A tribute to God's sovereignty

Canon Gordon Bridger retired at the end of July after nine years as Principal of Oak Hill College.

In this conversation he reflects on the characteristics of biblical ministry and on issues currently facing the evangelical constituency, in an interview given to the College's newsletter.

Question: What do you think you personally brought to the job of principal?

GB: I guess I was appointed because of my parish experience. I'd had 30 years in it - I'd seen the power of the gospel, seen people converted and seen people grow spiritually. I'd had to work out the principles of church growth in a local situation. So when I went to Oak Hill in 1987 I could bring practical experience of church life and say I'd seen God at work. What I particularly brought from this background (and what I tried to emphasise at the college) is the priority of prayer and godliness because they are so important in parish life. Someone once said to me (about a congregation where I was serving): 'They'll probably remember more about what you are than what you say'.
An awareness of the significance of preaching - expository preaching, that is - is another thing that I brought, and, of course, evangelism. I don't actually regard myself as a gifted evangelist, but I believe I am called 'to do the work of an evangelist'. So it's been very important to me to have an evangelism dimension in the training - if students are not committed to evangelism in their theological college, they probably will not be later. In my experience, when a church gives priority to evangelism, other things fall into place.
Seeing the priority of all these things reflects what I tried to bring. I didn't bring experience of higher education or academic theology. I read theology at Cambridge and I've tried to think and read constantly, but I think I was appointed because the Trust felt that it was important to have someone with strong parish experience among a team of highly-qualified academics.
I also want to say that the most important thing that I actually brought to the job was Elizabeth (my wife)! I mean that seriously. She's been a terrific partner in the whole ministry.

Out of the parish

Q: What was the most important thing that you learned as principal?

GB: The realisation of God's sovereignty. I was dragged, screaming, from parish life! I thought there was nothing better than serving the Lord as a parish minister, so why should I leave it? - and, anyway, I'd had no experience of higher education, so it didn't seem a particularly sensible appointment! But I came to see that if God is calling you, he does actually equip you and help you, and your own limitations are complemented, and backed up by the team that you build up around you. You don't see yourself as isolated - the team gives you strength. So I've learned God's sovereignty in that situation for myself.
What was true for me personally was also true for my family. All three of our daughters were married while we were at Oak Hill. They've all married Christians, we have four grandchildren, and we've experienced how God leads and supports you as a family.
So there's been God's sovereignty there, and, of course, at the college as well. The fact that we went through some crises, and yet he's worked things through and seen us through them, gives me confidence that in leaving Oak Hill and handing over to David Peterson, God is sovereign and will work a very real purpose for the college's future.

The priority of godliness

Q: What's the best advice that you wanted to leave with the students?

GB: I hope that we've both taught and modelled what the pastoral epistles say about ministry. So I hope they see the importance of godliness. As Murray M'Cheyne once said: 'It's not so much great talents that God blesses, but great likeness to Jesus'. Also, that they see that importance of being 'apt to teach' - teaching the Word in season and out. I don't think there's another college that teaches preaching as thoroughly as Oak Hill. So I would say to students: 'Keep working at the preaching. Keep studying!' I went to a well-known church recently where there are two Oak Hill curates, and the churchwarden said to me: 'You do turn them out well at Oak Hill - they're both super preachers', so that encourages me.
Also, I would tell them to go on to do the work of an evangelist. Whether they see themselves as gifted as such or not, I hope that they'll be good servants and fulfil a servant role in their pastoral ministry.
I rejoiced in the fact that people came to Oak Hill from the whole evangelical spectrum. But whatever their background, at the end of their time there, I hope they would have a godly discernment about what is biblical and what isn't in the life of their parishes, and that they will be able to lead people on to Christian maturity and to equip others to lead.

Q: What thoughts do you have on issues currently exercising the evangelical constituency?

GB: I hope people will see the importance of biblical reasons for whatever position that they hold. I hope people will be able to differentiate between what are primary gospel issues and those which are secondary.
For example, biblical teaching on matters of church order and government are far less clear than teaching on moral issues such as homosexuality. With regard to the latter, it seems to me that Scripture clearly condemns homosexual practice.
On secondary issues like infant baptism, for example, we should be able to say: 'OK, we differ, but I am able to accept you as a brother and not write you off'. You have to be able to say: 'I could be wrong - we're both trying to be biblical, and I won't write you off, and I hope that you won't write me off'.
What saddens me about some of the current evangelical debates is that the term 'conservative evangelical' seems to have narrowed, so that if you don't hold the view, for example, that women should never teach men, you are no longer regarded by some as a proper evangelical! To believe in the supremacy and sufficiency of Scripture in all matters of faith and conduct leaves space, in my view, for different understandings of some secondary issues.

Q: What are you likely to miss most on leaving Oak Hill?

GB: The people, undoubtedly. It's been a privilege to work with my colleagues. I've learned from them all, and been enriched. And of course, the students - all from very diverse backgrounds from all over the world. We've now got friends everywhere! Also it's been a tremendous experience to live in a community where everyone has given and shared from their own experience.

A tribute to God's sovereignty

Questions and answers about Gordon Bridger's time as Principal of Oak Hill College

Out of the parish

The priority of godliness

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