Page 15 - Presbyterian Connection

presbyterian.ca
SUMMER 2022
Connection
VANCOUVER SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY/ST. ANDREW’S HALL
PRESBYTERIAN
15
Chelsey Joudrie
Certificate in Theological Studies
Richard Knowler
Master of Arts in Pastoral and Public Leadership
Jamie Anderson-Reid
Diploma in Denominational (Presbyterian) Studies
Steven Shearer
Master of Arts in Pastoral and Public Leadership
Nathaniel Hartley
Diploma in Denominational (Presbyterian) Studies
Daniel Martinez
Master of Divinity
Daniel Surya
Diploma in Denominational (Presbyterian) Studies
Paulo Pereira, Jr.
Master of Theology
Afonso Issa
Diploma in Denominational (Presbyterian) Studies
Hyeeun Noh
Master of Arts in Theological Studies
Knox College, Presbyterian College and Vancouver School of Theology/
St. Andrew’s Hall receive support
from Presbyterians Sharing.
Kersaint Fils Saint-Juste
Bachelor of Theology (McGill)
PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE
Kirsty Hope Dickson-Maret William Thabiso Henbest Alexander Plant Master of Divinity Master of Divinity Master of Divinity
COLLEGES
Sandrah Mashingaidze
Master of Divinity
Rob Taillefer
Master of Divinity
New Principal Appointed for Knox College
Dr. Ernest van Eck.
By Randal Phillips, Convener, Board of Governors, Knox College
The Board of Governors of Knox College in Toronto, Ont., is pleased to announce the appoint- ment of Dr. Ernest van Eck as the
new Principal of Knox College. Dr. van Eck is an ordained minister, an academic administrator and a teacher and researcher in the- ology. We are looking forward to his leadership at Knox.
His appointment follows an extensive search for candidates both within and beyond the PCC. The selection process was led by a diverse Search Committee with members drawn from our Board of Governors, faculty, staff, students, alumni, Assembly Council of the PCC, the Toronto School of Theol- ogy and the University of Toronto. At the conclusion of the search process, Dr. van Eck was the unanimous choice of our Search Committee and our Board of Gov- ernors to be the new principal.
Dr. van Eck is an experienced academic administrator. He cur- rently holds dual roles within the Faculty of Religion at the Univer- sity of Pretoria as Deputy Dean
for Research and Postgraduate Studies, and Head of Department for New Testament and Related Literature. His faculty is the larg- est of its kind in South Africa, with 780 undergraduate and postgrad- uate students. He has extensive experience in curriculum devel- opment, having implemented two major new curricula in the faculty and a hybrid model of teaching and learning.
Dr. van Eck has a strong repu- tation for leadership in teaching, research and publications. He has supervised or co-supervised al- most 100 postgraduate students over the years, and he is highly regarded for his own teaching, research and publications. His résumé includes 50 publications in peer-reviewed or refereed jour- nals and over 100 co-authored papers, study guides, books, chapters in books, and confer- ence presentations. He has won
Lecturer of the Year or Excellence in Teaching Awards in four of the last 10 years.
Dr. van Eck has an extensive network of relationships with other theological schools. He has been a guest professor or lecturer at six other universities, including a sab- batical at the University of Toronto in 2014. He has a wide range of research associates in developed countries and the global south (in Ghana, India, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe).
Importantly, Dr. van Eck has maintained a strong, lifelong con- nection to the church. He was the minister to two congregations for the first 21 years of his career, before becoming more involved in academic life. He continues to serve the church in a number of national committees and as an ordained minister. Dr. van Eck has now applied for admission as an Ordained Minister of The Presby-
terian Church in Canada.
Dr. van Eck’s appointment to be
principal of Knox was approved by General Assembly at its meet- ing in June, and we expect that he will start as principal in the autumn. Our current principal, the Rev. Dr. John Vissers, will assist with a smooth transition of the role, before returning to a full-time role in our faculty as Professor of Historical Theology.
Dr. van Eck explained that, “We are living in a moment that de- mands faithful Christian witness and prophetic leadership in theo- logical education.” In these chal- lenging times, this call to action is needed, now more than ever.
Congratulations to Dr. van Eck on his appointment to be Knox College Principal and leader for the future. Continued thanks go out to Dr. Vissers for his outstand- ing leadership over the past five years.