Rev Dr Andrew Stobart

Andrew joined the team at Cliff College in January 2021, moving from Wesley House, Cambridge, where he was Director of Research from September 2018. In that role, he had wide responsibilities for doctoral research programmes, the work of the Centre for Global Wesleyan Theology, and the development of global academic partnerships, as well as undergraduate and postgraduate teaching. He was also Editor of the Holiness online journal.

Prior to moving to Cambridge, Andrew served in the Darlington Methodist Circuit, latterly as its superintendent. His ministry focused on encouraging churches to take bold steps in mission and evangelism, finding fresh ways to share the good news of Jesus, including through Messy Churches, neighbourhood prayer walks and community projects that put love of God and all into action. With his wife Rebekah and children Charis and Micah, Andrew has recently moved to Rathlin Island, off the coast of Northern Ireland, where they seek to continue the missional work of the early Irish saints, that all may discover the hope-giving and life-transforming grace of Christ.

Andrew studied theology at the London School of Theology and the University of Aberdeen, before training for Methodist presbyteral ministry at Wesley Study Centre, Durham. Convinced that to communicate simply, we must understand profoundly, Andrew sees theology as an ongoing exercise in devotion and mission – as we seek a deeper experience of evangelical transformation and greater wisdom in offering Christ to others today.

Andrew’s recent work has focused on Wesleyan spirituality and theology, and on global trends in theological education, particularly the importance of decolonising the way we think about, teach, and research questions of theology, mission and ministry by engaging in dialogue within the worldwide body of Christ. Andrew is a Research Fellow in Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology at Stellenbosch University, South Africa.

Education