Our History
The Churches of Christ in NSW Theological College was founded in 1941 at Woolwich, New South Wales. Kenmore Christian College (supported by the Queensland Churches of Christ) was founded in 1964 in Kenmore, Queensland. These training colleges merged to form The Australian College of Ministries (ACOM) in 1999. Throughout their long histories, both founding colleges adapted to meet emerging challenges in ministry training, while always maintaining a deep commitment to their solid biblical and theological foundations. For example, in the 1980s, it became obvious that effectiveness in ministry, mission and church leadership required more than academic competencies and biblical knowledge. Hence, greater emphasis was placed on developing key ministry skills and practical competencies. In the 1990s, character development was added to both colleges' programs in recognition that many Christian leaders (despite their intelligence, skills and competencies) were nonetheless buckling under the pressure ministry was placing on them and their families.
Changes also occurred in the circumstances of students, the way churches chose their leaders, and the expectations of people seeking to be Christian leaders. In particular, the financial and relational costs of leaving work, church and home to move to college became prohibitive for many. Increasingly, students chose be trained on-the-job after they were called to ministry rather than completing four years of full-time training in anticipation of a call to ministry. Concurrently, churches began to recruit untrained people that they knew well, and then wanted to receive excellent training linked to their ministries. As a result, the two colleges' delivery methods became much more flexible and accessible during the 1990s.
In the new century, the merged ACOM moved towards becoming a fully accessible distance learning provider, with targeted face-to-face student support available through Formation Groups and Subject Facilitations. The new century has also witnessed major shifts in the standard, flexibility, specialisation and scope of training sought by students. As a result ACOM has become a highly professional and diversified provider of higher education that has developed a national and international reputation for excellence and innovation.Further, in response to critical changes in the ministry environment, and a clear vision for investing in all followers of Jesus including leaders, ACOM launched its Vocational Education arm in 2003. The initial vision of this arm was to equip disciples and leaders in local churches and other Christian organisations using a range of qualifications specifically designed for this purpose. This vision instigated ACOM's transition to a dual sector education and training provider - a transition that has lead to an incredible expansion in ACOM's student numbers and its scope of influence. This transition has also resulted in a broadening of the original vision to include important areas such as church planting, training and assessment, youth work, and schools chaplaincy.
ACOM has now expanded its operations to all Australian States; creating productive partnerships with like-minded training organisations such as Youth Vision, TEAR, Youth Dimension, WEC, Alliance College, Church Army, Careforce, as well as several larger independent congregations and other denominational groupings. ACOM has also recently introduced e-learning as a key component of its training model.
ACOM is owned by the Churches of Christ conferences in New South Wales and Queensland. The Churches of Christ's historic commitment to unity amongst all believers has ensured that ACOM is an authentic and integrated cross-denominational gathering of students, staff, Church and para-Church partnerships.
Changes also occurred in the circumstances of students, the way churches chose their leaders, and the expectations of people seeking to be Christian leaders. In particular, the financial and relational costs of leaving work, church and home to move to college became prohibitive for many. Increasingly, students chose be trained on-the-job after they were called to ministry rather than completing four years of full-time training in anticipation of a call to ministry. Concurrently, churches began to recruit untrained people that they knew well, and then wanted to receive excellent training linked to their ministries. As a result, the two colleges' delivery methods became much more flexible and accessible during the 1990s.
In the new century, the merged ACOM moved towards becoming a fully accessible distance learning provider, with targeted face-to-face student support available through Formation Groups and Subject Facilitations. The new century has also witnessed major shifts in the standard, flexibility, specialisation and scope of training sought by students. As a result ACOM has become a highly professional and diversified provider of higher education that has developed a national and international reputation for excellence and innovation.Further, in response to critical changes in the ministry environment, and a clear vision for investing in all followers of Jesus including leaders, ACOM launched its Vocational Education arm in 2003. The initial vision of this arm was to equip disciples and leaders in local churches and other Christian organisations using a range of qualifications specifically designed for this purpose. This vision instigated ACOM's transition to a dual sector education and training provider - a transition that has lead to an incredible expansion in ACOM's student numbers and its scope of influence. This transition has also resulted in a broadening of the original vision to include important areas such as church planting, training and assessment, youth work, and schools chaplaincy.
ACOM has now expanded its operations to all Australian States; creating productive partnerships with like-minded training organisations such as Youth Vision, TEAR, Youth Dimension, WEC, Alliance College, Church Army, Careforce, as well as several larger independent congregations and other denominational groupings. ACOM has also recently introduced e-learning as a key component of its training model.
ACOM is owned by the Churches of Christ conferences in New South Wales and Queensland. The Churches of Christ's historic commitment to unity amongst all believers has ensured that ACOM is an authentic and integrated cross-denominational gathering of students, staff, Church and para-Church partnerships.