theological education
Incumbent - Theological Education - Ministerial
This experience of Church still informs my understanding of what the Church can be at its best, and I am standing for Synod with a vision of the Church of England that loves and celebrates the parish, theological education, and Christ.
Despite the riches of our parishes, congregations, and theological education sector, attentive listening to the voices of those we are called to serve requires honesty about the sense of anxiety, pressures on resources both in terms of time and finance, the crisis in clergy wellbeing, the hurt felt by both GMH and LGBTQIA+ people, and uncertainty for TEIs about their viability and future.
I have seen this same desire for a solid grounding in experience of those I have taught in residential and non-residential TEIs, matched by the energy and enthusiasm of tutors and staff, despite a backdrop of a lack of resources inhibiting proper formation and a general sense of uncertainty for the University-TEI sector; a strong voice for University-TEIs is needed now more than ever as the review of theological education takes place.
Supporting TEIs and the vocational process, encouraging vocations that reflect the people of God and offering a strong voice for theological education across our diverse pathways.
Experience of theological education in both residential and non-residential, part- time or mixed-mode settings, at the College of the Resurrection, Mirfield, St Augustine’s College, Southeast, and within the Diocese of Southwark.
• Theological Education: Governor of The Queen's
Foundation for Theological Education, Birmingham, since
I am committed to excellent theological education, having lectured for St Mellitus NW, chaired lay training initiatives like the Manchester
Over these five years we have discovered the exact opposite: that it is buildings, stipends, and deep theological education that are the key amplifying factors of Anglican mission.
I currently serve on Diocesan Synod and Bishop’s Council, as well as teaching in theological education and diocesan training.
• We need to support clergy and lay leaders with the buildings, theological education and
Direct the common Renew rich theological Make church closure fund to mission and resourcing for harder than survival the cure of souls. theological education. and growth.
Theological education and discipleship: I founded and served as Dean/Principal of St Frumentius’ Anglican Theological College in Ethiopia, helped develop discipleship-training programmes in Africa, and continue to teach and write on Scripture, theology, mission and church history.
I Extensive ministerial experience I bring experience of parochial ministry, Cathedral ministry, higher education chaplaincy and theological education.
For ten years, I served as a Trustee and then Chair of St Augustine’s Foundation, which funds theological education in the Anglican Communion, particularly in the global south.
I currently serve as a Reviewer (Periodic External Reviews) of Theological Education Institutions.
5.24) and yet numbers currently in theological education are low.
The resourcing of theological education will be a pressing question for the new Synod.
I also believe we should invest in strong theological education.
I would seek to focus the attention of the national church leadership on increasing the supply of ordinands, properly resourcing rigorous initial theological education and sharpening the focus on clergy wellbeing.
My experiences of parish ministry, cross-cultural mission and theological education enable me to represent you thoughtfully and well.
I never expected to work in theological education and formation, but I find I love it.
There are conversations taking place now about theological education and formation that will impact the resourcing of local ministry and mission for decades to come, to which I would bring direct expertise as a TEI Principal with substantial parish experience.
As well as bringing experience from theological education and parish ministry, I would bring the ability to read financial accounts, and to work through the details to see what story the numbers tell and what values they reveal.
But we know we work well together for the benefit of theological education and of the Church that we serve in the Principals’ group, despite those differences, and we would expect to work well together for the whole church if we were both elected to General Synod.
During my discernment process in Bradford, I trained for ordained ministry at the Queen’s Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education in Birmingham.
Improving theological education.
Fund good theological education.
I am standing for election for one of the four seats reserved in General Synod to represent the Universities & Theological Education Institutions sectors.
The first is the importance of greater investment in theological education, which relies upon strong relationships between the Church, TEIs and universities, and which should be an essential part of formation for ordained and lay ministries.
The flourishing of theological education across the different modes and pathways requires additional investment, both in terms of resources and in strengthening the essential relationships mentioned above.
In my role at Queen’s, I am also part of a three-year project around anti-racism in theological education, funded by the Racial Justice Unit.
I would advocate for anti-racism teaching and practice to become more deeply embedded in theological education, including the full implementation of recommendations
I trained for ordination at St Mellitus College, where my dissertation explored creativity within theological education and Christian formation.
I am passionate about identifying, equipping and releasing people for ministry, and about good theological education, formation and ongoing support.
I have also worked in theological education, helping to train people for lay and ordained ministry.
This is something we are trying to put into practice locally through developing lay leaders through a Deanery ALM course, theological education and creating opportunities for people to discover and use their gifts.
If elected, I would bring experience of parish ministry, work with children, young people and schools, theological education, and the wider life of the Diocese and Deanery.
Theological Education & Governance: I served as Governor of Lincoln College of Theology until its amalgamation with St Hild’s College, gaining further valuable insight into theological governance and training.
• Vocations and theological education.
I take theological education seriously
I am involved in and care deeply about theological education ministerial formation.
theological education more broadly?
I am keen to see better resourcing of parishes and less ecclesiastical red-tape. The next Synod will decide the future shape of theological education.
● Business Analyst at Warwick Employment Group (previously Equiniti) — managing and analysing complex data to inform decision-making. ● Strong problem-solving, stakeholder management and coordination skills, directly applicable to Synod discussions and church administration. ● Facilitator and coordinator of training sessions, including for tech students, using social media and community engagement practices. ● Theological Education in Black Theology (The Queen’s Foundation, Birmingham), MSc International Business Management (Coventry University), MBA Human Resources Management (Ladoke Akintola University, Nigeria) and BSc Accounting (Babcock University, Nigeria).
