BRANSBY KEY COLLEGE
Bransby Key College is named after the second Bishop of St. John's Diocese, whose main focus was education. It was established as a non- residential and ecumenical institution whose main purpose is to train candidates for ministry. The training process is operating in such a way that Christian values are inculcated so that Christianity as a serious moral issue with prophetic quality is promoted.
Founded by Diocese of St. John's in 1994 (now the Diocese of Mthatha), as Christ the Redeemer College, this College is a non- residential, ecumenical institution. Having analysed the needs of the previously under privileged communities and churches, the Diocese of Mthatha established the college, which started with 18 Anglican students and five part- time tutors.
The College uses a combined mode of training in contact sessions and distance learning. It offers two streams of programmes:
Firstly it offers a Diploma in Theology (Dip. Th.), for which students must have a STD 10/ Grade 12 certificate, a letter of recommendation from the church and a Certified Copy of their ID. The following core courses are assessed by Common Assignments and Examinations:
- Church History 1 & 4
- New Testament 1; 2 & 3,
- Systematic Theology 1 & 2
- Old Testament 1 and
- Ethics 1.
The following subjects are assessed by common assignment/ extended essays only (no examination):
- a theological response to HIV/ AIDS (Reflection & CA);
- Christian Spirituality;
- Church Management & Administration;
- Healing & Counselling;
- Missiology 1 (full credit);
- Old Testament 2 & 3;
- Systematic Theology 3;
- Worship and
It is a 2 year course and students can take up to four courses per semester.
Secondly it offers a Diploma in Ministry (Under the School of Ministry) for which students require a certified Copy of their ID and a Letter of recommendation from the church. The prospective candidates will be those who are already doing some work in the Church, with a potential of making faithful servants, and who are between 35 and 65 years old.
The Core Courses in this diploma are
- Church History
- New Testament
- Old Testament
- Systematic Theology or Doctrine of the Church
- Theological Ethics
- Missiology.
- Christian Spirituality.
- Church Administration and Management
- Healing and Counselling.
- Ascetics
These courses are compulsory. The elective courses are
- Church and society
- Youth ministry
- Diaconiology
- Cybernetics
- Christian Religious Education
- HIV and AIDS… the church's response
The following principles and values guide the college.
Equity - Fair distribution of available resources to all students and denomination.
Equality - Protection of human rights, dignity of students and staff regardless of gender race, political or democratic affiliation.
Rural Development - The college is based towards training of students from rural and underdeveloped areas of the Eastern Cape
Redress - Previously disadvantaged and marginalized churches are given priority with special emphasis in the development and empowerment of women church leaders
Our college needs money for the smooth running of its activities. We depend for financing our programmes on the registration fees and course fees. We are mindful of the fact that some students come from disadvantaged backgrounds that is why we are patient with them in terms of the settlement of their accounts.
The college saves the Diocese and other churches of Christian fraternity from paying exorbitant amount to the residential colleges. So Bransby Key College is here to serve the marginalized communities. We can run short of priests in the Diocese if we can only depend on the small number of ordinands trained at Transfiguration. We do not have enough resources to pay for the training of a big number of candidates at residential colleges; Bransby Key College comes as Messiah in this Diocese. We humbly appeal to the rectors of the parishes and their parish church councils to kindly assist their ordinands financially.
There are deplorable cases where students cannot afford to pay for catering, not to mention registration and tuition fees (course fees). We kindly appeal to the parishes to assist if possible.
Buildings and need for renovations
The college buildings are in a state of disrepair. The last synod resolved to make the necessary repairs to the school buildings which are badly dilapidated and to help the college with library equipment and books. Due to lack of funds the diocese has not been able to help.
The invitation to apply for funding from the ACSA DEVELOPMENT NETWORK came too late, very close to the deadline and as a result we were unable to submit the application for funding however should the invitation be renewed we would definitely apply.
In so far as the renovations of the library we have requested the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture to assist.
Please pray for our college.
Thank you
Canon M. Ndima
Principal
.
