Saying Farewell

Today my colleagues said farewell. In a month's time I will be giving up the life of a theological college lecturer. (And I've still got plenty of marking to do in the meantime.) But today was the traditional tea and cake in the dining hall at morning coffee time for a departing member of staff. And this time I was that member of staff. 

College made the official announcement of my departure a few months ago, so this is probably not really news to a lot of people. But a few of you might not know, so I thought it would be worth mentioning. After half a decade (including a pandemic, several lockdowns, and multiple switches between in-person and online teaching) my time as Lecturer in Theology in West Malvern has come to an end. (Sorry, if any of you are systematic theologians hoping that means a job has come up, I'm afraid it hasn't – I won't be being replaced. In fact, after the end of August, it looks like there won't be a single Dogmatician/doctrinal theologian employed among the four Pentecostal theological colleges in the UK.)

I should probably clarify that, for a number of reasons, it is I who made the decision to go. There are many things I will miss about teaching theology, especially the people — both students and colleagues. But I am an old-fashioned Pentecostal, and am convinced that the Lord has made very clear, in multiple ways (both providentially and prophetically), that it was time to go. So who am I not to listen? 

I'm not entirely sure what the future holds after the next month. Hopefully I'll have some news on that front soon enough. 

Over the years, I've had the privilege of teaching at two of the largest Pentecostal theological colleges in Europe. And the best part of that has been seeing former students go on to serve the Lord and His Church in many different ways, in many different places, all over the world. I pray that I'll have helped some of them love and trust the Lord Jesus more along the way and equipped them to proclaim the glory of the Triune God. May the Lord be praised, and may He build His Church and grant her faithful and godly ministers, to the praise of His glorious name.