Handbook Overview

INTRODUCING TABOR COLLEGE

Tabor College is a multidenominational Christian Education Centre offering government-accredited courses at tertiary level. The College seeks to provide quality Christian education for effective life and work, which is Christ-centred, biblically based, ministry-oriented, academically sound, positively expressed and spiritually empowered.

Tabor College considers spiritual development to be of primary importance. Students are encouraged and assisted to relate their studies to their personal and vocational lives, and to be open to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

At Tabor College, teaching and learning take place in an atmosphere of charismatic worship, ordinary Christians study at their own pace and people called to various ministries prepare for their vocations.

The College encourages Christian unity and revival. It offers courses for people of all Christian denominations and any nationality, and seeks to be a witness to the majesty of Christ in the whole of life.

EARLY HISTORY

In 1978 Barry Chant, who was then a member of a pastoral team in a large Adelaide church, sensed the Lord's call to set up a multidenominational charismatic teaching ministry. He received a prophetic word about "carving a new way with students following" and had a vision of a Christian education centre where everyday Christians of all denominations would receive teaching from the Word of God and training for ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit. He shared the vision with Dennis Slape who committed himself to work towards it with Barry. This led to the beginning of a multidenominational Bible College in Adelaide, initially named The House of Tabor.

The name "Tabor" has special significance as Mount Tabor in Israel is generally thought to have been the place of the Transfiguration of the Lord Jesus, where those who were present became focussed on the awesome majesty of the Lord. The central aim of the College is to help people focus on the Lord Jesus Christ. The College logo depicts Mount Tabor, with ascending lines conveying the idea of aspiration towards God. The motto of the College is "witnesses of His majesty" (2 Peter 1:16).

GROWTH

Tabor College commenced classes with about 35 students meeting in two transportable classrooms at a high school in Adelaide. It grew steadily and before long moved to its own premises through a series of God's wonderful provisions.

By the late 1980s the College was attracting students from various parts of Australia. A decision was made to begin to establish campuses in other States. In 1988 a campus was established in Melbourne and in 1992 campuses were opened in both Sydney and Perth. The National Office remained in Adelaide.

Today, over 1,400 students are enrolled in the College's on-campus and distance education programs. The College has full-time, part-time and visiting teachers, administrative staff and many voluntary helpers.

Tabor College has always sought to promote unity in the Body of Christ. The College is a member of The South Pacific Association of Bible Colleges and of the Association of Pentecostal and Charismatic Bible Colleges of Australasia. Individual campuses are members of other professional associations such as the Australian and New Zealand Theological Library Association, Unilinc, Missions Interlink and others.

OBJECTIVES

Tabor College's objectives are a constant reminder of its calling and focus. The College seeks to ensure that all its programs are:

Scripture-based (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Everything must be tested against God's Word. A man or woman of God is "thoroughly equipped" through the Scriptures.

Christ-centred (Colossians 1:18-19)
We dare not lose our vital connection with the Head. In every area, whether biblical, academic or practical, the aim must be to point to Christ, our only Saviour.

Academically sound (2 Timothy 2:15)
Our scholarship must be of a high standard. We have no fear of the truth - rather, we rejoice in it.

Ministry-oriented (Matthew 9:37-38)
Our thrust is to produce ministry at whatever level is appropriate. We must continually be in prayer for labourers to enter the harvest field.

Positively expressed (Matthew 5:1f.)
Our emphasis must be positive and faith-filled. Students need to be challenged to step out in faith with a God-given vision.

Spiritually empowered (1 Corinthians 12:7f.; Galatians 5:22f.)
All teaching and learning must be infused by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. We need both the gifts and the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.

COURSES

Tabor College offers courses in Christian Studies, Youth Development, Theology, Christian Counselling, Ministry, Intercultural Studies and Education Studies (Teacher Education). Some courses, however, are offered by only one or two of the College's campuses.

In the early days, the College offered a number of courses, including a one-year course in Christian Studies, with an additional year for people preparing for ministry, and many short-term classes on practical subjects. The latter were discontinued to enable the College to concentrate on developing its distinctives, and the Christian Studies and Ministry programs continued to develop. In the late eighties a number of counselling subjects were introduced as part of a one-year course in Christian counselling.

The desire for excellence and the desire to develop its distinctives led the College to seek government accreditation for its courses in its own right in the early 1990s.

