Master of Arts

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The Master of Arts integrates cutting edge principles in theology, Biblical studies, leadership, and contextual studies with Biblical values, to equip professionals in all contexts. Students range from pastors and leaders in church-based organisations to IT professionals, doctors, and business men and women. Our lecturers are academics as well as experts in the field who bring contemporary practices and Biblical insights to the classroom based on their daily experience.

Inspired Learning for Influential Living

Welcome to the Master of Arts at AC, where we believe in inspired learning for influential living.

The Masters of Arts (MA) is designed for those who want a humanities education orientated around faith and practice. Beginning with two core units, students in the MA have an opportunity to then specialise in either Christian Studies, Pastoral Ministry, or Cross-Cultural Ministry. In addition to this, students have a selection of electives that range from Ancient Languages to Marketing, to add to their learning experience.

Lastly, a key feature of the MA is the requirement to complete the Integrated Project (or Research Project) that provides the opportunity for students to synthesise what they have learned by engaging a particular issue in their area of specialisation.

I invite you to begin your journey into thinking the faith.

Dr U-Wen Low
Program Director, Master of Arts

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Course flyer

Academic Advice Sheet

Rev. Dr Damon Adams (faculty profile)

Damon originally trained as a Presbyterian minister and was later ordained as a Pentecostal minister. Damon has lectured in Historical Theology, John Knox Theological College, Sydney; Theology, Biblical Studies and Church History, Tabor College, Tasmania; and is currently Senior Lecturer in Theology, Biblical Studies and Church History at Alphacrucis College, Hobart Campus, Tasmania. Additionally, Damon is presently the History Subject Coordinator at Alphacrucis. Damon holds a PhD in Theology.

Emma Austin (faculty profile)

Dr Caroline Batchelder (faculty profile)

Caroline was born in Scotland, and grew up mainly in Malaysia and Australia, as well as time spent in England and the Philippines. After finishing school in Canberra, she undertook a BMus at the NSW State Conservatorium. After years primarily involved with family and church, and four years living in Shropshire, England, Caroline enrolled in an MDiv at Morling Theological College, going on to complete her ThD in Biblical Studies at the end of 2015. This was a literary-theological investigation of the figure of the Servant in the ‘Servant Songs’ of Isaiah 40‒55, with particular interests in ‘justice’ (Hebrew mishpat) and the image of God. Caroline is married to Bob, a geotechnical engineer, and they have 6 children: five daughters and a son. She is part of the housechurch movement, Ruach Church. Her interests include hiking, biking, poetry, reading and growing vegetables.

Dr Narelle Coetzee (faculty profile)

Graduating with a BNurs(hons) in 2000, Narelle moved from Canberra to work in Orange Base Hospital, primarily on the male surgical ward. In 2003 she moved to Sydney to study midwifery and worked at Nepean Hospital. Once graduating with her GradDip of Midwifery, she continued at Nepean Hospital in the postnatal ward part-time, and commenced her studies at Southern Cross College, completing a MDiv in 2009. During this time Narelle started to tutor and lecture in Old Testament studies at SCC. In 2010, she enrolled in a PhD through University of Birmingham, UK, graduating in December 2016. Currently Narelle is an Lecturer in Old Testament studies and the Director of Academic Administration. She is also active in her local church, Rivers Edge Church, a church plant in the Newington area, where her faith can be outworked in the community.

Professional Experience Co-Ordinator (faculty profile)

Dr Sean du Toit (faculty profile)

Rev. Associate Professor Jacqueline Grey (faculty profile)

Jacqui is associate professor of Biblical Studies, specialising in hermenutics and Old Testament studies. Her publications include Them, Us and Me: How the Old Testament Speaks to People Today, Raising Women Leaders, and Three's A Crowd: Pentecostalism, Hermeneutics and the Old Testament as well as various articles and book chapters. Jacqui speaks regularly at local and international events and has appeared on various national TV and radio programs in Australia, including the ABC TV's Q&A program. Jacqui is committed to ensuring quality education within the theological sector, and provides assistance to Pentecostal colleges in developing contexts to further their institutional goals. She is a member of the Register of Experts of the Tertiary Education Quality Standards Agency (TEQSA), established by the Australian Federal government. She is currently the President (2017) of the Society for Pentecostal Studies, and is part of the steering committee for Biblical Ethics in the Society of Biblical Literature. Her research interests include pentecostal hermeneutics, prophetic literature and feminist readings of Scripture. Jacqui loves travelling, Turkish food, photography and coffee with friends.

