Emmanuel Theological College statement of support for Dr. Tom Woolford

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The Feast of the Presentation, 2nd February 2024.

At Emmanuel Theological College our vision is ‘to equip the whole people of God for the whole mission of God today’. Thus ours is a richly diverse community of staff and students drawn from a wide range of theological and ecclesial traditions, reflecting the same richness and diversity found in our partner dioceses in the Northwest and the wider Church of England. We celebrate our breadth by striving to love one another and to work together in mission, drawing from the deep wells of our spiritual union in Christ and the common commitment to inhabit our baptismal identity as the people of God. Such a rich and diverse community must be served by a rich and diverse staff team.

The Revd Dr Tom Woolford, recently appointed Interim Secretary to the Faith and Order Commission and Theological Adviser to the House of Bishops, has served the full breadth of our community as tutor and lecturer in sacramental and systematic theology with distinction for three years. Tom is well loved and respected by staff and students alike, and we are proud that he brings his gifts as a theologian and communicator as well as the distinctiveness of his own theological commitments to our diverse team. He has been consistently measured, respectful of the range of views within our community, and encouraging of those with whom he disagrees, and we are certain that he’ll operate with the same generous posture in all he does for the national Church.

The whole Emmanuel community is committed to praying for and working with all aspects of the LLF and PLF processes, and those who – under God – are charged with leading us forward.

The Right Revd Philip North Bishop of Blackburn and Chair of the Board of Trustees

The Revd Canon Dr Michael Leyden Dean and Chief Executive Officer