Until March 2008 I was a pastor at West Point Grey Baptist Chruch, Vancouver, BC. At that point I decided to concentrate full-time my PhD which I had been working on part-time since 2001. I’m currently enrolled at London School of Theology and working with 2 external supervisors: J. Andrew Kirk (formerly Dean and Head of the School of Mission and World Christianity at Selly Oaks Colleges, University of Birmingham) and Richard Briggs (currently Director of Biblical Studies and Hermeneutics, Cranmer Hall, St. John’s College, Durham University). My research critiques contemporary Western theology from a missiological perspective and aims to provide a model for a missionally effective theological method utilizing concepts from speech-act theory. I am on track to submit my PhD by summer 2009 at which point I hope to be transitioning into teaching theology somewhere.
Prior to being a pastor in Vancouver I was, at various times: Teaching Assistant to Dr. J.I. Packer; National Director of a marketplace ministry; Senior Lecturer in Law at The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland (where I am originally from); and a consultant with the UK’s leading Contracts Consultancy for the construction industry. (You can check out my CV for more details – to be posted on here soon).
I’m married to Ruth, who is a Register Clinical Counsellor, and have two amazing daughters - Karis and Alana. We still live in Vancouver. My normal day is dropping Karis and Alana off at school and then heading into the Regent College Library and then picking the girls up at the end of the school day.
When not working on my PhD or spending time with family I might be teaching Bible at Westside Christian School to the grades 6-9 class; coaching Karis’ scoccer team, preparing a sermon for a preaching engagement; reading the latest theories on “Lostpedia“; listening to Sufjan Stevens; reading some Russian history or literature; chatting about church with Greg Laing (the Lead Pastor at Point Grey Community Church - our current church home); or trying to convince myself that there is such a thing as a quality Canadian newspaper!
