The United Faculty of Theology was formed in 1969 as an ecumenical theological partnership between three separate Colleges. Today, we are a Recognised Teaching Institution of MCD University of Divinity. Although our structure may seem a little confusing, our mission is simple: to teach and learn theology through ecumenical cooperation.
Our challenge is to teach theology in a way that acknowledges, challenges, and engages with the diverse, often conflicting perspectives, of the churches we represent. Our hope is that in so doing, we may advance the unity of the Church.
What makes us different from most other theological colleges is that teachers and students from many traditions are found in the same classroom. We believe in cooperation at the deepest level. And so at the UFT we rejoice in the remarkable experiences that occur when, for example, Uniting Church and Roman Catholic students study the New Testament together in a class taught by Anglican and Baptist teachers.
Today the UFT is a partnership of three Colleges:
The partner Colleges share their staff and facilities for the purposes of teaching and research, and College students study in common classes. Classes are made available to independent students upon payment of fees; independent students form the majority of UFT students. A wide range of people can be found in UFT classes: first-time students and professional graduates, school-leavers and mature-aged people, Australian and international, full-time and part-time. Some students are committed church members, some are training for ministry, and others simply want to study theology. Eligible UFT students can access financial support through FEE-HELP and Austudy.
As the UFT is part of MCD University of Divinity (MCD), students may take units at other Recognised Teaching Institutions of the MCD towards their degrees and diplomas, offering an even broader ecumenical learning experience in colleges from the Baptist, Lutheran, Coptic Orthodox, Churches of Christ, Salvationist and Roman Catholic traditions.
The UFT Office is located at the Uniting Church Centre for Theology and Ministry (CTM). The office may be entered from the doorway off the CTM car park, or as directed by the receptionist in the CTM. Also located at the CTM is the Dalton McCaughey Library (see below), classrooms, and the ‘Last Cuppa’ café (open Monday to Friday). The CTM includes a kitchen area for the use of UFT students.
Classes are normally held in the following locations:
Centre for Theology and Ministry (CTM), 29 College Crescent, Parkville
(03) 9340 8800
Jesuit Theological College (JTC), 175 Royal Parade, Parkville
(03) 9341 5800
Trinity College Old Warden’s Lodge (OWL), Royal Parade, Parkville
(03) 9348 7127
The UFT office and these classrooms are readily accessible from the city by public transport. The 19 tram along Royal Parade stops outside Trinity College and the Jesuit Theological College. The UFT office and the Centre for Theology and Ministry are a short walk from either Royal Parade or the University of Melbourne tram terminus in Swanston Street.
The United Faculty of Theology is located on three sites in Parkville: the Jesuit Theological College, Trinity College Theological School (both on Royal Parade), and the Uniting Church's Centre for Theology and Ministry (CTM). For addresses, please see Where to find us.
The UFT administrative office can be found at the CTM, located at 29 College Crescent, Parkville. This is directly opposite the main entrance to the Melbourne General Cemetery on College Crescent, and in between Ormond and St Hilda's Colleges at the north end of the University of Melbourne campus. The office main entrance is behind the CTM car park. The UFT shares reception facilities with the CTM and the receptionist can answer basic enquiries or direct visitors to the office and. The UFT office is staffed by the Dean, Peter Sherlock, and the Registrar, Margaret Tropea.
Office and mail: 29 College Crescent, Parkville VIC 3052, Australia
Office hours: 9am - 5pm Monday to Thursday (closed 1pm-1.45pm for lunch)
Phone: 61 3 9340 8890
Fax: 61 3 9340 8899
email: admin@uft.edu.au
For information about locations of the UFT office and classrooms, please see Where are we?.
Children are permitted in UFT classes only by prior arrangement with the Dean and teaching staff. Subject to availability of places, UFT students may enrol young children (3 months to 6 years) at the University of Melbourne childcare centre: Queensberry Children’s Centre, 228 Queensberry Street, Carlton VIC 3053, phone 8344 9470, email childcare-enquiries@unimelb.edu.au.
Every effort is made to assist students with disabilities. Students are asked to make any special needs known to the UFT office at enrolment.
Theological study can be an intensely challenging experience at spiritual and personal levels as well as intellectually. The UFT makes no formal provision for counselling or spiritual direction, however students have informal access to a limited range of opportunities for support or pastoral care. These might include lecturers, the UFT Dean, their own ministers, and colleagues, but also fellow students.
Important dates for the UFT can be seen on the calendar on the front page of this website. The Academic Calendar dates for 2011 and for 2012 as set by the MCD are reproduced below:
Second semester 2011
Monday 25 July 2011 - teaching begins
Friday 12 August 2011 - Census date
19 September - 2 October 2011 - mid-semester break
Friday 28 October 2011 - teaching ends
Thursday 10 November 2011 - last day of examination period
Thursday 8 December 2011 - results released to students
First semester 2012
Monday 27 February 2012 - teaching begins
Friday 16 March 2012 - Census date
31 March - 15 April 2012 - mid-semester break
Friday 1 June 2012 - teaching ends
Thursday 14 June 2012 - last day of examination period
Thursday 12 July 2012 - results released to students
Second semester 2012
Monday 23 July 2012 - teaching begins
Friday 10 August 2012 - Census date
17 September - 30 September 2012 - mid-semester break
Friday 26 October 2012 - teaching ends
Thursday 8 November 2012 - last day of examination period
Thursday 6 December 2012 - results released to students
UFT Research Seminars
First semester 2011
The UFT Research Seminars provide a significant opportunity for staff, visitors and postgraduate students at the UFT to present their research to a wider audience, and to facilitate conversation. All are welcome to attend. Please feel free to bring and eat your lunch. Seminars start promptly at 1.05pm.
Wednesdays 1.00-2.00pm
Centre for Theology and Ministry room G3 29 College Crescent, Parkville
16 March: Andreas Loewe
Proclaiming the Passion: Popular drama and the Passion in Luther's Germany
23 March: Katharine Massam
Abbot Torres builds a wall: Rethinking New Norcia's mission?
30 March (5pm start): Book launch and panel
Acting in Solidarity? The Churches' Journey with Indigenous People Book launch for Peter Lewis's work (UAP, 2010) Panel with Richard Frankland, Vicki Walker Clark, Frank Brennan, Alistair Macrae
6 April: Peter Sherlock
The election of bishops and the nineteenth-century origins of the contemporary Anglican crisis
13 April: Jan Gray
Holy Spirit: History for Theology according to M. D. Chenu
All welcome!
Enquiries to the UFT on 9340 8890 or admin@uft.edu.au
Please feel free to download and circulate the flyer below.
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| UFT Research Seminars 2011-1.pdf | 101.78 KB |