Current Position: Honorary Lecturer in the School of Divinity, Philosophy and History, University of Aberdeen.

Previous Experience:

• 2002-2009, Lecturer in Urban Mission and World Christianity and Programme Leader for M.Th in Ministry in an Urban World, International Christian College, Glasgow.


• 1999-2002, Co-Director of Whitefield Institute, Oxford, supporting grantees in postgraduate research in theology and ethics and engaged in personal research and writing. Visiting lecturer at Redcliffe College, Gloucester; Evangelical Theological of Wales, Bridgend; Irish Bible Institute, Dublin; and the Theological College of Northern Nigeria, Bukuru, Jos.


• 1990-1998 Principal, Northumbria Bible College, Berwick-upon-Tweed.


• 1990 Teaching Fellow, Centre for the Study of Religions, University of Aberdeen. Taught in Aberdeen and at the universities of Edinburgh and Saint Andrews.


• 1985 Visiting Lecturer at Cubao Baptist Seminary, Manilla, Philippines.


• 1977-1983 Lecturer at Samuel Bill Theological College, Abak, Nigeria.


• 1965-1976 Minister of Eden Baptist Church, Cambridge.

Academic Experience: Involved in course development at Samuel Bill Theological College, Nigeria for validation with the University of Calabar; led staff team in course construction at Northumbria Bible College, resulting in three Open University validation events; led development of Master’s programme at International Christian College, Glasgow, validated by University of Aberdeen.

External Examiner: Oxford Centre for Mission Studies (University of Middlesex); All Nations Christian College, Ware, Hertfordshire (University of Wales); Open Theological College, Gloucester (University of Gloucestershire); Oak Hill Theological College, London (University of Middlesex), and University of Aberdeen.

Postgraduate Supervision and Examining: Supervised students at Masters and PhD levels on programmes validated by University of Aberdeen, University of Wales, University of Middlesex, and the Open University. Acted as External Examiner for PhDs at University of Wales, Lampeter; Queens University, Belfast; The Open University; University of Middlesex, and University of Aberdeen. In total six PhD theses examined.

Other Relevant Experience: Teach on MTh programme at Irish Bible Institute, Dublin (Validated by York St John’s University); teach for Urban M.Th programme at Scottish Centre for Study of Mission (validated by University of Manchester); engaged in writing and delivering modules for Formission College, Birmingham; and teaching for the Centre for Study of Ministry, University of Aberdeen.

Post-Secondary Education:

• 1990 PhD University of Aberdeen – Thesis Secularisation and Evangelicalism: A Study in the Reaction of Conservative Churches to the Modern World.


• 1986 MA (Hons), First Class – Religious Studies, University of Aberdeen.


• 1965 Diploma in Biblical and Theological Studies, South Wales Bible College, Barry, Glamorgan.

Academic Prizes:

• 1986 Ewan Prize in Religious Studies, Kings College, University of Aberdeen.


• 1984 Henry Prize in Philosophy of Social Science, Kings College, University of Aberdeen.

Publications:

1. 2020 ‘Nations’ in Encyclopedia of the Bible and its Reception: Berlin: De Gruyter,


2. 2020 [American Edition]  Liberating the Gospel : Minneapolis: Fortress Press


3. 2020 Stumbling Toward Zion: Recovering the Biblical Tradition of Lament in the Era of World Christianity: Carlisle: Langham Literature.


4. 2019 Second [International] Edition of Seeking A City With Foundations with new chapter, Carlisle: Langham Literature.


5. 2016 ‘Preaching Toward Exile: The Case of Jeremiah ben Hilkiah’. Union Biblical Seminary Journal , 10/2, November, 2016: 75-86.


6. 2016 Liberating the Gospel: Translating the Message of Jesus in a Globalised World London: Darton, Longman & Todd.


7. 2014 ‘Envisioning an Alternative Urban World: Theology and the Future of the City’ in Trevor Cairney & David Starling [eds], Theology and the Future: Evangelical Assertions and Explorations London: Bloomsbury, T & T Clark.


8. 2013 The Kindness of God: Christian Witness in our Troubled World Nottingham: Inter-Varsity Press.


