News: Morling College Announces New Leadership Team

Morling College has announced the appointment of three current, senior staff to new roles that will assist to lead the College into a new era of thriving, growing and transforming.

Principal Ross Clifford said the three roles were created, after a restructure of the leadership team identified opportunities to further the College’s mission of equipping and shaping Christ-centred followers to impact the world.

“We recently celebrated 100 years of preparing men and women for various forms of ministry in society and we feel these new roles will help us as we move into our second century.”

After an extensive advertising and selection process involving a board member, an external academic and the Principal, Morling College has appointed David Starling as Chief Academic Officer, Gayle Kent as Chief Community Life Officer and Peter McCrindle as Chief Operating Officer. The roles represent senior and strategic leadership positions within the College.

“While there were some strong external applications, David, Gayle and Peter were unanimously endorsed by the selection committee and the board,” Principal, Ross Clifford said.

The new positions are designed to focus on keys areas in the College that complement one another and to ensure the best possible standards are maintained and enhanced.

“I believe that God’s spirit has been very much with us through this process and I thank David, Gayle and Peter for their openness and willingness to serve in these new roles,” Dr Clifford said.

Morling College is the Baptist Theological College of NSW and ACT. It is an affiliated college of the Australian College of Theology and the University of Divinity. It is also a registered higher education provider for postgraduate awards in education, counselling, chaplaincy and spiritual care.

Rev Dr David Starling – Chief Academic Officer

David Starling joined the Morling College faculty in 2005 and has lectured since then in New Testament, Greek and theology. He became the head of Morling’s Bible and Theology Department in 2014. As the new Chief Academic Officer, he now exercises a senior role in ministry and leadership, overseeing learning, teaching and research across the faculties. The new position oversees relationships with partner’s academic institutions, and communication with government agencies regarding academic quality and compliance matters.

Dr Starling said: “I am grateful for the encouragement and prayers of colleagues and friends within the Morling community as I step into this new role and look forward to the fresh challenges that it involves.”

Gayle Kent - Chief Community Life Officer

Gayle Kent joined Morling in 2006 and has served as the Dean of Students and a lecturer in pastoral and practical studies since 2007. Gayle’s new position includes building relationships and working collaboratively with management and staff to guide and implement initiatives and solutions to develop further a culture of partnership and excellence. In her own words she sees this position as an opportunity to bring together her commitment to transformative education, pastoral well being and life-giving relationships.

Ms Kent said: “Over the past few months, I have been considering how the picture of a God-centred life in Colossians 1:9-14 can orientate our wisdom, our witness, our praise and our prayers. My hope as I start this new role is that I will be humbly reliant on God and prayerful for others so that my life and work is shaped in these ways.”

Peter McCrindle – Chief Operating Officer

With ten years’ experience in leadership roles in an international development organisation, Peter McCrindle started as general manager at Morling College in November 2013. As the Chief Operating Officer, Peter will provide effective oversight and leadership of Morling College operations, especially in planning, implementing and overseeing the strategic initiatives, priorities and policies of the College.

“I am encouraged by the affirmation of peers and leadership as I have taken on this new role. I plan to cooperate with my Morling colleagues to integrate and resource our work so that we can better serve our students and their churches. Ultimately, I trust God to take our well-equipped students and staff to grow as Christ-shaped followers and impact the world,” Mr McCrindle said.