SOCS began in 1983 as a response by the second Master of Robert Menzies College and New Testament scholar, the Rev Dr Paul Barnett, to the perceived need of better equipping lay people to serve God in their homes, their work and their churches. Paul had recent experience as Senior Minister of two city churches at Broadway in Sydney and North Terrace in Adelaide. He had also been a lecturer at Moore Theological College.
Out of this vision grew the School of Christian Studies which initially prepared people for units of the theological diplomas of the Australian College of Theology. Since that time SOCS has expanded to teach degree, graduate diploma and masters level subjects as well. In the past 25 years, over 1500 students have taken one or more units at SOCS. In addition to evening lectures, SOCS has developed a large suite of units for distance education students located anywhere within Australia or beyond. From time to time there have been local regional study centres established to meet the needs of distance students.
Paul Barnett has continued to lecture, as has his successor at RMC, Associate Professor Stuart Piggin, one of the leading authorities on Australian Church History. They have been assisted by the Rev Dr William J Dumbrell, a renowned Old Testament scholar, Dr Greg Fox, a noted Bible translator and many other Christian scholars and ministry practitioners who have brought a wealth of knowledge, skills and experience to their lecture programs – see Faculty and Staff for a listing of the current lecturers.
SOCS has also hosted annual conferences. The most recent in 2008 was on ‘Paul and the Corinthian Church’. Speakers included Dr Kent Hughes, the admired biblical exegete, Dr Brian Rosner of Moore College, Bishop Paul Barnett, Professor Larry Welborn from Fordham University in New York, Dr Alexander Weiss, Humbolt Scholar at Macquarie University, and Dr Chris Forbes from the Ancient History Department at Macquarie.
In 2012 SOCS is offering an expanded range of courses and units as it seeks to meet the needs of its 130 or more current students.