The first four Tabor courses were granted accreditation through the then Office of Tertiary Education by the South Australian Government Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education in 1991. These courses were an Advanced Certificate in Christian Studies, an Associate Diploma in Charismatic Ministry, a Diploma in Charismatic Ministry and an Associate Diploma in Christian Counselling. The content and the charismatic distinctives of the courses were not compromised in any way by the accreditation process.

In 1992, further course developments took place leading, in 1993, to the accreditation of further courses, including the College's first bachelor degree courses. Tabor College became the first multidenominational evangelical charismatic theological institution in Australia to offer government-accredited degrees. At the same time the College continued to offer certificate and diploma courses.

In 1994 and 1995, further courses were accredited, including a Graduate Diploma in Christian Counselling designed to provide post-graduate training to equip counselling graduates for professional Christian counselling ministries.

The College's teacher education courses were introduced in 1998, along with two new Youth Development courses.

From 1997 to 2000 the College gained accreditation for various new, revised and extended courses. These included several honours degrees, master degrees in Theology, Counselling, Ministry, Intercultural Studies and Education, a Doctor of Ministry, several courses in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), and a number of certificate courses.

GRADUATES

Tabor graduates are pursuing many different vocations in Australia and overseas. Many are in pastoral and leadership roles in local churches. Some are engaged in counselling ministries. Some are working in cross-cultural mission. Some are teaching in government and non-government schools. Others are enrolled in postgraduate courses at universities. Hundreds of others are serving the Lord in family, church, career and community settings. Some have returned to the College to do further studies or to serve in various capacities.

THANKS BE TO GOD

Looking back, we at Tabor College can only thank the Lord for the vision and direction that He has given and the many blessings He has bestowed on us as we have committed ourselves to His work. He has sent many wonderful students and staff from many nations and denominations. We have learned together. We have worked and prayed together. We have served and worshipped together. We praise the Lord for His love and faithfulness, and we look forward to an exciting future as we go on with Him.
As you look to the future, we invite you to prayerfully consider whether the Lord might be calling you to join us at Tabor, either as a student or in some other capacity.

STRUCTURE OF TABOR COLLEGE

Tabor College functions as one College in four locations.

The National Office and founding campus are in Adelaide. There are campuses in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth, and campus annexes in Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia and Tasmania. The curriculum is coordinated through the National Office. Distance Education is available through the Adelaide Campus only.

A State Board is responsible for the day-to-day running of each campus and a National Board is responsible for the overall ministry of the College.

STREAMS OF STUDY

Tabor College offers studies in a range of broad discipline areas known as streams. The streams and their purposes are outlined below. Individual courses in each stream are described in the Course Descriptions section of this Handbook. Not all courses or streams of study are available at all campuses.

The streams are not mutually exclusive, in that Theology modules are included in courses in other streams, electives from one stream may be taken in courses in other streams and double degrees incorporating studies in two major streams are offered. Any of the College's bachelor degrees may be accepted for entry into a two-year Bachelor of Education course of the College.

CHRISTIAN STUDIES

Tabor College's Christian Studies certificate courses are designed for Christian lay people who are seeking to grow in their relationship with the Lord and to develop a deeper understanding of their faith.

These courses are biblical, inspirational and life changing. Customised diploma courses in this stream provide all these benefits and also the opportunity for training in special areas such as Children's Ministry, Youth Ministry, drama ministry, or selected denominational ministries.

Youth Development: YEAR IN THE SON

The Youth Development:Year in the Son programs are specially designed to help young people make the most of their opportunities for the future. They are ideal to prepare school-leavers for tertiary study or for finding a job and succeeding in it. They provide a balance of study, worship, friendship and fun. Students develop study, communication and business skills, and gain a good foundation of biblical understanding. Each student receives personal encouragement and support from faculty members and makes friends with people from many different denominations and backgrounds.

THEOLOGY

Because Tabor College believes that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and is normative for Christian belief and behaviour, all Tabor's undergraduate courses include foundational theological modules and are presented within the framework of a biblical worldview. The College's Theology courses provide opportunities for extensive theological study and include systematic and historical theology, together with exegetical study of the biblical text. These courses are intended for Christians preparing for positions of teaching and leadership in the Church. Tabor College believes that scholarship and spirituality should go hand in hand.

CHRISTIAN COUNSELLING

Tabor College's Counselling courses are designed to help Christians minister effectively in various sorts of counselling roles. These courses have been developed in response to an increasing need for competent counsellors in today's society. The courses provide knowledge, understanding and skills to assist students to offer help to individuals, couples and families.

