Melbourne College of Divinity

The Melbourne College of Divinity (MCD) was constituted by an Act passed by the Parliament of the State of Victoria in December 1910, when the first members of the College were appointed. The College then represented the Church of England, the Baptist, Congregational, Methodist and Presbyterian churches, and by co-optation the Churches of Christ. The Act was amended in 1956, 1972, 1979 and 1990 to enable the MCD to become a more comprehensive body and was thoroughly revised in 2005. As a Higher Education Provider (HEP) established by Act of the Parliament of Victoria, the MCD is accountable to the Minister for Skills, and Workforce Participation.

The MCD is a complex organisation. Like Australian universities, there is a central administration, together with academic committees responsible for the maintenance of educational standards across the institution. The member colleges and other teaching bodies, like the faculties of a university, engage in teaching and learning activities with students. However, the MCD is unlike most universities in that although the teaching colleges are independent, they do not grant degrees. The MCD model parallels that of Oxford or Cambridge colleges in relation to the relevant university.

Today the MCD Council includes representatives of the Anglican, Baptist, Churches of Christ, Roman Catholic and Uniting churches, with The Salvation Army involved in MCD teaching programs, and membership of several MCD committees. A theologically diverse institution, the MCD is committed to ecumenical co-operation in theological education to enable each member institution to be true to its heritage and commitments, yet open to the enrichment of engagement with others. The opportunities created by such co-operation are available in few other places in the world. Students, faculty, alumni and friends of the MCD are proud participants in a collaborative effort that has helped to achieve collectively what member schools could not have accomplished individually.