Sam Hill (faculty profile)

Sam Hill spent his youth in Rural Victoria before moving to Canberra to train as a General Service Officer with the Australian Regular Army. He then moved into the Community Sector filling several roles from coordination to education. Sam is a PhD candidate at the University of New South Wales, researching in the field of Science and Technology Studies, more specifically the work of Jacques Ellul. Sam presently resides in Sydney with his wife Carmel, whom works as a Clinical Psychologist. They currently worship at Hillsong Church Sydney.

Rev. Dr Kevin Hovey (faculty profile)

Kevin's current role, Head of Department: Pastoral and Cross Cultural Ministry, is an interesting convergence of many experiences and roles covering more than 40 years as an ordained minister of the Australian Christian Churches.

Starting with 31 years as a missionary in Papua New Guinea, ministry was focused on developing and training local leaders. This ranged from informal mentoring in remote villages to developing Bible college structures and curriculum. Serving as consultant to the National Executive Council of Assemblies of God of Papua New Guinea provided opportunities for input – and for growth. In 2017, this service was recognized by the Papua New Guinea government with the Member of Logohu award that was announced in the Independence Day Honours list.

While still on field, the need for missionary training became evident, so the internationally recognized World Harvest Institute “missionary finishing program”, as some have termed it. Post Papua New Guinea, missionary leadership, missionary strategy and missionary training roles have continued to keep a focus on task of mission, but with a greater focus on seeing that outworked through local churches.

Kevin’s PhD thesis, completed in 2017, is entitled Guiding Light: Contributions of Alan R. Tippett Toward the Development and Dissemination of Twentieth Century Missiology.

He also serves as the Oceania representative on the Pentecostal World Fellowship’s World Missions Commission, rubbing shoulders with key mission leaders from around the world.

Dr Ian Jagelman (faculty profile)

Ian spent fifteen years in public accounting with Price Waterhouse Coopers including stints in Papua New Guinea and Fiji where he set up their tax consulting division.

For 20 years he served as the Senior Pastor of Christian City Church, Lane Cove, an evangelical/Pentecostal church in the northern region of Sydney. A church plant in 1984, it grew to in excess of 1100 active members by December 2002 when the church was restructured to create three autonomous churches at Lane Cove, Ryde and Carlingford.

In the Christian world he is also recognised as having a teaching gift expressed through Truth for Life Ministries, a division of The Jagelman Institute.

Celeste Kumar (faculty profile)

Johnny Kumar (faculty profile)

Mrs Alison Lau (faculty profile)

Dr U-Wen Low (faculty profile)

U-Wen began theological studies at the University of Divinity in 2007, progressing through to an Honours year in 2013 and subsequently beginning his PhD in 2014, completing it in 2017 and graduating in 2018. He has previously worked as a youth pastor at Melbourne's CityLife Church. He is passionate about seeing students develop and grow in their faith and wisdom through studying the Bible and theology. He is married to Danielle, and enjoys a variety of hobbies including woodturning, cycling, bagpipe playing and reading.

Dr Jon Newton (faculty profile)

I came to my role at Alphacrucis College after serving for nine years at Harvest Bible College, most recently as Dean of Postgraduate Studies and Research. My PhD was gained at Deakin University (conferred 2007) with a thesis entitled "Postmodernism, Christianity and the Book of Revelation." I am the author of two books: Revelation Reclaimed: The Use and Misuse of the Apocalypse (Paternoster 2009) and The Revelation Worldview (Wipf and Stock 2015). I also edited New Frontiers: Redefining Christian Ministry for 21st Century Contexts (Mosaic 2013). I have also had a number of articles published in peer-reviewed journals such as Australian Biblical Review, Colloquium and Journal of Pentecostal Theology. I am the editor of the Journal of Contemporary Ministry. Currently I am working on a commentary on Revelation for a new Pentecostal commentary series. My other main research interest is Australian Pentecostalism.