Both the Diploma in Christian Counselling and the Bachelor of Arts in Christian Counselling courses provide an integrated program of theology, counselling theories and practices, and counselling skills.

The Bachelor of Arts offers a more in-depth approach in all areas and may lead into the Graduate Diploma in Christian Counselling or Master of Counselling courses for those seeking a career in Counselling. Entry into these graduate courses is restricted in order to ensure a high level of professional supervision for each student.

MINISTRY

Tabor College seeks to serve the Church by providing high quality ministry education to prepare people for Christian ministry at all levels. Courses range from a number of certificates for lay training to a Doctor of Ministry for professional ministers. While the ethos of the College is charismatic and evangelical, no particular denominational perspective is presented.

Teachers come from various Pentecostal and mainline denominations. Students are assisted to broaden their understanding of various perspectives and to become more sure of the biblical basis of their own convictions. The College is gaining increasing recognition in various denominations as a provider of sound ministry education.

INTERCULTURAL STUDIES

Tabor College believes that mission is central to the calling of the Church. The College's Intercultural Studies courses equip individuals for cross-cultural mission and ministry.

These courses assist students to face the enormous spiritual and ethical challenges of a world that is approximately two-thirds non-Christian and where over a billion people are desperately, life-threateningly poor. The large majority of these people live in cultures different from our own. Well-prepared cross-cultural Christian workers are urgently needed to make the love of Christ known to these people.

The College's Intercultural Studies courses provide opportunity for effective preparation for Christians who are considering cross-cultural work in Australia or overseas. Courses are available in mission theology and practice, and in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). TESOL courses relate to both the Intercultural Studies and the Education Studies streams.

EDUCATION STUDIES: TEACHER EDUCATION

Tabor College offers school teacher education courses which take a distinctively Christian approach to teacher education, combining biblical education and professional studies presented from a Christian perspective. This form of teacher education differs greatly from that available in secular universities and is not common in Australia. It enables students to integrate their Christian faith and their professional teaching.

All the Bachelor of Education courses of the College are preservice courses and prepare people for careers in teaching. An upgrading course provides the opportunity for teachers with approved three-year qualifications to upgrade these to a Bachelor of Education degree.

The Graduate Diploma in Christian Education is a professional development course for practising Christian teachers, which will help them to meet the demands and fulfil the responsibilities of being Christian teachers in government or non-government schools.

The Master of Education provides a higher level of study for professional educators.

The courses are government accredited and approved by the Teachers Registration Board of South Australia. This means that graduates can apply for positions in government or non-government schools in Australia. The courses are also suitable for missionary teachers.

The College also offers a number of courses that focus on adult teacher education: a Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training, to equip teachers to provide competency-based education and training (CBET); and courses in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). These courses do not qualify individuals to become school teachers.

TABLES OF COURSES

STAFF

Campuses and annexes are served by a great variety of staff who contribute a wealth of experience and expertise to the College's ministry. Staff come from many different backgrounds and Christian denominations. Each campus has a Campus Principal.
Full-time, part-time and visiting teachers are employed. Support staff and many willing volunteers make invaluable contributions to the functioning of the College.
Teachers and supervisors are selected on the basis of their Christian commitment, academic qualifications and experience in relevant areas, and in accordance with the requirements of government accreditation and registration authorities.

BLEND OF BENEFITS

Tabor College offers a unique blend of benefits for those seeking Christian tertiary education. These include:

• enriching fellowship and worship with Christians from many denominations;
• encouragement to focus on the Lord Jesus Christ;
• opportunity to explore and develop personal faith and grow in relationship with the Lord;
• assistance to discover and develop spiritual gifts and natural abilities;
• relevant education in the context of an evangelical and charismatic worldview;
• education which integrates the spiritual, academic and practical;
• a choice of accredited biblically based courses from certificate to doctoral level;
• programs designed to meet diverse educational and training needs;
• a range of streams of study - Christian Studies, Youth Development, Theology, Christian Counselling, Ministry, Intercultural Studies and Education Studies;
• opportunity to prepare for a variety of vocations;
• a choice of campuses - Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney or Perth;
• campus annexes in Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia and Tasmania;
• distance education for those who cannot attend a campus or an annexe;
• day and evening classes, intensives, and various other flexible study options; and
• sound academic education and dynamic spiritual experience.