About Cornhill

Cornhill Australia’s Purpose, Vision and Mission

Purpose

(why we exist)

To promote expositional preaching that sharpens people’s minds, warms people’s hearts and changes people’s lives.

Vision

(where we are going)

To represent the best practice and be a faithful and helpful influence in the training of preachers throughout the wider Sydney evangelical network and beyond.

Mission

(how we will get there)

Attract and train gospel workers to develop their expositional skills for a range of ministry contexts.

Who are we training?

We train men and women from a wide range of cultures, ages, churches and academic backgrounds, who can set aside a day per week for study and practice.

Our training will benefit anyone with a word ministry, with a firm commitment to the trustworthiness and sufficiency of Scripture, and a willingness to learn and serve.

Our students include:

  • ministry apprentices, prior to theological college
  • those preparing to teach the bible in a range of other contexts (e.g. children’s ministry, youth leaders, small group leaders, lay leaders), but not intending to go to theological college
  • experienced preachers who want to hone their skills
  • lay people preparing for a useful retirement or second phase of church ministry involvement
  • people preparing for overseas mission service
  • people who are just seeking to know the Bible better and grow in Christian maturity

We hold a complementarian view on the role of men and women in church ministry; we are happy to accept students who do not hold that view but who accept that that is what will be taught and assumed on the course.

Doctrinal Basis

The Unity of God

The unity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in the Godhead.

The Sovereignty of God

The sovereignty of God in creation, revelation, redemption, and final judgement.

The Authority of Scripture

The divine inspiration and infallibility of Holy Scripture as originally given, and its supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.

Human Nature and Sin

The universal sinfulness and guilt of human nature since the fall, rendering man subject to God’s wrath and condemnation.

The Deity of Jesus Christ

The full deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God; his virgin birth and his real and sinless humanity; his death on the cross, his bodily resurrection, and his present reign in heaven and earth.

Redemption Through Christ

Redemption from the guilt, penalty, and power of sin only through the sacrificial death, once and for all time, of our representative and substitute, Jesus Christ, the only mediator between God and man.

Justification by Faith

Justification as God’s act of undeserved mercy, in which the sinner is pardoned all his sins and accepted as righteous in God’s sight, only because of the righteousness of Christ imputed to him. This justification is received by faith alone.

The Role of the Holy Spirit

The need for the Holy Spirit to make the work of Christ effective to the individual sinner, granting him repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ.

Life in the Spirit

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit in all those thus regenerated, producing in them an increasing likeness to Christ in character and behaviour, and empowering them for their witness in the world.

The Church

The one holy universal Church, which is the Body of Christ, and to which all true believers belong.

The Return of Christ

The future personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge all men, executing God’s just condemnation on the impenitent and receiving the redeemed to eternal glory.

History


Affiliations and Partnerships

  • Cornhill Australia works with MTS to provide an MTS-Cornhill apprenticeship. You can do the Cornhill Australia course either as an MTS-Cornhill apprentice, or as an independent student.
  • Moore Theological College (MTC) kindly provides rooms for us to use.  Cornhill Australia is governed and managed independently from MTC.
  • Cornhill Australia is non-denominational.

Legal Entity

Cornhill Australia is a registered business name of Cornhill Australia Ltd.

Cornhill Australia Ltd:

  • is a registered company (ABN 15 146 822 442), limited by guarantee
  • is registered as a charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) (ACN 146 822 442)
  • has four directors: Graham Baikie, Cam Capel, Simon Manchester, David Peterson.

Finances

In 2023 Cornhill Australia’s costs were funded (in round terms) by student fees (70%), cash donations (15%), volunteer time (15%).

If you would like to make a donation to Cornhill Australia, please email info@cornhillaustralia.org.au.