Australian Lutheran College

About us

Australian Lutheran College (ALC) is shaping tomorrow’s pastors, teachers and other church workers who will think imaginatively about issues that affect all of life in the church and the world. They are learning to think faithfully and critically about life and faith in the light of biblical and church teaching, and be effective spiritual leaders, educators and workers who bring life and renewal in the church and communities they serve.

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Background

The history of Lutheran vocational training and formation in Australia dates back to 1838 when Lutherans arrived in Australia. Following the formation of the Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA) in 1966 (when the two former synods – the ELCA and the UELCA – joined) three training institutions emerged: Luther Seminary, Lutheran Teachers College and Lay Training Centre. Eventually, these three were merged into Luther Seminary, which became Australian Lutheran College in 2004. The college now offers courses in partnership with the University of Divinity and the Adelaide College of Divinity.

In 2017, General Church Council approved a new Strategic Direction 2017–2022 for ALC. The college is currently in a period of transition as it seeks to shape its learning programs according to the needs of its students and stakeholders – walking sooner through internships, walking more deeply through its formation, academic and research programs and walking longer by providing continuing education/ professional development opportunities for all church workers to serve and support the mission of the church.

How we serve

ALC helps prepare diverse people for equally diverse ministry within the LCA, its kindergartens, pre-schools and schools and within its congregations, aged and community care facilities and beyond. Its vision as the theological education and research institution of the LCA is to see God’s love in Christ coming to life through preparing God’s servants – pastors, teachers, church workers and volunteers of all kinds – to serve and lead with confident Christian faith, integrity, competence and compassion in a diverse and changing denomination and world.

ALC’s mission is to:

offer education built on principles of lifelong adult learning, critical thinking and reflection, and flexibility in delivery options
deliver theological education and research for vocation and life, with an emphasis on vocational formation of people to meet the needs of church and world in a postmodern society no longer literate in the Christian faith
provide opportunities for growth, education and training for pre-vocational, vocational and post-vocational needs that include Certificate IV, Diploma, Bachelor, Masters, and Doctoral studies
support church life research to inform the LCA and the broader community.