Ministry and Theology students at Avondale University have been formally introduced to the Ministry Development (MD) Portal—a system already supporting pastors and school chaplains across Australia, New Zealand, French Polynesia, the Cook Islands, Fiji and parts of South Africa.
From 2026, all students seeking denominational employment will create online profiles within the portal, upload their curriculum vitae and complete employment applications digitally. Replacing previous manual processes means conference staffing committees can now review student information prior to interviews and search specific data fields within a centralised database.
“MD makes searching for prospective staff simple. We really can find the best candidates for each role with the minimum of fuss,” said South Queensland Conference president Pastor Brett Townend.
The portal also streamlines practicum administration. Students enrolled in subjects with a practical component can upload safety and training certificates, nominate preferred placement locations, complete workplace agreements, and submit practicum reports and reviews—all within a single system. The platform manages required consents and notifications, providing transparency across the entire process while placing students at the centre of their own administration.
Because MD is already used by the pastoral workforce, student records can transition seamlessly into employment. Many forms are auto-filled, reducing duplication and saving time in data collection and entry.
Pastor Norm Hurlow, senior pastor of Avondale University Church, has already seen the benefits. “As a local church pastor coordinating student placements, this system has made my work noticeably simpler and far more streamlined,” he said. “It has saved time, reduced administrative complexity and made the entire process much more user-friendly.”
For Avondale, the administrative efficiencies are significant. “MD is already saving us weeks of work,” said ministry practicum director Pastor Neil Thompson. “The ability to access data instantly and to communicate directly with students, practicum supervisors and conference presidents through the portal has brought a new level of efficiency to the way we do things!”
The launch took place in Ella Hughes Chapel, bringing together almost 70 students attending in person and online. The practicum assessment process within MD closely mirrors the internship processes graduates will experience in their first appointments, further reducing onboarding time for conferences.
“I’m excited to already be using the platform we’ll use once we’re employed,” said one Ministry and Theology student.
Developed within the South Pacific Division and overseen by Adventist Technology, the MD Portal represents a significant step forward in supporting ministerial training and employment pathways across the region.
More information can be found here.
