representing Queensland was its recording secretary.

      The recommendation of the Consultation is as follows:--

      "We recommend to Federal Conference Executive, to each State Conference Executive, and each College Board that,

      (a) Each College promote its work only in the area of its controlling constituency, except that the Federal College will not promote its work in New South Wales and Queensland.

      (b) Federal Conference be invited to set up a consultative Board of Theological Studies as a means of co-operation between Churches of Christ Theological Colleges, and this Board report to Federal Conference on its activities and the activities of the Colleges.

      (c) The Board will be concerned with matters of educational standards, transfers, comity, curricula, affiliation with other institutions, higher theological education and scholarships, and general relations between Colleges and the Australian Brotherhood.

      (d) The Board be composed of the Principals of the Colleges, a representative from each College Board, representative from each of the Federal and State Executives. The chairman to be the President of Federal Conference or his nominee. Any Principal may, if unable to attend, appoint a proxy.

      (c) Meetings of the Board shall be called by the Federal Conference."

A.C., 1966, April 16, p. 18.

To the Editor,

      You are doubtless aware that representations are, at present, being made to set up a Federal Committee to deal with inter-Theological College problems. This proposal has been most carefully considered, first by the Academic Committee, and then by the full Board of Management of this College, and has in both cases been rejected. The following are the reasons:

      (a) The setting up of a Federal Committee would inevitably draw the colleges into the area of federal brotherhood politics, whereas we feel that they should remain neutral and apart.

      (b) Such a Federal Committee of a mere handful of advisers would be interpreted as speaking for the brotherhood as a whole, which they could not realistically do.

      (c) Such a Committee, to be really conversant with the problems, would need many meetings in each of the College areas involving quite impossible expense.

      (d) Such a Committee, even with the best intentions in the world, would tend to encroach on the autonomy of the Colleges, which is a necessary attribute for any tertiary education establishment.

      (e) All that such a Committee could hope to achieve could be easier and better brought about by informal discussions between the principals and the Colleges themselves.

--James H. Jauncey, Principal,      
Kenmore Christian College, Kenmore, Qld.      

A.C., 1966, April 30, p. 18.

To the Editor,

      In various consultations over the years between the Bible College, Woolwich, and the College of the Bible, Glen Iris, agreement has been reached concerning minimum standards, procedure and recognition of credits in the case of the transfer of a student from one College to another.

      More recently the suggestion was made to Woolwich and Kenmore that a Federal Committee for Ministerial Training be established for purposes of consultation and promotion of minimum standards in all theological Colleges established by Churches of Christ in Australia.

      It was farther suggested that such a committee may consist of two or three representatives from the constituency of each College.

      As previously, consultations between Woolwich and Glen Iris have taken place during Federal Conference, it was thought that normally it would be possible for the proposed Federal Committee to hold its consultations during Federal Conference and so avoid extra costs.

      For such a Federal Committee to be established it would be necessary for a notice of motion to be presented to Federal Conference, where the proposal would be discussed and voted upon.

      Woolwich and Glen his have agreed on the suggestion to establish such a committee, and it was made perfectly clear that it should be for purposes of consultation and promotion of minimum standards. Such a Committee would not exercise any control or authority over the Colleges, but by consultation would seek to promote minimum standards.

      The suggestion was initially made because it is believed that minimum standards are in the interests of our whole Australian brotherhood.

      On behalf of the Board of Management, College of the Bible, Glen Iris,

--K. A. Jones, sec.      

To the Editor,

      Dr. J.H. Jauncey, in "A-C.," April 16, states, ". . . You are doubtless aware that representations are, at present, being made to set up a Federal Committee to deal with inter-Theological College problems," and then proceeds to state why Kenmore will not co-operate.

      Is this a correct statement of the position? The S.A. Conference was the first to pass this motion:

      "That the Federal Conference establish a Federal Committee for Ministerial Training for purposes of consultation and promotion of minimum standards in all Theological problems." Let us always be honest in stating the position we are seeking to establish or decry. Nothing is to be gained by half-statements of a position.

