This year’s graduates from Moore Theological College have been called upon to “contend for the faith” at a time when the College and Diocese are in a “special season” of their history, at a graduation function in Angel Place, Sydney.

Dr Alfred Olwa, a lecturer at Uganda Christian University and recipient of a PhD from Moore and UWS, noted in his address that the retirement of Dr John Woodhouse as Principal of Moore, the coming retirement of Dr Peter Jensen as Archbishop, the 100th anniversary of Uganda Christian University, and a somewhat tongue in cheek nod to the ongoing selection of a new Roman pope, all coincided to create a “a special graduation in a special season.”

Dr Olwa’s message, taken from Jude, focused on the idea that it is the responsibility of everyone, ordained or not, to “contend for the faith given to the saints once for all”, and encouraged the ninety one new graduates to do so as they set out to work in ministry.

He also particularly noted that this contending may often come in response to pressures from within the church, rather than without.

“The worst enemies of Christian doctrine are professing Christians who do not hold to the faith once for all delivered to the saints,” Dr Olwa said, noting Jude’s warning in verse 4 and the words of Paul in Acts 20.

Archbishop Peter Jensen, who closed the night in prayer, said that he was happy to be present at this, his last appearance at a Moore graduation as Archbishop and as Chairman of the College board.

“Well, it happens to be the last one that I’ll be the Chairman at. But not being the chairman any longer does not cut off my ties with Moore College,” says Dr Jensen. “Those go back to when I was a student in 1966. It’s just a change of function, really.

“The college remains very close to my heart, I think it remains one of the great works of God in Australia, and I will be doing everything I can, in whatever role I can, to support the college, to speak well of it, and to strengthen it in any way I can."

Dr John Woodhouse, the outgoing Principal of Moore College, said it was a refreshingly new perspective to sit and watch the graduates as a ‘lay’ person, before he formally leaves the position after his period of leave concludes in May.

“It was a wonderful night,” says Dr Woodhouse. “It’s a different perspective for me - the thing is, when you’re actually sitting in the hall, you can hear everything, but when you’re stage, you don’t necessarily hear everything. But it’s great to see the work of the college on display in a way were you can see what it’s all about, and see where everyone’s going, and it’s quite nice to see that without the adrenaline running from trying to keep everything working."

Ian Scarfe, one of the senior graduates from this years cohorts, received a Diploma of Bible and Ministry. He says he was humbled to see so many people turn out to see the graduates, and to hear Dr Olwa’s message.

Mr Scarfe currently serves his local church, Lugarno Anglican, as a Scripture teacher and a leader in the senior’s group, and says he has benefitted from the training Moore was able to provide.

“I’d encourage anyone, if they have the opportunity to go to College, Moore particularly, to grab it with both hands and make the most of it,” says Mr Scarfe. “I don’t think age is a very strong criterion; it’s more where the heart is, and a willingness to serve the Lord better.”

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Diploma of Bible and Ministry

Fiona Ackman
Matthew Beresford
Jonathan Marquet
Kathy Powell
Ian Scarfe

Diploma of Bible and Missions

Timothy Baker
Renee Brasier
Elysha Cole
Eleanor Mantle
David Robinson
Elise Semenchuk
Fiona Smartt
Amy Stepniewski
Richard Thompson
Rachael Truscott
Joanne Wattle

Diploma of Bible and Youth Ministry

Cindy Partridge

Bachelor of Theology

Chen-Kai Chien (Merit)
Jacqueline Collins
Sarah Cox
Marette Dean
Danny Ford
Daniel Godde (Distinction)
Sihua Guo
Matthew Kennedy (Merit)
Ruth Lee (Merit)
Matthew Matson (Merit)
Hayley Neal (Merit)
Michael Nhieu (Merit)
Zoë Paleologus
Zeph Palmer
Kate Ramshaw
Donovan Simmons (Merit)
Leanne Slade
Beth Webb
Paul Webb
Brendan Willis (Merit)
Jasmine Yong (Merit)

Bachelor of Divinity

Duncan Andrews (Hons 1)
Mark Baines
Jonathan Blyth (Hons 2A)
Stephen Blyth (Hons 2A)
Stephen Bridge
Peter Cheng
Lucinda Chubb (Hons 2B)
Andrew Clark
Jonathan Cole
Mark Collins
Prashanth Colombage (Hons 2A)
Nicholas Colyer (Hons 1)
Marcus Druitt
Timothy Escott (Hons 1)
Daniel Faricy (Hons 2A)
Stephen Farrar (Hons 2A)
Roger Hokin
Katherine Hooton
Alan James
Andrew Judd (Hons 1)
Jonathan Kwan
Campbell Mackay
Joanna Mason (Hons 2A)
Stephen McNabb
Dougal Michie
Zachary Miles (Hons 2A)
David Mitchell (Hons 2A)
Daniel Morris (Hons 2A)
Gerard O’Brien (Hons 2A)
Timothy Omrod (Hons 1)
Andrew Robinson (Hons 2A)
Victor Shaw (Hons 2A)
Ratu Taito
Sugianto Thie
Simon Twist
Guangyao Un (Hons 2A)
Robin Vonk (Hons 1)
Joanne Wong
Michael Wong
Carson Wu

Master of Arts in Theology

Mark Boyley
Stephen Cree
Shane Dirks
Anthony Douglas
Sam Hwang
Simon Manchester
David Mears
Alison Napier
Dominic O’Shea
Gavin Perkins
David Pratt
Nathan Walter (Merit)
Malcolm York
David Yung