Bible College of Victoria moves and changes name

Posted on September 10, 2010 
Filed under News

From the Bible College of Victoria –

“After over 30 years in Lilydale the Bible College of Victoria (formerly Melbourne Bible Institute) is moving.

The College has purchased a modern building in Wantirna, in the heart of Melbourne’s Eastern suburbs. Previously owned by beauty products company, Nutrimetics, the new campus is situated at the intersection of two main highways, the Burwood Highway and the Mountain Highway, and next to an exit off the new tollway, Eastlink.  “From being situated on the perimeter of the city of Melbourne, the College will now be located in a well-known, easily recognisable, and highly accessible site”, says BCV Principal, Mike Raiter. And with 300 car parks, and plenty of space there will be ample room to grow. 

But it is not just the location of the building that stimulated interest from BCV. Half of the building was a training centre for the company, and so there were 5 large lecture rooms.

The structure is remarkably well adapted for a Bible College.

The college took occupancy of the building at the beginning of September. It is anticipated that the necessary refurbishment will be completed in 3 months, ensuring the college is ready to begin operating in its new premises from the beginning of 2011. “We have ensured that any disruption to students this year is kept to a minimum”, said Mike.

The College’s Chinese Department (where all the courses are conducted in Mandarin), presently located in Box Hill, will also move into the new campus in Wantirna.

But the College is not just changing its location. From January 1st it will be known as Melbourne School of Theology.

Why the new name? Mike responds,

“In a sense we want to give the college a new start.  Internationally ‘Melbourne’ locates us better than ‘Victoria’. It’s the country’s most liveable city (!) and we want to attract people to Melbourne. And the reality is that BCV, or MST, offers everything from Certificate courses to one of the largest departments of post graduate studies in any Bible College in the country. And, so, ‘School of Theology’ actually reflects what we have become. Of course, none of this means that the College is moving away from its firm Biblical and theological foundations. We are as committed as ever to having the Scriptures central to our preparation of men and women for ministry, and we remain as passionate as ever for equipping people to proclaim Christ both in Australia and overseas. But we want to combine this with the highest level of academic excellence that we can.”