About Us

PRINCIPAL'S WELCOME

Welcome to the Trinity Theological College website.

Trinity exists to “prepare people for effective Christian service.” By “effective” we mean a ministry that has the Lord Jesus Christ and his salvation at its heart, the Bible as its basis, and serving people as its aim. Our churches and world need Christian leaders who are sure on these things as they hold out the word of life.

But developing this kind of ministry takes time; time in God’s Word, time in prayer, time with teachers and fellow students, and time in your own church. This is why we encourage full-time enrolment in our accredited degree courses, where practicable. Weekly chapel services, pastoral care groups, community lunches and activities, mission weeks, etc., all play their part in shaping minds and hearts for gospel ministry.

If you are considering gospel ministry in Australia or overseas, I encourage you to come along to the next Information Night as advertised in our Events calendar. You’ll meet some of our current students, academic and support staff, have a look around our campus, and be able to ask questions about the College.

If degree courses are not for you, our non-accredited Certificates are a great way to get the flavour of Trinity. Around 400 people enrol in Trinity@Night and Trinity in Town each year. I encourage you to have a look at the units coming up. Or consider the new Trinity Equip.

We are so thankful to God that Trinity is supported by many who pray and give generously for our work. If you would like to find out how you can partner in ministry, have a look at how to “Partner with Us” and see our “Events” calendar for upcoming events.

I wish you every blessing in Christ,
Rev Dr Donald West
Principal

INTEGRATING HEAD, HEART AND HANDS

Our aim is to prepare people for effective Christian service that integrates head, heart and hands. We believe gospel-shaped ministry is marked by these key characteristics:

Christ-centred
All Scripture points to Christ, so every aspect of our College aims to be Christ-centred. We keep Christ at the centre of our life, teaching, community and ministry so we can grow in Christ together and carry out Christ-centred ministry.
Bible-based
We meet Jesus Christ and learn to love and serve him through God’s Word, so it is essential for all Christians to have strong biblical foundations. Upholding the Bible as the ultimate authority and key instrument for ministry, we recognise that handling Scripture requires love, wisdom and skill, which are taught and modelled in our courses.
People-focused
Ministry of the gospel is about serving people. So, we emphasise clear proclamation of the Bible alongside loving care for people across cultures. We pray for the nations to come under Jesus’ saving rule, so we encourage one another in evangelism.

WHY TRINITY

We exist to serve God’s great purpose of bringing all nations under the saving rule of his Son through the proclamation of the Gospel.

Purpose

Our purpose is to prepare people for effective Christian service. By “preparing” we mean laying foundations. By “effective Christian service” we mean ministry that upholds, proclaims, and is shaped by the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Beliefs

Trinity is a non-denominational ministry training college. We are Christian, evangelical, and reformed, in that order of importance.

Training

We believe that full-time enrolment provides the surest way of laying ministry foundations that will last. Our rigorous courses provide students with a solid foundation of biblical knowledge, Theology, Church History, and ministry skills for informed Christian service.

Partnership

We foster a community of prayer, friendship, and worship with staff, students, and supporters. We are committed to building relationships with churches and the wider Christian community.

Location

Trinity Theological College has a purpose-built facility, “Trinity House,” located in Newcastle Street between Loftus and Oxford streets in Leederville, just 5km from the Perth CBD. Its convenient location makes it easily accessible via public transport, car or bicycle.

“I want to see God’s word spread; ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few’. Trinity offers great training.”

Penny F

“I believe in Trinity’s mission and the integrity of its work.”

Margaret M

“Trinity unashamedly has the gospel of the Scriptures as its foundation.”

Mike F

“Trinity rigorously and faithfully studies the Bible and church history.”

Judith N

“I’m supportive of Trinity because of its gospel-centered, bible-based and ministry focussed approach.”

Joshua vdK

“Trinity is committed to evangelical theological education.”

John D

“We believe in Trinity’s goals and philosophy and have had a couple of family members graduate.”

John and Robyn L

“Trinity is a strategic centre for holistic and robust theological training in Perth and beyond.”

James B

“Trinity is biblical and evangelical in its teaching.“

Jacob and Yee She L

“I am concerned that new generations of Christians be equipped for service and this is ably done by Trinity.”

Ian M

HISTORY

Trinity Theological College was formed at the end of 1997 with the merging of the Perth Centre for Applied Christian Studies (PCACS) and Westminster Theological College, Perth. This followed two years of prayer, planning, and preparations by college boards, and principals Dr Allan Chapple (PCACS) and Dr Stephen Rarig. Trinity was first located at Bull Creek Westminster Presbyterian church from 1998-2003. Trinity has offered courses accredited by the Australian College of Theology since it began.

Prayer

The faithful prayer and financial support of a dedicated group of supporters realised the dream of providing our present building to enable our training ministry to expand. Our graduates now serve in positions such as pastors, missionaries, women’s workers, children’s and youth ministers, biblical studies teachers in schools, university Christian workers, and leaders in many other forms of Word-based ministry in Perth, the wider Australia and abroad.

Support

The ministry of the College continues to rely on prayer and financial support to help it continue to grow and develop into the future.

Community

Our Faculty, staff and students come from a wide cross-section of churches and backgrounds and this provides a richness and diversity amongst our community.

Partners

Trinity is the recognised training college for the Anglican Diocese of North West Australia, the Westminster Presbyterian Church and the Presbyterian Church of Western Australia. Many churches, missionary societies, schools and other ministries send people to be trained at Trinity and employ our graduates.

GOVERNANCE

Trinity is governed by a council elected from a board of trustees. The Trustees are united in the common conviction that God’s mission is enhanced and His Church is encouraged through thoroughly equipped servants of God – servants who will faithfully point others to Christ, the Saviour of the world.

Council

CHAIR
Murray Thornhill, BA, LLB, FANZCN

DEPUTY CHAIR
Leslie McGill, BCom Hons, SAICA, GIA(Affiliated), CA ANZ

OTHER MEMBERS
Craig Newill, BA, LTh (Hons), Hons BA (Theology)
Dean Powell, BASc
Cohen Watson, BCM, BTh
Donald West, Principal

COUNCIL SECRETARY
Gillian Kirkness, Dip Teach

Trustees

Peter Abetz	Chin Wee Ang
Phil Beeck	Allan Chapple
Robyn Coopes	Clare Deeves
Bruce Dodd	Margaret Ellis
Tim Flavell	Jennifer Foord
Nigel Gordon	Wesley Gregory
Henry Harding	Matt Harding
Grant Hendry	Ian Malcolm
Evan McFarlane	Leslie McGill
John Murray	Craig Newill
Frank Nicol	Darrell Parker
Dean Powell	Kanishka Raffel
John Raston	Scott Rowland
Roy Sarmidi	Rory Shiner
Amy Stopher	Ed Surrey
Ann Tarca	Darrell Thatcher
Rosemary Thorburn	Murray Thornhill
Cheryl Waldron	Cohen Watson
Paul Whitfield