WYCLIFFE HALL, the Evangelical theological college in Oxford, was tight-lipped this week about the sudden departure of its Principal, the Revd Dr Richard Turnbull. Rumours started circulating about his absence on Friday. The college’s council finally issued a statement late on Wednesday afternoon to assert that he had not been dismissed.
In its statement, the council confirms that staff and students were told that Dr Turnbull was to take “a leave of absence”. It says: “The Council wishes to make it clear that the Principal has not been dismissed. The Council and Richard are now in on-going discussions over his future role at Wycliffe, with Vice-Principal Simon Vibert assuming the position of Acting Principal.
“We have every confidence in Simon, and in the rest of the staff, to ensure continuity and the efficient functioning of the Hall during this time.”
The outcome of discussions with Dr Turnbull “will be communicated to staff and students in due course”, it states. “Our overriding priority is to ensure Wycliffe remains unequivocally committed to equipping men and women as leaders, preachers, church planters and evangelists in the mission of proclaiming and living the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, with a deeply biblical understanding of the nature of the Kingdom of God.”
The decision about Dr Turnbull was taken last Friday morning. Just two days earlier, speaking to the Church Times, Dr Turnbull confirmed stories that three people had been made redundant. The move was part a staff reorganisation, he said, “designed to ensure we operate effectively under a more restrictive funding environment”.
More here-
http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/content.asp?id=129148
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