      I am sure there are many people in our Australian brotherhood who would wish to see a Committee of responsible people set up to see that standards are maintained in our Colleges which are in keeping with the standards of education in our society; It is difficult to know why a College would not wish to co-operate in such. It is a question of minimum standards, not maximum.

      The people trained in these Colleges are acknowledged as ministers, missionaries, etc., of our brotherhood. Surely the brotherhood, through the only possible means, Federal Conference, should have something to say as to what will be the minimum standards of training.

--I. J. Chivell, S.A.      

A.C., 1966, May 14, p. 18.

To the Editor,

      Allow me to emphasise that Kenmore is wholeheartedly in favour of College co-operation, as long as it is left to the Colleges themselves. We will gladly work with both Colleges to attain the highest standards possible land we welcome training suggestions from anyone.

      On standards, Kenmore's goals are as follows:

      (a) Academically, every graduate a B.A., B.D.

      (b) Theologically, every graduate unreservedly committed to the traditional conservative Restoration position.

      (c) spiritually, every graduate on fire for God and thoroughly versed in the Scriptures in the original languages.

      (d) Professionally, every graduate thoroughly trained and experienced in all the practical arts of the ministry.

--James H. Jauncey, Principal.      

To the Editor,

      Dr. J.H. Jauncey has indicated that the Kenmore Christian College Board has rejected a proposal to set up a Federal Committee for Ministerial Training, involving the three present theological colleges. K. A. Jones has indicated that the College Boards of Woolwich and Glen Iris have agreed to the proposal. Obviously there is nothing wrong with College Boards agreeing to or objecting to such a proposal. However, it is important to remember that the College Boards do not have the final say.

      If the Federal Conference passed a resolution to establish a Federal Committee for Ministerial Training for purposes of consultation and promotion of minimum standards in all theological colleges established by Churches of Christ in Australia, then Federal Conference would set up such a Committee. It would then be up to the State Conferences in Queensland and New South Wales to determine whether or not their theological colleges would co-operate with the Committee.

      Dr. Jauncey refers to the "autonomy of colleges, which is a necessary attribute for any tertiary education establishment." Surely the Kenmore Christian College is not autonomous in relation to the Qld. Conference of Churches of Christ!

--G. R. Stirling, A.C.T.      

Report of Federal Executive in Churches of Christ in Australia 33rd Federal Conference,

      Federal Conference of 1966 called for a Consultation on Theological Education. The 1968 Federal Report Book reported on the Consultation and the resolutions it had passed. Because some States had felt that these recommendations should be passed first by State Conferences prior to their presentation to Federal Conference, the Executive deferred to these States. When the Federal Executive's report was presented to the last Conference it was therefore made clear that the adoption of the report did not necessarily mean an implementing of these resolutions.

      Subsequent to this the Queensland Conference passed a resolution giving effect only to some of the recommendations and omitting reference to others. New South Wales did not exercise the right its Executive claimed in either the Conferences of 1969 or 1970 to bring the recommendations to its State Conference. The Federal Executive has decided to leave the recommendations of the Consultation stand as such for the consideration of the Federal and State Conferences and the Colleges. The recommendations of the Consultation are quoted for reference:--

      "We recommend to Federal Conference Executive, to each State Conference Executive, and each College Board that,

      (a) Each College promote its work only in the area of its controlling constituency, except that the Federal College will not promote its work in New South Wales and Queensland.

      (b) Federal Conference be invited to set up a consultative Board of Theological Studies as a means of co-operation between Churches of Christ Theological Colleges, and this Board report to Federal Conference on its activities and the activities of the Colleges.

      (c) The Board will be concerned with matters of educational standards, transfers, comity, curricula, affiliation with other institutions, higher theological education and scholarships, and general relations between Colleges and the Australian Brotherhood.

      (d) The Board be composed of the Principals of the Colleges, a representative from each College Board, a representative from each of the Federal and State Executives. The chairman to be the President of Federal Conference or his nominee. Any Principal may, if unable to attend, appoint a proxy.

      (e) Meetings of the Board shall be called by the Federal Conference."

[NOF 610-613]