The College has grown significantly over the last 25 years, with its core distinctives and focus remaining unchanged: the College is Bible centred, interdenominational, mission and crossculturally focused, and underpinned by an emphasis on theological learning in community.
Stuart brings to the position a clear understanding and commitment to these values and has been part of the SMBC team since 1987, most recently lecturing in Church History, Spiritual Formation, Pastoral Care and Introduction to Degree Theology. He has served as a Vice-Principal for the last eight years.
He trained as a lawyer, and after practising in both private and government spheres, undertook theological training leading to ordination as a minister of the Presbyterian Church. He served as a pastor in Burwood from 1987 to 1991, then in Blacktown from 1991 to 2002.
Stuart began at SMBC in a part-time capacity in 1987, teaching Philippians. In 1992 he began teaching Church History and 2002 became a full-time lecturer, teaching Church History as well as Spiritual Formation and Theology. He was appointed a Vice-Principal in 2004, with particular responsibility for student pastoral care. Stuart’s book, Hitting the Holy Road: A Guided Tour Of Christian History from the Early Church to the Reformation was published by IVP in 2011.
The conviction that shapes Stuart’s life and ministry is that only through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ can people come into a right relationship with God, receive forgiveness for their sins and know the hope of eternal life. This undergirds his passion for SMBC to continue training men and women to be effective gospel workers throughout the world. He is unwavering in his commitment to the central place of the Bible in theological and cross-cultural training.
Stuart and his wife, Pauline, have been married for 34 years and have three adult children, two sons-in-law and a three month old
grandson. They attend Abbotsford Presbyterian Church.
