Class of 2015
What work or ministries have you been involved with since graduation?
Since graduating from Westminster Seminary California, I have had the privilege of pastoring in several congregations and getting to teach at a few seminaries. Presently I serve as the pastor of Oakland Hills Community Church (OPC) in the metro-Detroit area. Previously, I was an associate pastor at London City Presbyterian Church – in London, England – and before that an assistant pastor in Northern Ireland while I worked on my PhD. I have gotten to lecture in systematic theology at Edinburgh Theological Seminary and to serve as part of the online faculty in church history at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. In the Lord’s kindness, I’ve also been able to take on several publishing endeavors. The one closest to my heart is Reformed Covenant Theology: A Systematic Introduction (Lexham Academic, 2024), which I hope well reflects all that I learned at WSC about the importance of the means of grace, the law-gospel distinction, and Christ as the heart of all Scripture.
What strikes me about my time at Westminster California is that it prepared me well to step into both pastoral and academic roles. The rigor of the teaching at WSC equipped me to be ready (at least as much as we can be!) to bring God’s Word to God’s people as well as to engage in further studies. My experience at WSC left me with the burning awareness that we need to pursue whatever avenues might be before us for the benefit of God’s people. It is easy to think of potential pastoral accomplishments as line items for personal prestige. But Westminster’s emphasis on Christ and his church ought to ingrain in every alum that whatever the Lord may give us to do is a gift of his mercy so that his people might be blessed.
Have you pursued/completed further education since graduation? If so, where?
I completed a PhD at Queen’s University Belfast.
How has your seminary education been valuable in your current vocation (or any vocation since graduation)? Has it been valuable in ways you weren’t expecting?
Every job has a learning curve. The trick is going into that job without being so far behind the curve that you fall off! Theological education, if it is minimal or pragmatic, can easily leave pastors playing a continual game of catch up. Seminary students can also easily complain about the rigors of a good seminary education. In my experience, the challenges of a demanding seminary experience far outweigh the prospect of feeling perpetually at a loss about doctrine and practice. I am thankful for how Westminster put me through my paces early so that I can focus on the present challenges in pastoral ministry rather than stressing about learning after the fact all the things that seminary education can actually provide.
What would you say to someone who is currently considering seminary education at WSC?
No finer education is available than what was offered during my time at Westminster Seminary California. The professors and curriculum were top notch. The experience of being pushed in a rigorous way to learn foundational categories and skills continually helps me navigate the complexities of pastoral ministry in hopes to help God’s people thrive in grace.
