Australia's largest university centre of theological learning will be created by a new partnership between Charles Sturt University and the United Theological College to be launched in Sydney tomorrow, Friday 28 May.

The agreement for the institutions to join forces in providing higher degrees in theology will also result in the formation of the largest faculty of theology in any Australian university.

Head of the CSU School of Theology Reverend Dr Stephen Pickard said the merger would make a major contribution to the school's capacity to extend its postgraduate program in theology at the Masters and Doctoral research levels.

"The partnership with United Theological College expresses the School's ongoing commitment to an ecumenical vision for theology," he said.

The CSU School of Theology was established four years ago through a partnership with the University and St Mark's National Theological Centre in Canberra. In 1997 St John's College Morpeth became a partner in the school. Earlier this year a memorandum of understanding was signed between Charles Sturt and the Australian Catholic University Theology Campus in Canberra, for joint provision of Theology Degrees.

Today the school has over 300 students with more than half of these studying through distance education for undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.

Dr Pickard said the high quality of doctoral students in the school was reflected in the fact that quite a number were recipients of prestigious Australian research scholarships.

The agreement will be signed tomorrow by CSU Vice Chancellor Professor Cliff Blake, Chair of the Council of United Theological College Professor Bruce Mansfield, St Mark's Council President Bishop George Browning and St John's Council Chairman Bishop Roger Herft.