In other areas of life, I am married to Judy (since 1977) and we serve as senior ministers of Oasis Church in Hampton, a bayside suburb of Melbourne. I have five married chidlren and three grandchildren. In my spare time, I am passionate about coffee, rugby, classical music, traveling and walking.

Professor Paul Oslington (faculty profile)

Paul Oslington joined Alphacrucis in January 2013. He held a Chair jointly in the School of Business and School of Theology at Australian Catholic University from 2008-2013, and continues there as an Adjunct Professor. Before that he was Associate Professor of Economics at University of New South Wales, and held visiting positions at University of Oxford in 1999, University of British Columbia and Regent College Vancouver in 2003, and Princeton Theological Seminary and University in 2006/7. His PhD in Economics and Master of Economics/Econometrics with Honours were completed at the University of Sydney, and Bachelor of Divinity through Melbourne College of Divinity.

Rev Dr David Parker (faculty profile)

After experiencing almost every church function including Church Planting, Worship Leader and Youth Pastoring, Ruth and I attended Commonwealth Bible College (now Alphacrucis) from 1979-1981 and upon graduation served as assistants to Bryn Barrett in Toowoomba Assembly of God, Queensland. After three years as Senior Pastor of Mornington Assembly of God in Victoria we accepted a teaching position at the College where we have been ever since. I’ve never lost the passion for Pastors, having been one myself, and love to itinerate and encourage, particularly the rural Pastor who doesn’t often entertain visiting ministry. Of recent times I’ve also ministered in other countries which has helped me enormously in grappling with the cultural/transcultural nature of Scripture. Ruth and I were married in 1971, we have three married children and six grandchildren who are a joy and keep us very busy.

Rev Dr Nigel Pegram (faculty profile)

Dr Daryl Potts (faculty profile)

Daryl J Potts is a recent addition to the team at Alphacrucis College, and is the Program Director for the Bachelor of Ministry Program. Daryl’s particular area of expertise is in pastoral praxis and managing the spill-over of ministry work and responsibilities into the relational areas of the minister’s marriage and family. Daryl's Doctoral Thesis investigated the impact that being involved in ministry has upon the family life of the minister. Daryl lectures in ministry based courses such as Church and Society, Foundations of Pastoral Ministry, Pastoral Administration and Management, Communicating the Christian Faith, and Healing Ministry.

Prior to joining us at Alphacrucis College Daryl has been involved in pastoral ministry for thirty one years, starting out as a Youth Pastor upon his graduation from Bible College, and then being involved in pioneer, mid-size, large and Mega churches in Associate and Senior pastoral roles in churches across our nation. He has served the AOG/ACC in various roles such as Youth Alive, District and Regional Leadership, State Executive membership and was Vice President on the State Executive in South Australia until he relocated to take up his role at Alphacrucis. He brings the wealth of these experiences as a pastor and leader to the ministry stream of our college.

Dr Van Shore (faculty profile)

Van is married to Heazle and they have two adult children, Ben married to Lani and Amy married to Seng. Van loves to laugh and celebrate with others their uniqueness in God and enjoys walking, bird watching, tennis and good food. He has almost 20 years of pastoral ministry and teaching experience.

In 2009, Van was selected along with a number of New Testament scholars throughout Australia to write a chapter in The Content and Setting of the Gospel Tradition (Eerdmans, 2010). Dr Mark Harding and Dr Alana Nobbs co-edited the work. Van's chapter was called "The Titles of Jesus".

In 2011, Van also authored two books: The Art of Not Disappearing (River Publishing, UK), and in 2011-2012, while living in Bangkok, he wrote his second book, The Art of Not Getting Lost on the Way Home. This was prior to joining the staff at the Alphacrucis College.

