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HISTORICAL
STATEMENT
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Berea Theological College began in 1985
after the creation of Eldoret Diocese out of the Diocese of
Nakuru in 1983. The training institute for the ordained
ministry for the then Greater Nakuru Diocese was St.
Paul’s Divinity School, Kapsabet started in 1961.
Berea
college began as a diocesan college and soon it was
recommended by the provincial Board of Theological Education
(PBTE) to be one of the provincial colleges, where students
were registered for a provincial certificate after a
three-year theological training. From 1991, the college
adopted the Limuru Curriculum where students are prepared
for a three-year Diploma course in Theological training.
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RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTIONS AND
UNIVERSITIES IN EAST AFRICA. |
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Berea college is a member of the following theological
institutions:- |
| 1. |
The Association of Theological in East Africa
(ATIEA) |
| 2. |
Africa Network of institutions of Theological Education
preparing Anglicans for ministry (ANITEPAM) |
| 3. |
African Theological Fellowship (ATF) which is
affiliated to oxford center for mission Studies –
England (OCMS), whose chairman is the retired Anglican
Archbishop of Kenya Rev. Dr. David Gitari |
| 4. |
The Provincial Board of Theological Education (PBTE)
whose chairman is the Rt. Rev. Gideon Githiga (Ph.
D) |
| 5. |
Berea college is affiliated to
St.Paul’s United
Theological College, Limuru, which is one of the
higher theological institutions awarding the
Bachelor of Divinity Degree (BD) and Masters in
Theology (MTH) from Aberdeen University, Scotland |
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These member institutions co-operate in seeking to
advance theological education in Africa. |
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THE PURPOSE OF THE COLLEGE. |
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Seeks
to train both
men and women in theology, Pastoralia, means of worship
and evangelism methods primarily with a view to preparing
candidates for the ordained Ministry. |
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The aim of the institution is to achieve two things:- |
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The formation of spiritual maturity |
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Academic excellence |
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Berea college is gaining recognition
due to the high standards for it’s pastoral and academic
achievements.
The call to the ordained ministry is a
call to seek God by studying the scriptures, to deepen
personal faith and devotion and desire to be with the
community of God’s people and to make God a reality in
their lives and an equal desire to deepen one’s own discipleship
of Christ.
Berea college exists to stimulate
understanding of the Christian faith and to emphasize ethics
and to motivate people for service to society. It is the
responsibility of both staff and students to provide the
personal participation, which contributes to Berea’s
Christian character and commitment.
The
spiritual commitment is expressed in worship, in the
Academic program and in extra-curricular communal
activities.
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SUMMARY OF THE COURSES
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1.
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Biblical courses:
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Candidates take mandatory courses in Biblical studies
in each of their three years at college. The common aim
for all these courses is to train students to interpret
the Bible. Exegetical courses on the biblical text are
designed to cover a wide range of Biblical books. Students
are encouraged to explore the theology of the text in
order to relate biblical insights to contemporary social
and cultural contexts.
Good biblical interpretation demands a full knowledge
of the text, a deep awareness of contemporary society and
a real desire to proclaim the Good News.
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2.
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Theological Courses:
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The courses
are systematic and African theology for instance equips the
student with a basic understanding of the major doctrines of
the Christian faith, with reference to historical and modern
developments.
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ADMISSIONS.
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Requirements and procedures.
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To be admitted
to the college, their own Diocesan Bishop’s Examining
Chaplain panel must first of all accept potential
candidates. They make initial application through their
local parishes where the parish priest makes recommendation
and forwards the application of the candidate to the
Bishop’s Examining Chaplain panel. If selected the
Examining authorities will forward the candidates names to
the college and provide the necessary financial support
during the three-year training.
The college admits students to
a course leading to a Diploma in Theology recognised under the auspices of
affiliation to St. Paul’s United Theological College-Limuru.
Candidates seeking admission must have either a division
three O level Kenya Certificate student examination(KCSE)
qualification or a C under the new 8-4-4 system.
Candidates
without the qualifications are required to sit for the
special Entrance Examination (SEE). As the language of
instruction in the college is English, the examination test
is designed to assess the candidates’ ability in English
composition, Comprehension, Grammar, Vocabulary, Expression
and dictation.
At
the end of a three-year course, the candidate will receive
the Limuru Diploma Certificate in Theology and Academic
Record.
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THE COLLEGE
CAMPUS LIFE.
