For more than 130 years, Talua (in one form or another) has been equipping men and women to serve Christ and his Church across Vanuatu and the South Pacific.
In 1895, the Presbyterian Mission established the Teachers Training Institute on Tangoa Island, where ni-Vanuatu were trained in Scripture, Christian teaching and practical skills for service in their churches and communities. For generations, Tangoa became a centre for preparing local leaders to carry the gospel across the islands.
In 1971, the work of training church leaders continued through the establishment of the Presbyterian Bible College on Tangoa. Six years later, the Aulua Theological Training Centre was established at Aulua on Malekula to train pastors for the Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu.
In 1986, these two schools came together to form Talua. The name itself reflects their shared heritage: Tangoa + Aulua = Talua. From the beginning, Talua’s calling has been to prepare both pastors and lay people for faithful Christian service.
Since then, Talua has continued to grow and adapt to the changing needs of the Church. We have trained pastors, mission workers and lay leaders, partnered with churches across Melanesia, and expanded our theological programs from certificates and diplomas to bachelor-level study.
In 2009, Talua began its Bachelor of Ministry program, with the first graduating cohort completing their studies in 2012. Talua has also welcomed students and lecturers from other denominations, including the Anglican Church of Melanesia, strengthening our shared witness and partnership across the Pacific.
Today, Talua is the only accredited theological training institution in Vanuatu, offering nationally recognised programs from foundational study through to the Bachelor of Theology.
But while our programs and qualifications have changed over the decades, our purpose has remained the same:
“to equip people with the knowledge, character and practical skills to serve Christ, strengthen the Church and proclaim the gospel throughout Vanuatu and beyond.”
From two small Bible schools on Tangoa and Aulua to a national centre for theological education in South Santo, Talua continues a story that began more than half a century ago—and we look forward with faith to what God will do next.