Ps Jeremy Weetman (faculty profile)

Jeremy has served in pastoral ministry for over twenty-six years following his graduation from Commonwealth Bible College in 1991. He has been involved in most aspects of church life including senior leadership and also been involved at a state and regional level with the ACC. Jeremy has been teaching Bible and ministry subjects since 2011.

Jeremy began his MA (Min) with Harvest Bible College in 2011, and on completion progressed to doctoral studies with a particular interest in sacred space and contemporary spirituality. His interests involve cycling, cooking, reading, and is a self-confessed cricket tragic.

Jeremy is married to Vicki, who is completing a PhD with Griffith University in cultural theory (meaning exciting study dates…), and is dad to four adult children who are amongst his favourite humans to spend time with.

Mrs Greta Wells (faculty profile)

Greta Wells is a Lecturer in Pastoral Ministry (Higher Education). She has worked in the pastoral ministry department since March 2009, first as a tutor, then as a lecturer. Greta's MTh thesis research focused on attitudes regarding mental health amongst Pentecostal pastors - specifically regarding anxiety disorders. Her published research includes a book chapter on the relationship between Pentecostal theology and mental illness in the Australian context, as well as a journal article exploring the possibilities and limitations of Pentecostal spirituality for ageing Baby Boomers. Greta's interest in mental health and Pentecostalism has also led her to contribute to the ABC's Religion and Ethics website. She lives on the southern beaches of Sydney, is married, and has one child - with whom she was on maternity leave with in 2016.

Rev. Dr Adam White (faculty profile)

Adam began his working career as a spraypainter and from there moved into ministry as a youth pastor then an associate pastor at Riverlands Christian Church in Penrith. Then at the age of 25 he felt called to study theology at Southern Cross College (now AC); this continued through an honours degree up to a Doctorate of Ancient History at Macquarie University. He is married to Rachel and has a daughter named Sophia and two sons, Alexander, and Sebastian.

Dr Robyn Wrigley-Carr (faculty profile)

Robyn's love for theology and spirituality began when she was working in the Religious Books Department of Hodder & Stoughton Publishers in London. She subsequently went to Vancouver, Canada, to study her Masters in Spiritual Theology at Regent College. As part of her Regent degree, Robyn studied theology for a term at Oxford University, on a student exchange program. Robyn met her Kiwi husband at Regent, then they both returned to Sydney to live. Robyn worked as a lecturer in Spirituality for 8 years at the Australian College of Ministries (ACOM), and has lectured at MCSI (Macquarie University), Christian Heritage College, and tutored at the Broken Bay Institute. Robyn received an ORS scholarship and additional funding from the University of St Andrews to pursue her PhD full-time at the University of St Andrews, Scotland, and also tutored in Theology at the University. She received an ARTFinc Grant in 2016 and an ADM Summer Research Fellowship in 2018. Robyn started as a permanent faculty member at AC in 2015. She has three gorgeous children.

Dr Yong-Sun Yang (faculty profile)

Yong-Sun Yang has an academic training in Mathematics, Economics, Philosophy, and Theology. He was born in South Korea and came to Australia in 1993 after 2 years of study in Japan. He lives in Sydney with his wife, Mi-Hea, three daughters, So-Ra, So-Ri, and Ha-Neul, and one son, Jeong-Hun.

Andrew Youd (faculty profile)

Andrew Youd is married to Nicola, and they both live with their dog in the north western suburbs of Sydney. Andrew graduated with a BTh through Southern Cross College in 2009. He has just recently finished his MaCS and will be graduating May 2014. Andrew is an active member of Hillsong Church, serving with his wife at the Macquarie extension service. Andrew works with Dr. Shane Clifton in the Faculty of Theology.

Units offered as part of this Award:

ANL401 - Old Testament Hebrew I

Outcomes:

Demonstrate a working knowledge of biblical Hebrew, including sentence structure, binyanim, and basic aspects of syntax
Explain basic issues in interpreting the Hebrew Bible;
Demonstrate use translation tools, such as dictionaries and concordances;
Exegete simple portions of the OT;
Translate simple Old Testament Hebrew texts into English.