Study at Hillsong

Hillsong Church is a breakaway Pentecostal sector of the Christian religion. The Church, a recent hit in Sydney, has attracted a lot of media attention due to its phenomenal annual revenue and its musical pop chart success. What a lot of people don’t know, however, is that Hillsong is also a university college campus.

Called, The Bible Leadership College, it offers the Bachelor of Theology - specialising in Pastoral Theory. Within the course a student can opt to complete a diploma, advanced diploma, certificate or, if you study for 4 years, the Bachelor. The third year is dedicated to an internship within the church.

Hillsong are known for their secrecy and it’s not hard to see why after reading all the bad press about them. The HR department were very sceptical about giving out any figures or information about the college. However, they did reveal that the combined number of full and part-time students – Baulkam Hills and Alexandria campuses – is roughly 1700. It has a staff of almost 200, including 70 pastors.

Carston Woodhouse, who is now a pastor for the Church, studied at the ministry college. He says the decision to study at Hillsong was, “more of a heart thing rather than an educational thing. People who I didn’t know (from the Church) actually gave me money for the fees I couldn’t afford. I was pretty sure that was what God wanted me to do.”

Even though fulltime students who study at Hillsong are expected to attend 15 hours a week of classes, serve in two services over the weekend and participate weekly in a chosen ministry, they are still spiritually obliged to give 10% of what they earn to the Church. This Hillsong principal is called tithing and, according to the annual report, is responsible for 45% of the Church’s annual revenue. Naomi Deluga, a second year student who has two part-time jobs to support herself, says she tithes, “to make sure that God is her main priority and not money.”

Wind-powered boat puts birds at risk

Pond-life at Centennial Park

Centennial Park is a unique part of Sydney’s city. Not five kilometres away from the CBD, the park is a favourite site for joggers, walkers, cyclists and roller-bladers… but not for boaters as Bill Major found out a fortnight ago.

Bill, (53) who is a manager of an antique and architectural elements shop in the eastern suburbs, has always loved to play with remote controlled boats. “I find it so relaxing,” he says. “It’s always been a hobby of mine.” However, having only just placed his toy sailing boat upon one of the ponds in the park, he was approached by one of the parklands rangers and asked to stop immediately.

Apparently, Bill’s boat was placing the natural wild life, who call the pond home, at risk. One of the distinctive features of Centennial Park is its diverse flora and fauna but Bill says, “If I thought I was putting the swans and birds in any danger, I wouldn’t be doing it.” That is, because his boat is powered by the wind; the remote control only steers it. “Swallows were perching on the mast!” Bill scoffs. Nevertheless, Bill was sent away with his boat.

“My father used to take me to this exact pond and his father used to take him,” says Bill. He is disappointed that the tradition has to stop because of this new rule.

Centennial Parklands Ranger, Brian Page says, “Any sort of remote control boat is not allowed on any of the ponds in the park. We provide a sanctuary for the birds and wildlife here and it’s our job to protect them.”