9. ‘Mission, Violence and Suffering’. Theological College of Northern Nigeria Research Bulletin 58: March. 4-15.


10. 2011 Seeking a City With Foundations: Theology for an Urban World Nottingham: Inter-Varsity Press.


11. 2010 ‘Theology as a Voice for the Voiceless: Jean Marc Ela’s African Cry’, Theological College of Northern Nigeria Research Bulletin Summer, 2010: 19-29.


12. 2010 ‘Jesus and the City: reflections on the urban context of Galilee’ Evangelical Quarterly LXXXII, October: 316-325.


13. 2009 ‘Evangelicals and Society: The Story of an On-Off Relationship’ in J. Grant and Dewi Hughes [eds] Transforming The World? The Gospel and Social Responsibility Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press: 246-267.


14. 2007 Moving Toward Emmaus: Hope in a Time of Uncertainty London: SPCK. Subsequently translated into Russian and published in separate editions in Kiev and Moscow.


15. 2006 ‘The Forgotten “Grandfather” of Protestant Mission: Perspectives on Globalisation from Jean de Lery’, Missiology XXXIV/3, July: 349-359.


16. 2005 ‘A Victorian Prophet Without Honour: Edward Miall and the Critique of Nineteenth-Century British Christianity’ in Stephen Clark [ed], Tales of Two Cities: Christianity and Politics Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press: 152-183.


17. 2003 Against The Stream: Christianity and Mission in an Age of Globalisation Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press. Mission After Christendom  London: Darton Longman & Todd.


18. 2002 ‘Between Bukuru and New York: Reflections on Islam, Christianity, and Western Values’, Themelios, 27/3.


19. ‘The Gospel: Made in London or Lahore?’ Third Way, June.


20. ‘Junction or Terminus? Christianity in the West at the Dawn of the Third Millennium’ in Timothy Yates [ed], Mission – An Invitation to God’s Future Calver: Cliff College.


21. 1998 Transforming The World? The Social Impact of British Evangelicalism Carlisle: Paternoster Press.


22. 1995 Stairways to Heaven? God in Other Religions Edinburgh: Rutherford House


23. 1986 ‘A Survey of New Religious Movements Among The Annang of Nigeria’, Neue Zeitschrift fur Missionwissenschaft 42-1986/4: 264-275.


24. 1985 ‘Jesus and the Pharisees in Socio-Anthropological Perspective’, Trinity Journal 6NS (1985): 151-156.

Other Published Work:

1. Articles in New Dictionary of Christian Apologetics (2005); The World’s Religions (2005);  Dictionary of Religions in the Contemporary West (2000); Dictionary of Historical Theology (2000); Biographical Dictionary of Christian Missions (1997); Dictionary of Scottish Church History and Theology (1993).


2. Managing editor of the IVP series The Global Christian Library which involved working with an international team of writers to produce books in which non-western authors reflect on doctrine from their cultural perspectives.


3. Regular writer of Bible-reading notes for Scripture Union. Occasional articles in many  mission-related journals and magazines.

Current Activity and Interests:

• Retain an active ministry in teaching and preaching within the UK and internationally. Make frequent visits to Africa to serve the church in Nigeria and Kenya, and have served Scripture Union International at staff conferences in Europe and South Africa. Have strong links with Eastern Europe, especially with the Brotherhood of the Armenian Orthodox Church in Yerevan. In 2017 addressed International Leadership Conference of OMF in Chiangmai, Thailand on ‘The Changing Global Landscape for World Mission’, taught at Union Biblical Seminary, Pune, India, and visited former students in Pakistan and India. Spent four weeks at Theological College of Northern Nigeria, Jos, Nigeria teaching Masters class on Urban Theology. Teach and supervise for Centre for Study of Ministry in University of Aberdeen and contributed to their Summer Schools in 2016 and 2018.


• Current writing projects include completing the manuscript for Stumbling Toward Zion: Recovering the Biblical Tradition of Lament in the Era of World Christianity.

Life Interests: Member of Kirkintilloch Baptist Church and also worship occasionally at Glasgow Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Lover of orchestral music and subscriber to concerts of BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in Glasgow. Lifelong supporter of hometown football club in Watford and also enjoy cinema, especially at Glasgow Film Theatre.