I am very pleased to update you on the progress of the College so far in 2026.

2026 Enrolments
2026 enrolments are close to 2025 levels, and those were a record for the college. This is very encouraging, especially as some students faced greater financial challenges due to scholarship changes.  Because of this uncertainty, one major stakeholder has fewer students with us in 2026, but intends to increase numbers in 2027 which is encouraging.

Orientation week
Our Orientation week took place in February, with students coming from various parts of the Nelson Diocese, Wellington and Auckland. The week emphasised building community and developing the culture that we want the College to have throughout the year – a focus on discipleship, worship, the place of scripture in our College and on the formation of community. Feedback relayed to staff suggested this was the best Orientation week we have run.

Vision for 2026
As a college, we serve God’s Church across Nelson and in the Anglican world beyond Nelson. We base our work on our faith and expectation in what God is doing in the Church and into the world. For this reason we continue with these key emphases:

• The authority of scripture as central to all our teaching and training

• Discipleship and obedience to Christ as the heart of service and leadership

• Deep relationships and community as key to this formation as disciples

• A focus on the Church as the community of God’s mission and outreach

It is these things that make our teaching and training valuable in forming leaders who can serve effectively and with integrity in the mission of God.

Ongoing support - Going the Distance
We see significant financial challenges ahead and recognise that we must develop our own funding base to continue our vision. One response to that is the “Going the Distance” initiative launched by Bishop Steve (see over).

I and the staff greatly value and appreciate the support of our friends and donors - financial, prayer and other. As we look to 2026 and beyond, I ask you to keep praying for God to provide the funding and support we need to remain true to our mission.

Andrew

I enjoy running. One chilly morning last year, while out for a run, a thought flashed into my mind: what if I could use something I love—and something genuinely challenging—to support a cause that truly matters?

That thought took shape as I reflected on a recent Bishopdale College graduation ceremony. Graduate after graduate spoke about how the College had shaped their understanding of the Bible, deepened their faith, and clarified their sense of calling. Their words were a powerful reminder that Bishopdale doesn’t just teach theology—it forms people for God’s mission.

So the idea was born. On 9 May 2026, I will be running the 100km South Island Ultra to raise awareness and funds for Bishopdale College.

As Chair of the Board, I see up close what it takes to sustain a small theological college. I see dedicated staff, a tight budget, and a deeply committed community—students, churches, alumni, and supporters who pray faithfully, give sacrificially, and send students to be equipped. Bishopdale’s small size allows something rare and precious: close, intentional contact between tutors and students, where spiritual formation is central, personal, and relational.

Every long training run—and every sore muscle—reminds me of Paul’s words in 1 Timothy 4:8: “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things.” As I push my body through training demands, I realise that while endurance matters, shaping godly leaders matters even more. That is exactly what Bishopdale College exists for: to develop leaders grounded in Scripture, shaped in character, and capable of wisely applying what they learn in their own contexts.

Through this 100km run, I’m hoping to do two things:  

1. to raise awareness of the vital work Bishopdale College does

2. to raise funds so more leaders can be trained for the church and beyond.

People often ask, ‘Where will the next generation of Christian leaders come from?” We rightly say they come from God, who sends workers into his harvest—but we also have a responsibility to identify them, walk with them, and equip them well.

Finally, I want to thank you! Bishopdale College exists today because of the faithfulness of those who had the vision to establish a Bible college in the top of the South, those who've prayed, given, encouraged, and supported the College over many years. This run builds on that foundation. Whether you’ve been supporting Bishopdale for decades or are hearing about it for the first time, your partnership matters greatly.

Please help Bishopdale College go the distance in forming leaders for God’s mission by helping me go the distance in this 100km ultra.

STEVE

Another bumper year for enrolments is allowing us to deliver more level 6 and 7 courses on site. This is beneficial for students plus gives lecturing staff more opportunity to engage their areas of specialty.

This year, we currently have 42 students enrolled in our Laidlaw partnership programmes, ranging from diploma to degree level. We also have an additional 5 students enrolled in our own Level 6 NZ Diploma in Christian Studies programme.

Our students are a mixture of part-time and full-time, with half of our students located outside of Nelson. They live and minister in places such as Hamilton, Tauranga, Waiapu and Wellington in the north, to the south in places such as Blenheim, the West Coast, Reefton and Christchurch.

Being able to enrol Anglican students from across the country for distance learning provides us the opportunity to cater to them in a unique way and is only possible due to our ongoing relationship with Laidlaw College. We see this as a great blessing, not only for the Nelson Diocese, but for the wider Anglican Church in Aotearoa.  

It also allows many of our students to remain serving in their local parish while also gaining theological training. We see this as a win for students, local churches and the college alike.

Finally, as Burge mentioned in his message above, one of the most satisfying parts of what we do is providing a formative culture that promotes discipleship, often centreing around worship, fun and food. A highlight for Nelson students is our much loved Toastie Tuesdays, as well as worshiping together during our regular chapels, which finishes with a provided shared lunch.

We are keen to open chapel up to alumni and supporters of the college, so check out our website for dates and hopefully we’ll see you there!

I am currently in my second year of a Bachelor of Theology. So far, I’ve studied Hebrew and Greek along with courses focused on biblical studies as well as church history.

From the outset, I wanted more than an academic qualification. I was looking for a ministry training pathway that would not simply fill my head with information but would prepare me for a lifetime of faithful gospel ministry anchored firmly in God’s Word. I wanted to study at a theological college with a clear commitment to Scripture and a focus on training men and women for gospel ministry.

At BTC, I have been exposed to a breadth of theological perspectives while being driven back to the Bible itself. That combination is helping me to think carefully to solidify my own doctrinal convictions. A central and formative aspect of college life has been gathering regularly for morning prayer and chapel.

Sitting under God’s word as well as singing and praying together continually reorients my study toward its true purpose which is knowing and serving Christ.

Looking ahead, I hope to serve God and his people by ministering in a local church context. I am particularly eager to engage non-believers with the gospel clearly and compassionately, while also helping Christians grow in their understanding and love of God.

My desire is to teach and handle the Bible faithfully, so that others may be encouraged and equipped to live for Christ in every area of life.

11 Bishopdale College students graduated on Friday – including someone you might not have expected… Bishop Steve Maina!

The assembly was greeted by Rev Dr Maja Whitaker, academic dean of Laidlaw College, Bishopdale College’s partner. She praised the students for their hard work, and called theological study “a sacrificial act of worship”.

Daniela Hayer and Hana Wood (Level 5 Diploma in Christian Studies), Kimberly Rea (Graduate Diploma in Theology), and Rev Alice Kinyua (Bachelor of Theology with Honours) shared testimonies of their time studying at Bishopdale. They spoke of a strong community at the college, appreciating the support shown by faculty.

Daniela, from Germany, said that the staff were “loving, encouraging, appreciating, and championing the students”.Dean of Bishopdale College Andrew Burgess – known as Burge – gave an address based on the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

“The fruit of the Spirit is all about relationship,” Burge said, “and that makes sense to me, because God is all about relationship.” Alongside theological learning and practical outworking, Bishopdale College aims to develop the character of their faculty, board and students.

We can’t represent God in the world, Burge argued, if we aren’t made more like him.