News archive: New Directions for ALC

The Australian Lutheran College Board of Directors is currently charting a new future for ALC, building on its existing strengths. This new vision sees ALC becoming a post secondary provider of many educational services, grounded in Lutheran theology. This will substantially expand the College’s offerings.

The current provision of accredited Higher Education degrees will continue, but educational opportunities will expand through accredited and non-accredited skills-based vocational training, and the provision of planned continuing education and professional development for church workers. Relevance and accessibility on a national basis will be key to this new direction.

Significantly, there is also a vision to create an identifiable centre for theology, ethics, and research, to quantify and build on the substantial work that ALC already does as a theological ‘think tank’ for the LCA. This centre will be of service to the many departments and agencies of the church as they develop the ministries, and resource LCA leaders and members to respond more effectively to the societal, moral and ethical issues presented to us in a complex world.

“It is important for ALC to grow and adapt to meet the needs of the church,” Principal John Henderson said of the proposed changes, “I am excited at the early positive reaction to these strategic directions, and am delighted to be part of implementing the Board’s vision”.

Even at this early stage of development, the Board is keen to see the plan enacted as soon as possible. The Board and Management of the College will be looking for ways to put some ‘early runs’ on the board to demonstrate the change that is taking place. Therefore it is releasing information on the plan, and many departments of the church received an initial briefing in early August, where the response was positive. Further details on the plan will be released in Melbourne at the General Convention of the Lutheran Church in early October.

Updated: 13/08/2009 [1.00]