I believe that, over the last 35 years, I have been fortunate enough to gain a wide range of experience in parochial ministry, theological education, and diocesan and national roles which could be of service to the Church.
I continued to be actively involved in local church ministry during my time in theological education, and as Associate Minister at St Nic’s I also support other churches, especially those in vacancy.
We believe that effective mission requires the prioritisation of spending on good theological education as a crucial investment.
And I have ministered in a variety of roles: mostly in parish ministry; in theological education (both residential and mixed-mode) and as an ADDO; and in full-time chaplaincy.
Renew rich theological resourcing for theological education which is ordinand-centred
Since 2018 I have served on the Council of a Theological Education Institution (TEI), which trains ordinands offers courses and qualifications in theology and pastoral ministry for students of all ages and stages.
representative on the national Ministry Development Board, which covers increasing vocations, funding theological education, and the practicalities, from approving courses to standardising maternity policies.
4 Renew rich theological resourcing for theological education which is ordinand-centred not budget- centred.
I am standing as a General Synod candidate with a strong commitment to the importance of effective Theological Education, front-line local ministry, engagement with young adults and universities, and the breadth of the Anglican tradition.
Theological Education and Vocations
I’ll work in synod to ensure that the funding of our TEIs is sustainable and to ensure that our theological education is meeting the needs of today’s church.
To this end, I would advocate for funding and resources especially to rural parishes and to theological education.
I am also a charity lawyer, a non- executive director in social housing, a trustee of St Augustine’s Theological Education Institute and a supporter of Christian environmental charities.
Good theological education should not be confined to those training for ordination.
• I would work with anyone in Synod, of whatever tradition, to strengthen theological education
Above all, his faith and Theological Education (Since 2023)
• Renew rich theological resourcing for theological education which is ordinand-centred
• I have worked in theological education since 2010, with experience of delivering residential, context-
It is the duty of the Church of England to reciprocate and put a great deal more heft – especially financial – into the theological education and ministerial formation of future cohorts of ordinands.
As an Assistant Director of Ordinands, I am keenly aware of the challenges facing theological education and formation, as well as those which confront folk who are discerning God’s call to ministry and considering how they will negotiate an uncertain future.
At this time I am standing because I love the Church, and in particular because I love the Church of England, which has nurtured my faith and given me the gift of theological education and ministerial formation, the opportunity to minister as part of the established church with its parish system, which serves every mile of this country, and whose doctrines and formularies are generous and faithful to the inheritance we have received in Christ, while remaining distinctly Reformed and Catholic.
renewing resourcing of good theological education as a crucial investment: ordinand-centred not budget- centred;
As well as this, I am also involved in Theological Education in various ways across the diocese of Leeds.
In my relatively short experience of ordained life so far, I have become aware of a wide range of practice as it pertains to clergy couples and clarity and consistency in this area would be welcome. Theological Education The future of theological education is something that has been much discussed in the recent past with concern being raised about the future of residential training.
As someone who is recently out of residential ordination training, I would welcome the opportunity to input into discussions about theological education in the Church of England in order to help ensure that the strengths of residential training are retained even if the future of theological education has to look different. Local Mission My current role is one that combines parish priest and church planter into a church revitalisation role.
I want to help make theological education accessible and useful to the life of the Church. ● Engaging contemporary culture: My academic work sits at the intersection of theology, culture and media.
I have a wide range of interests in church and national life, including the significance of the working sphere (following my career in scientific research & a multi-national company), mission & evangelism, media, children & young people, vocations & theological education, prison chaplaincy, inter-faith relationships and spiritual direction.
I will be closely interested in matters related to discernment and theological education.
At a time when clergy numbers are falling, I want to encourage theological education which is ordinand-centred.
I spent my early years in a succession of vicarages across Yorkshire (my father is also an Anglican priest who spent much of his ministry in theological education, so the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree...).
Much of my job role involves theological education, and it is a constant delight to encounter people from so many walks of life who have faithfully answered a call to ministry in one form or another, and who are seeking to deepen their faith and equip themselves for ministry.
If elected, I will advocate for rich theological education, and the continuing development of all those called to ministry in its very widest sense.
04 We believe that effective mission requires the prioritisation of spending on good theological education as a crucial investment.
I am passionate about good theological education and the church as a learning community that seeks to be theologically, culturally and politically literate and prepared to invest in the formation and resourcing of its clergy and lay people.
During my time training at Ridley Hall, I also served for two years as a student rep on the Durham Advisory Oversight Group, gaining experience in listening, representing others and contributing to conversations about theological education and formation.
• A renewal in theological education including the option of fully
I have been ordained 25 years this year, and have worked as a University Chaplain, Team Vicar and Pioneer Minister before moving into theological education ten years ago.
Yet TEIs are under increasing pressure, and ordinands frequently have comparatively little contact time for theological education.
I believe it is of vital importance that we as a church properly resource theological education, and develop realistic plans for enabling lifelong learning throughout ministry.
I have served in theological education, mission and outreach in a variety of dioceses across East Africa as recently as last February.
Rich theological resourcing for theological education — ordinand-
I do so with humility, recognising that no individual has all the answers, but believing that my experience in parish ministry, diocesan leadership, safeguarding, vocations, theological education and intercultural mission has prepared me to contribute thoughtfully to the life of our Church.
I remain passionate about supporting sustainable rural ministry and about issues around theological education and ministerial formation.
Biblical Literacy: I feel very strongly about the importance of proper biblical scholarship and theological education for all Christians, lay and ordained, but most especially those entrusted with the souls of their parishioners.