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Berea college is in
a rural agricultural setting. It is
about 7,000 feet, situated in the highlands of Kenya in the
Rift Valley province. The nearest main town is Nakuru, which
is 26 kilometers. The famous home of flamingoes, lake Nakuru,
which is a national park, is about 30 kilometers away from
the college. The climate is temperate and at times it is
cool in the month of July. There is an annual rainfall of
upto 80-90 mm and the whole area is green and
fertile. Being an agricultural environment, the college is
surrounded by big coffee, Tea and Diary farms. Recently some
of these farms have started venturing on commercial flower
farming. The college stands within Berea Church farm, with
250 acres.
There is a
range of permanent buildings, which include a chapel,
lecture rooms and administrative offices, a library,
semi-permanent ladies hostels, a modern men’s hostel, and
the multipurpose hall/dining kitchen with a seating capacity
of 350 people. Through God’s providence we were able to
drill a borehole for the provision of sufficient clean water
for the institution. The college is fully residential for
students and staff.
The students are
accommodated in individual study-bedrooms and eat in a
communal dining hall. There is a limited number of married
students’ houses specially for Sudanese families. There is
a nearby primary school for those with children of school
age.
There are
tutorial staff houses and each house has an adjacent
vegetable Garden.
The college
provides breakfast (7.00 am), lunch (1.00) and dinner (7.00)
to all students. Corporate worship is a vital element to
community life in college. A part from daily morning
service, there is the main celebration of the Eucharist on
Wednesday at 7.30 am when the address is given by visiting
preacher or tutorial members of staff.
Because of
it’s ecumenical nature, the college has also been
admitting students from other denominations who are member
churches of national council of churches (NCCK). So far we
have trained candidates from the Holy Spirit church (i.e.
African Instituted Churches). The Methodist church of Kenya,
and the Presbyterian church of east Africa (PCEA), and the
Episcopal Church of Sudan. The college has also established
an exchange programme with Wycliffe Hall (Oxford), where
they send students for a three-month block placement to have
an African Church Missionary experience.
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ENDOWMENT SCOLARSHIP FUND:
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It has been the policy of the
Provincial Board of Theological Education and Training (PBTE&T)
whose chairman is the Rt. Rev. Dr. Gideon Githiga that
theological institution like Berea should have an Endowment
Scholarship Fund. The provincial College Council is to
assist theological institutions like Berea to implement this
policy.
The aim is to
assist the very needy students who are unable to raise even
their personal contributions.
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BEREA GRADUATES:
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Since the inception of Berea
Theological College in 1985 we have trained so far 200
students from the Anglican Province of Kenya, Episcopal
Church of Sudan and from other mainline churches lime
Methodist, Presbyterian, and the Holy Spirit Church of
Africa (African Instituted Church).
Our current
capacity accommodation facilities can hold 150 persons. At
the moment the college has a population of 92 students.
In
our five-year development plan, we envisage to increase our
current population form 90 to 350 students. Already we
completed a multipurpose hall/dining kitchen which has the
seating capacity of 350 people. Our next project is the
ladies modern hostel (women center) with accommodation
facilities for 60 occupants.
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TUTORIAL STAFF:
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Currently we have six full time and
five part time tutors. These are:-
The Rev. Dr. Samuel Muturi – Director of pastoral
studies.
(Dip. Th. BA,DD)
The Rev. Michael Lolwerikoi _ College principal (Dip.
Th. ND,MA)
The Rev. Zachary Nyilinkwaya – Dean of studies
(BD<MA)
Dss. Catherine Mwihia (Dip. Th. BD)
Mrs. Jacky Ward
(BA-Honours Classics)
Rev. Jacob Lesunda (BD, MA)
Ven. Stephen Kabora (BD)
Rev. John Ng’ang’a Muturi (Dip. Th. BA)
Rev. Julius Kithingi (BD)
Rev. James Kbue (Dip. Education, BD)
Rev. Joseph Thuo (BD)
In the past,
we have had mission partners like the Rev. David Watkins –
CMS Australia, and Karen Fulton – Cdosslink – UK
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NON-RESIDENTIAL COURSES:
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Along with a three-year
residential course the college being an integrated resource
center, also provide short courses (workshops and seminars
which are geared to improve the local Christian
communities’ capacities to exploit and manage the existing
resources for sustainable agriculture. The aim is to enhance
the mission of the church in the context of evangelism and
social responsibility.
The
non-residential courses that are undertaken, mainly during
holidays cover community health (e.g. HIV/AIDS pandemic),
Social Development, Agriculture/livestock development and
Environment conservation.
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FUTURE DEVELOPMENT PLANS:
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Computer
Network |
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Construction of more staff houses |
| 3. |
Construction of women center |
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Personnel training |
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Construction of modern library |
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Construction of more classrooms/workshop room |
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Further information may be obtained from:-
The Principal
Berea
Theological College
P.O. Box 1945
NAKURU –
KENYA
E-mail: berea-tc@africaonline.co.ke
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