LEADERSHIP TEAM

• Ross Clifford (AM) - Principal

  

  Principal

  Diploma of Law, Diploma of Ministry, Bachelor of Theology (First class Hons.), Master of Arts: Law/Theology, Master of Theology, Doctor of Theology.

  Ross Clifford has been Principal of Morling College since 1997. He joined the College faculty as a lecturer in Theology in 1992 after twelve years of pastoral work at South Windsor and Gymea Baptist Churches. Before he entered the ministry he practised law in New South Wales and the Northern Territory. Ross’ focus areas include apologetics, ethics and Theology.

  Recent Publications

  Taboo or To Do? Is Christianity complementary with yoga, martial arts, Hallowe’en, mindfulness and other alternative practices? (London: Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd, 2017) (Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 2020), Clifford & Johnson

  The Cross Is Not Enough (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2012), Clifford & Johnson

  Apologetic Preaching and Teaching for the Church and the Marketplace (Macquarie Park, NSW: Morling Press, 2011)

  “Apologetics, Persuasion, and Pastoral Care” in Tough-Minded Christianity: Honoring the Legacy of John Warwick Montgomery (eds. William Dembski and Thomas Schirrmacher (Nashville: B & H Academic), 2008)

  “Do-it-yourself: New Age Spirituality” in A Spectator’s guide to World Views: Ten ways of understanding life (Sydney: Blue Bottle Books, 2007)

  John Warwick Montgomery’s Legal Apologetic: An Apologetic for all Seasons (Verlag für Kultur und Wissenschaft/Culture and Science Publishers, Bonn, Germany, 2004)

  “Reframing a Traditional Apologetic to Reach ‘New Spirituality’ Seekers,” in Encountering New Religious Movements: A Holistic Evangelical Approach (Irving Hexham, Stephen Rost and John Morehead, eds. (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2004))

  Beyond Prediction: The Tarot and Your Spirituality (Oxford: Lion, 2001)

  The International Gods of Sport (Sydney: Strand, 1999)

  Leading Lawyer's Look at the Resurrection (Sutherland: Albatross Books, 1991)

  View Ross Clifford's blog posts here.

• Peter McCrindle - Chief Operating Officer

  

  Chief Operating Officer 

  BEc (Accounting), MA (Christian Studies)

  Peter started as General Manager at Morling College in November 2013 after serving more than 10 years in leadership roles in an international development organization. He then became the Chief Operating Officer in 2019. Peter provides effective oversight and leadership of Morling College operations including finance, information and communications technology, property maintenance and development.

  Peter is on the executive leadership team and facilitates governance, risk management and strategic planning through the College Board and its subcommittees and as a director of the Morling Foundation and Tinsley Bequest.

• David Starling - Chief Academic Officer

  

  Chief Academic Officer

  MA, Dip Ed, BTh (Hons), BMin, PhD

  David Starling joined the Morling faculty in 2005 and has lectured since then in New Testament, Hermeneutics, Greek and Theology.

  He became the Head of Morling’s Bible and Theology Department in 2014, and was appointed as the Chief Academic Officer in 2019. He exercises a senior role in ministry and leadership, overseeing learning, teaching and research across the faculties.

  David worked as an English teacher in Western Sydney before completing theological studies and serving as a pastor in Sydney's Inner West. He and his family currently attend Chatswood Baptist Church.

  Recent Publications

  Reading Ephesians and Colossians (Smyth & Helwys, 2020)

  Hermeneutics as Apprenticeship (Baker Academic, 2016)

  UnCorinthian Leadership (Cascade, 2014)

  Not my People: Gentiles as Exiles in Pauline Hermeneutics (DeGruyter, 2011).

  View Publications by David Starling here.

• Gayle Kent - Chief Community Life Officer

  

  Chief Community Life Officer
  Lecturer in Pastoral and Practical Studies

  BADipEd, GradDip Counselling, MAChrSt, MIntEd (School Leadership), GradCert Professional Supervision (Pastoral)

  Gayle joined the Morling team in 2006, serving as the Dean of Students from 2008-2019 before being appointed as the Chief Community Life Officer. Her role involves overseeing our teams who interact with students at all points of their journey at Morling, with a particular focus on student services and student success. She enjoys working with others to develop a welcoming, supportive and transformative community for students and staff. Gayle also lectures in the Pastoral and Practical studies units; drawing on her experience in pastoral ministry and professional supervision. She has a passion for all people to grow together in wisdom, understanding and passion about how God has shaped them and what he has gifted them to do.

  Recent Publications

  "Adult, Single and Christian: Exploring the Impact of Gender Expectations and Family Roles." In The Gender Conversation : Evangelical Perspectives on Gender, Scripture, and the Christian Life, edited by Edwina Murphy and David Starling, 93-102. Macquarie Park, N.S.W.: Morling Press, 2016.

  Out of our Comfort Zones: Connecting transformative pedagogy and intercultural competence in Christian Higher Education Paper Presented at International Conference for Christian Educators BTI, Tauranga NZ 2018

• Kerry Puzey - Chief Administrative Officer

  

  Chief Administrative Officer

  MBA (in progress), BApp Sc, DipMgmt, Cert IV TAE

  Kerry is supporting and developing our Human Resource, Quality Policy and Compliance, and Corporate Administration teams. Bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience in the education, health, and business sectors Kerry works from our Perth Vose Campus, where she is also responsible for managing the Perth property and grounds. With a personal vision of “Inspiring and contributing to humanity through building and renovating teams, people, process and property”, Kerry is passionate about developing and transforming organisations that contribute to improving the human experience from a Christian world view, something that is integral to what Morling does. When asked what her favourite thing to do is, the answer was a quote from Diane Arbus, “to go where I have never been before.” With so much growth and change happening in and outside of our Morling world, Kerry is working collaboratively with various teams across the organization towards strengthening and building our capacity and resource for the future.