Johnny has served in Anglican churches in inner city London, market and university towns, the City of London and, for the last 19 years as incumbent of St Andrew’s, Kirk Ella, East Yorkshire.
The College Council of Oak Hill College is pleased to announce that the Reverend Jonathan Juckes has been appointed as President with effect from January 1st 2018.
Johnny brings to the role practical parish and pastoral experience across a wide variety of parish situations, as well as many years of involvement in theological training.
As President he will join Dan Strange, Acting Principal, and the current leadership of the college to bring additional strategic vision, an energised partnership across the evangelical and wider community, and an entrepreneurial approach to considering how we best enhance our formation of men and women preparing for a lifetime of ministry and mission leadership in Britain and around the world.
Following a global search and advertising process, and a competitive interview process, the College Council believes that Johnny has been providentially prepared to lead the college at this time.
Johnny has served in Anglican churches in inner city London, market and university towns, the City of London and, for the last 19 years as incumbent of St Andrew’s, Kirk Ella, East Yorkshire. He has experienced a wide range of the circumstances and traditions in which Oak Hill’s students will minister.
He has been involved in ministry and preaching training since his early involvement with the Proclamation Trust, where he is still involved in the ongoing training of ministers. He also has extensive knowledge of theological training having been involved with the governance of Oak Hill College for many years.
Jeremy Anderson, Chairman of the Oak Hill College Council, says of Johnny: ‘We are already blessed with excellent students, strong leadership and faculty and very good inspection results. I am delighted that Johnny has agreed to join as President to bring his practical parish and pastoral skills to bear on the way we help our students prepare for confident word-based ministry in a time of major change in culture and society. Johnny will work with the existing team of Dan Strange, Acting Principal, and the faculty to build on the strong foundations we have today and to help us better serve the church in the UK into the future. Oak Hill is unique in the UK in training and equipping large numbers of both Anglican and Independent students. Together Johnny and Dan make a strong team which reflects this position.’
Johnny Juckes, President elect, says of the future: ‘Nothing prepared us for the shock of Mike Ovey’s death earlier in the year, we loved Mike and we are still grieving. Oak Hill took huge steps forward during Mike’s leadership, and during David Peterson’s time before him. I count it a privilege to have served on the College Council for the last eighteen years. As I take on this new outward facing role, please pray with us that we are able to build on what has been achieved, listen intently to those we serve, and continue to adapt and change in the challenging conditions now facing us. Oak Hill is eighty-five years old this year, the fruit of decades of faithful service. We are looking forward to reaching a hundred, which will only be possible by God’s grace, and with a lot of help from our friends.’
Dan Strange, Acting Principal, says: ‘Johnny’s rich pastoral experience complements very well our existing strengths. The UK’s need to hear the gospel remains as urgent as ever. The pace at which our society is changing means taking the gospel into many different situations and contexts. We want to be a college that prepares those going into ministry for a lifetime of speaking God’s word confidently into all of UK society. I have known Johnny for many years and look forward to working alongside him to take to the next level what we offer to our students, to our alumni, and to our sending and receiving Anglican and Independent churches.’
